Sergio Medina Islands against chieftaincy and resource degradation natural community is willing to fight even at the expense of their lives, as has already happened.
Acaxochitlán, Hidalgo. The fear of the inhabitants of the community-Zacacuautla this municipality, to be killed, as happened with Samuel Cruz Hernandez and Francisco Gómez García, forced to abandon their struggle to prevent the indiscriminate felling of the forest and unpunished in this life-giving People of the Sierra Otomi-Tepehua. In that fear, however, continue to outrage and helplessness of seeing consume what they called "ecocide" and encourages the brave locals insist on their fight, one of its facets is to face the formidable family Canales Temples and even against local authorities.
in advance, some confess that they know well that they have lost the battle. They know that justice in this country costs and they lack the money to buy it. So Zacacuautla neighbors refer cases of Francisco Gomez and Samuel Cruz, whose deaths have gone unpunished. The origin of this tragedy not only local but state began when Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) granted improperly to a person who owns the forest, a permit to operate timber.
On the intervention of the federal agency, the state government and the mayor wash their hands to argue that the permission to fell it gave a federal body. With this argument two citizen representatives forget that there is a longstanding dispute over the land owner in which a whole village is involved and that a judicial decision and the reason given to the villagers as their own history.
Until 2002, Zacacuautla was a quiet town, women recount Contralínea-Hidalgo, during his tour of the devastated area - some 60 hectares of forest that served as communal land, but all knew who belonged to the family-Gómez . In these areas, all community residents stocked up on firewood, others built their houses with wood from this forest calling Francisco Gómez García, who without exception recognized as authentic owner of the forest for many years. That
mountain residents now recall, was always alone, without fencing, because the owners never lived in the community.
Everything changed in early 2002. The traditional tranquility of the village was broken by the murder of Francisco Gómez García. The inhabitants, although they acknowledge they have no evidence, say that the responsibility for this death rests with the family Canales Temples, and reiterate that Francis was killed to steal their land.
Although the local people reiterate that no evidence to point to the family of the murder Temples Channels Gomez Garcia, casually explains that his death occurred shortly after he called to ask people to donate a piece of land to build a cemetery. In that request, Gomez Garcia responded with the donation of two acres, but the operation never materialized because he was assassinated a few months later.
Restless, residents expressed doubts about the cause of the death of Francisco Gómez. Reveal that the murder occurred when he tried to expel from their land to the Temple family channels, which at that point and sought to appropriate the land by planting crops in the area known as "The Plan", drawing the owner's absence.
Shortly after the murder a committee went to see Alejandro Gómez García, brother and executor of the late Francisco Gomez, to inform him of the verbal agreement he had with his brother's people. Without further ado, say the neighbors, the new owner agreed and offered to sell the town two hectares, and that two would be insufficient for the town's graveyard. Then, the community incorporated in Assembly decided to choose the place known as "The Plan", as it is free of trees have been planted area. Almost immediately
legalized the operation by signing a document supported the four hectares of land were handed over. The land was received by officials and surrounded that day by people in the community with barbed wire.
municipal police serves a particular
But the family's reaction was swift channels. At night and with the help of local police, Edmundo Canales Franco, head of the clan, overthrew the fence and filed a complaint for the crime of plunder in their grievance and against property owners and town officials.
In response to the participation of the municipal police to tear down the fence, most of the inhabitants of Zacacuautla, took to the municipal office facilities, then ruled National Action Party, in protest. After filing the criminal complaint, continued with his story the inhabitants of this paradise, the village was raised as a priority to protect the defendants, under all three had arrest warrants.
Thus, they were processed for court-ordered and collected money for bonds. Meanwhile, the defense of the land was pending.
In September 2004 he was murdered outside his home, Samuel Cruz Hernandez, one of the most visible social activists, and a fervent defender of the forest. Samuel lived near the forest and allowed her to keep at bay the loggers, and especially to openly oppose the activities Channels illicit Temple family.
people also kept informed of everything happening on the mountain. As in the case of Francisco, the other crime remains unpunished and the villagers say that everyone in town know who are the masterminds, although they ignore who the perpetrators. Distrust in government
Against all hope, June 27, 2003 the Superior Court of Justice issued a final ruling on the claim of dispossession that weighed on Messrs. Gómez García. In this way, credited as the owners of the land and acquitted of the crime of plunder. Another statement was issued as for the town authorities and also withdrawn the arrest warrants hanging over the family.
Thus, the ruling said the brothers Eugene and Edward Celestino Canales Temples surnames are responsible for the crime of taking on García Gómez grievances. Equally recognized that the village owns the four acres where he built the expansion of the cemetery.
