Chihuahua, Chih., June 06, 2022. The undersigned organizations make an urgent call for the Mexican government and the government of the state of Chihuahua to address in a comprehensive and definitive manner the environmental conflicts that have been denounced for years by the inhabitants of the Benito Juárez and Constitución ejidos, both from the municipality of Buenaventura.

In recent days, the risk of a serious social conflict being triggered has potentially increased, based on the issuance of arrest warrants requested by the Attorney General of the State of Chihuahua against farmers who continue to defend their natural resources.

The Benito Juárez and Constitución ejidos have bravely resisted in defense of their resources; the former against a Canadian mining company with an open-pit exploitation project and, the latter against the indiscriminate and illegal exploitation of water by privileged farmers without permits.

Defending their resources has had very high costs for the farmers, such as the still unpunished murder of Ismael Solorio and Manuela Solís in 2012 and Alberto Almeida in 2013, as well as threats and attacks that have led to precautionary measures granted by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). Despite this, in the state of Chihuahua the persecution of human rights defenders persists.

On May 18, in the Senate of the Republic, a point of agreement was proposed, by which the Permanent Commission of the Congress of the Union, urges the creation of a task force that would address the issues raised. Along the same lines, on May 31, the Chihuahua State Congress presented a position regarding the urgency and attention that this situation requires.

Due to the foregoing, our organizations urge the federal and state authorities to resolve the situation as a social conflict, which derives mainly from the failure of the authorities in charge of protecting the environment, despite multiple complaints having been filed.

SIGNED:

Abogadas Demócratas

Alianza Sierra Madre A.C. (ASMAC)

Bowerasa A.C.

Casa Amiga Esther Chávez Cano A.C.

Centro de Atención a la Mujer Trabajadora de Chihuahua A. C.

Centro de Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres A.C. (CEDEHM)

Comisión de Solidaridad y Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (COSYDDHAC)

Consultoría Técnica Comunitaria A.C. (CONTEC)

Derechos Humanos Integrales en Acción A.C.

Ecos de Mirabal

El Barzón Chihuahua

Fátima I.B.P

Grupo Feminista 8 de Marzo

Justicia Para Nuestras Hijas A.C.

Justicia y Género Chihuahua

Mujeres por México en Chihuahua A.C.

Mukira

Organización Popular Independiente A.C.

Sin Violencia A.C.

Transforma A.C.

Uno de Siete Migrando A.C.

Unión Campesina Democrática (UCD)