Activist murdered in Mexico
This just in from our colleagues in Mexico:
Hi all,I'm very sad to inform you that the son of one of our indigenous allies against illegal logging in the Great Water Forest [in Mexico] was murdered last week by four loggers. Yesterday we had a press conference with Ildefonso Zamora, father of Aldo Zamora who died on Tuesday, May 15th. During the conference we called upon Felipe Calderon, president of Mexico, to act to arrest Aldo's killers and to guarantee the security of Ildefonso, his family and all the people of the community (San Juan Atzingo).
I would like to ask your help to pressure the Mexican Government to act immediately to grant justice to Aldo, Misael (Aldo's brother, who was also injured) and his family.
Thank you very much for your support.
Remember to complete your signatures at the end of the letter.
Patricia
UPDATE August 3 2007:
Thanks to the more than 1,313 folks who took action by writing to Mexico's president.
Patricia writes:
I´m very happy to inform you that two (of the four) murderers of Aldo
Zamora´s were arrested yesterday!!!
This is a great step towards justice in this emblematic case that shows the
injustice and dangers that the defenders of human rights and the
environment have to face in Mexico, in the fulfillment of their task.
The police found the two guys (only 18 and 20 years old) in their home,
which means the have been hiding in the area for the last two and a half
months. The other two thugs are still free, but I´m sure that they will be
arrested soon now that their accomplices are in jail.
There are still 57 well known and fully identified illegal loggers in the area.
Justice will not be complete until the are all in jail.
Here are the facts:
On May 15th at 18:30 hours two brothers, Aldo and Misael Zamora, were ambushed by four thugs while they were traveling with three of their relatives who were unharmed.
Misael, who was shot and is now hospitalised and in stable condition, identified the attackers as Luis and Alejo Encarnacion, known loggers from the area, who are both sons of Feliciano Encarnacion, one of the main leaders of the loggers gangs from this zone. The other two attackers were identified as Fernando Jacinto Medina y Silvestre Jacinto Medina.
Who is Ildefonso Zamora?
Ildefonso Zamora has denounced the illegal logging of forests in his community since 1998. However, authorities have not taken measures to stop the loggers. According to the Federal Bureau of Environmental Protection (PROFEPA by its Spanish acronym), the zones of Lagunas de Zempoala and Huitzilac have been identified as one of the 15 critical regions of the country because of the illegal logging. Together, these zones account for 60 per cent of the illegal logging in the country.
On December 2005, Ildefonso and other community members filled charges against illegal loggers in the area and and presented a video and photographs documenting this illegal activities.
On April 2006 Ildefonso and Greenpeace informed PROFEPA about the illegal logging situation. As a result, the local PROFEPA office from the State of Mexico began monitoring the area and making raids where many loggers were arrested.
On November of that year, the Public Prosecutor requested 47 arrest warrants against loggers including Feliciano and Alejo Encarnacion. These orders were denied by the Judge Gerardo Garcia Anzures, who argued that there were not enough elements to determine if a crime was committed. In addition, Feliciano Encarnacion was arrested just two weeks ago during a legal operation undertaken by PROFEPA. However, he was released on bail.
Who were Aldo and Misael Zamora:
Between June 2006 and May 2007, Aldo and Misael Zamora worked with Greenpeace to collect data for a research project assessing the impacts of illegal logging in San Juan Atzingo’ forests. This research is still in process.
Because of the previous situation, Ildefonso and his sons were a target of many threats from logger gangs members and from Feliciano Encarnacion, the logger previously mentioned.
We are requesting of mister Calderon the following:
That this attack is clarified immediately and the people responsible for the homicide of Aldo Zamora, the damages to Misael Zamora and other related crimes are punished.
That the security of Ildefonso Zamora and his family are guaranteed along with that of the people people from the community who have fought against illegal logging, particularly Neri Carlos, Nicolás Hernández Alberto and Alejandro Ramírez Raymundo and their families.
That immediate measures are taken to stop illegal logging in the zone in coordination with the states of Mexico and Morelos in order to stop and punish those who are found responsible.
(comments now closed)
Comments
¡JUSTICIA !