Until then, the procedures were developed in a positive manner, outlining the villagers, mostly women, while they display their outrage when the road is stopped by dozens of downed trees and by the noise of three saws that work without stop somewhere in the forest -. The people seemed to have regained peace and trust in the authorities, which also occurred at the time of the inauguration of the new mayor, now the PRI, Miguel Angel de la Fuente López.
The new mayor, when he campaigned in the area, promised among others, Justice Samuel Cruz's widow and her two minor children. In his swearing committed to help people re-fencing the property in dispute, since it was established that municipal police had been involved in the destruction of the fence.
However, after more than a year of the current administration, no justice has been applied. By contrast, residents reported, now logging continues in a selective and about two months ago took a brutal pace, which virtually wiped forest trees. The murder weapons are three chainsaws working day and night.
"shot down small trees, large plants and only leave the earth bald and full of junk, tell the neighbors at the time the reporter say the site was a thick forest of pines and firs. Judging by the remains of the logs that were stuck in the ground, piles of wood and debris, the result of what were the leaves of trees and shrubs, cutting was cruel.
"It is regrettable and painful for us to see how the municipal authorities, state and federal levels have colluded in this manner to benefit the children of Edmundo Canales Franco, Margarita and Pedro Canales Canales Temples Temples. Semarnat They were granted a permit for 10 years to harvest timber in this forest and overlooked the fact that they do not own the land, according to the court ruling of June 27, 2003, "recalls the interviewees.
For one of the PRI-leaning women in the community, it is sad that the new mayor has taken the same position as the former mayor to support the family Canales Temples. The villager reviewed with the confidence to be a close associate of the party, sought to put to the problem of forest clearing Dr. Miguel Ángel de la Fuente and his concern about the risk of contaminating the source of the area, which is the only source that supplies the drinking water community.
woman's disappointment was greater when she and her companions were received by the current mayor with a despotic and arrogant attitude. Say not allowed to raise concerns and with a tone of confidence, "probably because party partners," the mayor acknowledged that "the mountain is family channels and that permits for felling Semarnat granted, so that are legal and I can not do anything. " At the end of the meeting, de la Fuente with an authoritative tone were required not to get involved in this problem.
With regard to the disputed land, to the people and that they were recognized in the Judgement of 27 June, the mayor responded to a question from visitors in a tone meant to downplay, "Why is not this piece of land deeded are peeling?. " Later, another neighbor was able to put to the mayor of Acaxochitlán at that meeting, the destruction of the ecosystem by excessive logging. In response, the neighboring town's mayor received an instruction: "Put to reforest and 20 years will return to his forest again."
"You Dona Benita," added the mayor of the Source-How many hectares of forest?, reforéstelas and not walk getting into other properties. " And on the issue of wildlife lose their natural habitat with the criminal logging, the mayor also found the solution to the problem by suggesting to his visitors: "Let the animals go to another forest."
On the way of this stroll through the forest, Contralínea-Hidalgo encentra a tractor pull fallen trees, a truck loaded with timber and several inspectors from the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection. Respond to the lawsuit filed by the residents of Zacacuautla, as part of the resistance actions they undertook to stop the logging, as they had done for the first time about five years. It is also among the group Pedro Canales Temples (a beneficiary with one of the permits SEMARNAT), who has a record under his arm full of official documents.
Zacacuautla, a town in fear
not have to say, Zacacuautla is a town in fear, first by the two murders that remain unsolved and later by the arrest warrants that were turned against the local authorities. Therefore, the people had to pay the bonds while the family has shown Channels Temple who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
A small group of women gives the face. Few men in the community se involucran, tal vez porque el día de la visita a este poblado situado en los límites de Hidalgo y Puebla, al oriente de la entidad y a unos 30 kilómetros de la ciudad de Tulancingo, sea un día hábil. Pero los pocos hombres que participan poco hablan y piden que se les nombre genéricamente “como el pueblo”, sin nombres, porque, dicen “están advertidos”.
La muerte de Samuel Cruz impregnó de temor el ambiente. La indignación fue más grande y los animó a tomar por primera vez la presidencia, pero como ese hecho generó represalias por el anterior alcalde, le negó a la comunidad toda clase de obras y la gente se preocupó tanto que ahora manifiesta abiertamente su temor.
all know each other, so the Canales family history is alien Temple no. The events surrounding this family with tragedy and death smell strange at all clear, say several residents interviewed.
The family's eldest son was accidentally killed by a bullet, is thought to be at the hands of the father, who thought it was another person that had problems. This case was justified because they know who killed him. It is speculated that the wife and mother Franco Edmundo Canales of Canales Temples brothers, could also die of a bullet, although it said it was a natural death. But only they know, accept.
