This is horrible news:
The Triqui indigenous community of San Juan Copala, which declared autonomy on January 21, 2007, has suffered the bitter loss of two young women. Felicitas Martinez, age 20, and Teresa Bautista, age 24, were traveling in a rural part of Oaxaca state on route to the statewide meeting “For the Defense of the Rights of the Peoples of Oaxaca,� when gunmen opened fire on their vehicle late Monday. The gunfire killed the two women, and wounded three others in the vehicle, a man and wife and their three-year-old child, the Oaxaca attorney general’s office said in a statement.
Did you catch that? They were 20 and 24 years old, respectively. For me (someone who works in journalism), this news was a stark reminder that being an independent lefty journalist means very different things and carries very different burdens depending on where you live and the color of your skin. These women were infinitely braver and more dedicated than I will ever be.
The community radio station they worked for is called La Voz que Rompe el Silencio (“The Voice that Breaks the Silence�).
Feminist Peace Network has information on which authorities to contact to demand an investigation into the murders and punishment of those responsible.
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I am currently doing my PhD research in the city of Oaxaca (urban expansion and gender issues) and have been investigating the Triqui community here. This is not the only well publicized incidence of violence against women, two young Triqui women, Virginia Ortiz RamÃrez y Daniela Ortiz RamÃrez , were kidnapped and reportedly also raped last year and the authorities have done little about it despite a huge effort from her family. The Triqui community has been mired in violence for decades and by some estimates, well over 300 people have been killed since the early 80s. One individual I spoke with told me that women are often used as tools of violence but it is rarely reported by the women or the local press. I’m definitely glad this particular incident is getting international attention as I hope it shines a light on the other abuses taking place.
The situation within the Triqui community is very complicated but also extremely interesting. (warning shameless plug about to happen) I went to San Juan Copala in February for the annual Fiesta and have a few observations (not necessarily scientific ones) about the town and some photos. The posts are not literary masterpieces only my reflections and all opinions are my own, but if you want to see some photos check it out these two posts.
http://marissa-travels.blogspot.com/2008/02/san-juan-copala.html
http://marissa-travels.blogspot.com/2008/03/more-san-juan-copala.html
"...this news was a stark reminder that being an independent lefty journalist means very different things and carries very different burdens depending on where you live and the color of your skin."
Being a conservative, corporate-funded journalist can be problematic depending on where you are too. So can being just a journalist.
I'm sorry, I just get sick of this notion that only the politically left are persecuted for their beliefs (I consider myself moderate, left-leaning personally).
I was at the Polk Awards yesterday where Chauncey Bailey was honored posthumously for investigating a company that ultimately murdered him to prevent the story. So, yeah, it's scary. And it's not just women, left-leaners, or other countries. He was in Oakland, CA.
This is a terrible story, and you can't help but imagine how much the federal government of Mexico is so intertwined with this, and how much our government is intertwined with them.
"These women were infinitely braver and more dedicated than I will ever be."
This line strikes me as sort of exoticizing, sort of like idealizing people of color.
Even Al Pacino's character in scarface refused to assassinate a man because he was with his wife and children.
A drug lord with a conscience!
I remember flipping through the channels (a few years back) and I came across some kind of court tv (not a reenactment) program.
Apparently some drug lord was doing a drive-by or something and shot a little 6y/o boy.
The father was a big black guy (kinda like in the show Rock) and the killer some late teens early 20's gangsta w/the sideways hat and whole stereo type thing (also black).
The father was on the stand and talking about how his little boy's smile lit up the whole room and you could see the anquish on his face. The father leaped out of the witness box and tried to attack the gangsta.
You know when you're on the verge of crying but you're preventing it, and your chest has like micro sobs?
Well my wife was laying on my chest (and I was trying to keep from crying) and she thought I was laughing from the vibration (I really thought she knew me better).
She asked me if I was laughing, and my voice broke when I said no, then she realized the truth and gave me a hug.
I don't know what I would do if I ever lost a loved one to violence.