Posted by: rosalba contreras garcia | May 28, 2007 4:51 AM
Please tell me what is going on in this case. I am very sad.
Posted by: Gertraude Trosien-Peisker | May 28, 2007 8:01 AM
Please tell me what is going on in this case. I am very sad.
Posted by: Gertraude Trosien-Peisker | May 28, 2007 8:01 AM
it must be to stop...
Posted by: ahmad naki | May 28, 2007 8:10 PM
Justice for Aldo and Misael Zamora! Stop the murderer!
Save Great Water Forest!
Posted by: Patricia Becher-Ketterer | May 30, 2007 10:39 AM
That's very obscene !!!
The killers must be stopped, but the government must to act to protect the environment, immediatelly !!!
Because in this nation there is an attack at the human right and against the environment ! that scandal must be end immediatelly !!!
Posted by: Alex | May 31, 2007 8:44 PM
This is so disturbing & sad...my prayers are with his family...
Posted by: Denise | May 31, 2007 10:40 PM
Severe was misspelt as sever. Not very impressive if you're sending this letter to the government. I hope you all noticed the mistake and corrected it.
Posted by: Pascal | June 2, 2007 11:04 AM
Stop asking tree loggers to extract too much first then protect your good-purposes actvists better.
Make the price level a servant of the population, not its enemy.
Posted by: Vinnie | June 2, 2007 4:00 PM
please be updating me on what is going on in aspect of forestry
Posted by: KIPKEMBOI | June 2, 2007 6:54 PM
The Great Forest is very precious for everyone including future generations and it must be saved RIGHT NOW!
Justice has got to be served for Aldo and Misael now!
Posted by: Melissa Brown | June 3, 2007 11:52 AM
oh god... so sad. Justice for bad guys, glory for you guys!
Posted by: Ashley | June 3, 2007 4:01 PM
Hugs and prays for him and his family.
Posted by: Ashley | June 3, 2007 4:03 PM
This is very bad so sad.We have to say no no no.Wrightus people felt victims in this world.Its enough of unjustice cousing crauelty.GOD will always be with all the familis that stand 4 whats wright.Most of all Aldo and Misael Zamora and family be strong and prays GOD.Protect inveronment and always
Posted by: Gino V Mbotto | June 6, 2007 10:14 AM
it is sad to see what nature helpers are gaining in todays world!!
merderers must be punished severely but in economical way! keep informing more on this..
Posted by: sidharth dugar | June 6, 2007 4:10 PM
En mexico la impunidad opera, en greenpeace es solo uno de los muchos casos que han pasado, no solo de asesinatos, sino de gente que es detenida por defender nuestro planeta.
Posted by: Azul | June 8, 2007 9:29 AM
I wish the family of the family of the "the great" Aldo Zamora a lot of strongness.He was great and brave.
We must continue his fight against illegal logging. We must bring this brute murdering under international attention.
Posted by: Roy Yau | June 8, 2007 10:18 AM
sad that such animals exist
Posted by: John Arthur Siddall | June 8, 2007 10:23 AM
thats not fair....!! is just that is not fair...1 president do something we want justice we want that the killers pay the price....WE WANT JUSTICE IN THIS WORLD
Posted by: carolina | June 17, 2007 8:45 AM
It is terrible to take somebody's life and I am so sad this happened to a defender of the forest. I wish his famisy to be strong and I would like to tell them that we are a lot of people out there who care about what is going on ...Please don't give up fingthing.
Posted by: Eleni Stravakou | June 17, 2007 6:13 PM
(in indonesian)
sangat menyedihkan apa yang dialami Aldo dan Misael Zamora..
dimana KEADILAN??
Posted by: tojad | June 18, 2007 6:10 AM
Is greed so important to Mexico?
How can you explain murder if someone only wants to protect Nature?
I am very very sorry for the family and beloved ones wishing them lots of support!!!!
Ester jansen
Posted by: ester jansen Netherlands | June 19, 2007 10:58 PM
It's not enough to say this is terrible. We have to do something. Thank you for the information....its not exactly mainstream news.