Aora, affects the family suspected of being responsible for the deaths of Samuel Cruz Hernandez and Francisco Gómez García and awarded by the poor to claim 60 hectares of forest in this community. To do so, presented a deed dated 2003 and I do not even match the boundaries, some witnesses reported.
Also notable is the influence of the family in the social and political aspects of the region. Even the town priest is his friend and the mayor, so do not discard the influence peddling to obtain operating permits owned forests is uncertain. Quietly, the neighbors say that the scriptures that have the channels were obtained by terror or distributing money to some authorities. "So they operate," they say.
addition to fear of this family, originally from Tonalisco, Puebla, there is a fear of gangs of robbers and loggers of forests, a fact already admitted by the mayor who accepts poor results in combating illegal logging that devastated local and much of the forest Acaxochitlán.
So people are afraid. For this reason very few get involved to help, although sympathetic to the movement claimed, because they worry that cutting down the forest to build huts, as suspected, the stream of water that supplies of water, perhaps for lack of dry trees.
Posted: Year in February / March 2007 / No. 18
in advance, some confess that they know well that they have lost the battle. They know that justice in this country costs and they lack the money to buy it. So Zacacuautla neighbors refer cases of Francisco Gomez and Samuel Cruz, whose deaths have gone unpunished. The origin of this tragedy not only local but state began when Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) granted improperly to a person who owns the forest, a permit to operate timber.
On the intervention of the federal agency, the state government and the mayor wash their hands to argue that the permission to fell it gave a federal body. With this argument two citizen representatives forget that there is a longstanding dispute over the land owner in which a whole village is involved and that a judicial decision and the reason given to the villagers as their own history.
Until 2002, Zacacuautla was a quiet town, women recount Contralínea-Hidalgo, during his tour of the devastated area - some 60 hectares of forest that served as communal land, but all knew who belonged to the family-Gómez . In these areas, all community residents stocked up on firewood, others built their houses with wood from this forest calling Francisco Gómez García, who without exception recognized as authentic owner of the forest for many years. That
mountain residents now recall, was always alone, without fencing, because the owners never lived in the community.
Everything changed in early 2002. The traditional tranquility of the village was broken by the murder of Francisco Gómez García. The inhabitants, although they acknowledge they have no evidence, say that the responsibility for this death rests with the family Canales Temples, and reiterate that Francis was killed to steal their land.
Although the local people reiterate that no evidence to point to the family of the murder Temples Channels Gomez Garcia, casually explains that his death occurred shortly after he called to ask people to donate a piece of land to build a cemetery. In that request, Gomez Garcia responded with the donation of two acres, but the operation never materialized because he was assassinated a few months later.
Restless, residents expressed doubts about the cause of the death of Francisco Gómez. Reveal that the murder occurred when he tried to expel from their land to the Temple family channels, which at that point and sought to appropriate the land by planting crops in the area known as "The Plan", drawing the owner's absence.
Shortly after the murder a committee went to see Alejandro Gómez García, brother and executor of the late Francisco Gomez, to inform him of the verbal agreement he had with his brother's people. Without further ado, say the neighbors, the new owner agreed and offered to sell the town two hectares, and that two would be insufficient for the town's graveyard. Then, the community incorporated in Assembly decided to choose the place known as "The Plan", as it is free of trees have been planted area. Almost immediately
legalized the operation by signing a document supported the four hectares of land were handed over. The land was received by officials and surrounded that day by people in the community with barbed wire.
municipal police serves a particular
But the family's reaction was swift channels. At night and with the help of local police, Edmundo Canales Franco, head of the clan, overthrew the fence and filed a complaint for the crime of plunder in their grievance and against property owners and town officials.
In response to the participation of the municipal police to tear down the fence, most of the inhabitants of Zacacuautla, took to the municipal office facilities, then ruled National Action Party, in protest. After filing the criminal complaint, continued with his story the inhabitants of this paradise, the village was raised as a priority to protect the defendants, under all three had arrest warrants.
Thus, they were processed for court-ordered and collected money for bonds. Meanwhile, the defense of the land was pending.
In September 2004 he was murdered outside his home, Samuel Cruz Hernandez, one of the most visible social activists, and a fervent defender of the forest. Samuel lived near the forest and allowed her to keep at bay the loggers, and especially to openly oppose the activities Channels illicit Temple family.
people also kept informed of everything happening on the mountain. As in the case of Francisco, the other crime remains unpunished and the villagers say that everyone in town know who are the masterminds, although they ignore who the perpetrators. Distrust in government
Against all hope, June 27, 2003 the Superior Court of Justice issued a final ruling on the claim of dispossession that weighed on Messrs. Gómez García. In this way, credited as the owners of the land and acquitted of the crime of plunder. Another statement was issued as for the town authorities and also withdrawn the arrest warrants hanging over the family.
