URGENT APPEAL: DEFENDERS OF LAND, TERRITORY AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF UNIÓN HIDALGO, OAXACA, AT RISK

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AU-ProDESC: 1/2022
MEXICO CITY, 11 FEBRUARY 2022

URGENT APPEAL: DEFENDERS OF LAND, TERRITORY AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF UNIÓN HIDALGO, OAXACA, AT RISK

Description of the situation:

On Thursday 11 February, Edgar Martin Regalado, a member of the Collective for the Defence of Human Rights and Communal Property of Unión Hidalgo, was victim of an armed attack launched from a car.  The car’s crew repeatedly fired shots into the air and at Edgar’s vehicle.  The defender was returning home just hours after participating in a press conference in the city of Oaxaca where he explained the recent actions of the collective and the human rights organisation ProDESC to stop the construction and operation of the Gunaa Sicarú wind farm by the company Electricité de France (EDF).

During the press conference, members of the Collective and ProDESC announced the filing of an appeal against the decision of the Paris Judicial Court to deny the suspension of the construction of the Gunaa Sicarú wind project for violation of the rights of the Zapotec community of Unión Hidalgo, particularly the right to free, prior and informed consultation.

Actions requested:

In light of these events, which constitute a direct threat to the life of a human rights defender, and in the context of the growing crisis of community rights in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, we ask the State and federal authorities:

1. To carry out a diligent investigation into the facts denounced.
2. Guarantee the life, physical and psychological integrity and security of Edgar Martín Regalado and other members of the collective for the defence of human rights and communal property of Unión Hidalgo.
3. Identify and punish those responsible for this attack.
4. Guarantee protection and non-repetition measures for the defenders of the Collective for the Defence of Human Rights and Communal Property of Unión Hidalgo.

Signatory organisations:

• Proyecto de Derechos Económicos Sociales y Culturales (ProDESC)
• Red Nacional de Organismos Civiles de Derechos Humanos Todos los derechos para todas y todos (Red TDT)
• National Network of Human Rights Defenders
• SERvicios de Pueblo Mixe SER
• Comité de Defensores de Derechos Humanos de Cholollán
• Comite de Defensa Integral de Derechos Humanos Gobixha A.C.
• Consorcio Oaxaca
• Equipo Indignación
• Emparre LLC
• The Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights
• OXFAM México
• Centro de Información sobre Empresas y Derechos Humanos
• Servicios para una Educación Alternativa A.C. EDUCA
• Pensamiento y Acción Social (PAS- Colombia)