Posted by: Robert Olley | June 20, 2007 3:31 PM
A la Familia Zamora me uno en su dolor al perder a uno de sus seres queridos en la defenza de una causa noble como es la proteccion del planeta. Es increible como los humanos tenemos esa capacidad de odio, segados por la ambicion y no enterder que solo tenemos el Planeta Tierra que va a ser la herencia para las futuras generaciones, sino protejemos los bosques, manglares, oceanos y rios, perderemos la biodiversidad que en ellos habitan y nos vamos a quedar vacios.
Posted by: paulina mendoza | June 21, 2007 1:33 PM
It is very sad to hear this news.We will keep on fighting.
Posted by: Chai | June 22, 2007 1:08 PM
This is outrageous! There'e are a few good men left who do care 'bout out environment and is this the price they pay for it? Really, if nothing less than hunting down the loggers and bringing them down is done, it's a disgrace on the Government's part.
And i'm really am sorry for the family, they lost a great person.
Posted by: Vicky | June 24, 2007 7:03 AM
I am normally a big defender of Mexico because I am very proud of my culture but this situation is disturbing and I am ashamed that the government hasn't acted upon it.
Posted by: joyce | June 25, 2007 2:41 AM
we should act on it.. mexico is only i case to have awaken us.. but this is a global scenario of coruption.. i hope somewhere someone should rise against this.. long live defenders of the earth!.. hasta la victoria siempre..
Posted by: kidj | June 25, 2007 11:25 AM
para los familiares una lamentable perdida, no dejemos que los ideales y la lucha de Idelfonso queden ahi, vamos uniendonos y continuar con su proyecto en pro de la defensa del medio ambiente...
No dejemos que esto continue pasando, exigimos justicia y sobre todo los activistas greenpeace no reaccionamos con violencia, sino con una lucha ideologica constante en pro de la VIDA...
Posted by: Cristy | June 28, 2007 11:57 PM
To hell with the murderers... Why has the world gone so mad???
Posted by: Jasmin C.D. | June 29, 2007 11:20 PM
There Are so many crimes against this beautiful planet. We are powerful to help, and must. The people at the top are all murderers. My brother was a forester, he was murdered. Every day innocent people die for greed and we must all do what we can. Peace and power to all good people.The planet is so angry we had better watch out. Always the innocent die.Our time is precious. We must do all we can.
Posted by: Catherine Jefferson | July 1, 2007 12:21 PM
We should give hand to them.
This is only help that we can do now!!
Posted by: Jessia jung | July 1, 2007 12:42 PM
This is not a movie where justice has sure wins, evil is not weak, if we want justice then we must fight for it.....literally.
Posted by: James | July 2, 2007 7:50 AM
please don't allow these bad men to go unpunished for ending the life of a great man
Posted by: Jason M. Beaudry | July 6, 2007 3:11 AM
May he rest in peace and that his death will drive though their hearts
Posted by: Rob Sutcliffe | July 6, 2007 3:14 AM
This is such a massive step backwards and must be acted upon before it ripple effects and wonderfull caring people like this family are too scared to continue the good fights.
Posted by: Bek | July 6, 2007 1:35 PM
so sad..
kejam sekali sih! yang seperti ini harus ada justice yang betul2 adil, setimpal dengan apa yang sudah diperbuat orang-orang itu!
semoga bisa segera dituntaskan dengan jalan yang adil..
Posted by: diny | July 6, 2007 5:14 PM
why are talking about lives here.
this must be justivide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i am shocked we cant let this slip away.
Posted by: Tamara hoogland | July 6, 2007 6:10 PM
Unbelievable that greed gone to such an extent... My heart goes out to the family.
But again,
Keep on fighting for Mother Earth!! If we lose the battle, the earth will be a "lost cause".
For Peace, Love and a Green Earth,
Sara
Posted by: Sara A | July 7, 2007 2:26 PM
This is so bad
Posted by: krissy | July 8, 2007 2:10 PM
Utterly abominable.
Posted by: Dawn Keur | July 10, 2007 6:28 AM
I see it as another irrational act by someone to great person.May patience prevail more with this people who are concerned with the killing,may God forgive them.
Posted by: Dave M. Pagtakhan | July 11, 2007 10:58 AM