Thus, the ruling said the brothers Eugene and Edward Celestino Canales Temples surnames are responsible for the crime of taking on García Gómez grievances. Equally recognized that the village owns the four acres where he built the expansion of the cemetery.
Until then, the procedures were developed in a positive manner, outlining the villagers, mostly women, while they display their outrage when the road is stopped by dozens of downed trees and by the noise of three saws that work without stop somewhere in the forest -. The people seemed to have regained peace and trust in the authorities, which also occurred at the time of the inauguration of the new mayor, now the PRI, Miguel Angel de la Fuente López.
The new mayor, when he campaigned in the area, promised among others, Justice Samuel Cruz's widow and her two minor children. In his swearing committed to help people re-fencing the property in dispute, since it was established that municipal police had been involved in the destruction of the fence.
However, after more than a year of the current administration, no justice has been applied. By contrast, residents reported, now logging continues in a selective and about two months ago took a brutal pace, which virtually wiped forest trees. The murder weapons are three chainsaws working day and night.
"shot down small trees, large plants and only leave the earth bald and full of junk, tell the neighbors at the time the reporter say the site was a thick forest of pines and firs. Judging by the remains of the logs that were stuck in the ground, piles of wood and debris, the result of what were the leaves of trees and shrubs, cutting was cruel.
"It is regrettable and painful for us to see how the municipal authorities, state and federal levels have colluded in this manner to benefit the children of Edmundo Canales Franco, Margarita and Pedro Canales Canales Temples Temples. Semarnat They were granted a permit for 10 years to harvest timber in this forest and overlooked the fact that they do not own the land, according to the court ruling of June 27, 2003, "recalls the interviewees.
For one of the PRI-leaning women in the community, it is sad that the new mayor has taken the same position as the former mayor to support the family Canales Temples. The villager reviewed with the confidence to be a close associate of the party, sought to put to the problem of forest clearing Dr. Miguel Ángel de la Fuente and his concern about the risk of contaminating the source of the area, which is the only source that supplies the drinking water community.
woman's disappointment was greater when she and her companions were received by the current mayor with a despotic and arrogant attitude. Say not allowed to raise concerns and with a tone of confidence, "probably because party partners," the mayor acknowledged that "the mountain is family channels and that permits for felling Semarnat granted, so that are legal and I can not do anything. " At the end of the meeting, de la Fuente with an authoritative tone were required not to get involved in this problem.
With regard to the disputed land, to the people and that they were recognized in the Judgement of 27 June, the mayor responded to a question from visitors in a tone meant to downplay, "Why is not this piece of land deeded are peeling?. " Later, another neighbor was able to put to the mayor of Acaxochitlán at that meeting, the destruction of the ecosystem by excessive logging. In response, the neighboring town's mayor received an instruction: "Put to reforest and 20 years will return to his forest again."
"You Dona Benita," added the mayor of the Source-How many hectares of forest?, reforéstelas and not walk getting into other properties. " And on the issue of wildlife lose their natural habitat with the criminal logging, the mayor also found the solution to the problem by suggesting to his visitors: "Let the animals go to another forest."
On the way of this stroll through the forest, Contralínea-Hidalgo encentra a tractor pull fallen trees, a truck loaded with timber and several inspectors from the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection. Respond to the lawsuit filed by the residents of Zacacuautla, as part of the resistance actions they undertook to stop the logging, as they had done for the first time about five years. It is also among the group Pedro Canales Temples (a beneficiary with one of the permits SEMARNAT), who has a record under his arm full of official documents.
Zacacuautla, a town in fear
not have to say, Zacacuautla is a town in fear, first by the two murders that remain unsolved and later by the arrest warrants that were turned against the local authorities. Therefore, the people had to pay the bonds while the family has shown Channels Temple who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
A small group of women gives the face. Few men in the community se involucran, tal vez porque el día de la visita a este poblado situado en los límites de Hidalgo y Puebla, al oriente de la entidad y a unos 30 kilómetros de la ciudad de Tulancingo, sea un día hábil. Pero los pocos hombres que participan poco hablan y piden que se les nombre genéricamente “como el pueblo”, sin nombres, porque, dicen “están advertidos”.
La muerte de Samuel Cruz impregnó de temor el ambiente. La indignación fue más grande y los animó a tomar por primera vez la presidencia, pero como ese hecho generó represalias por el anterior alcalde, le negó a la comunidad toda clase de obras y la gente se preocupó tanto que ahora manifiesta abiertamente su temor.
all know each other, so the Canales family history is alien Temple no. The events surrounding this family with tragedy and death smell strange at all clear, say several residents interviewed.
The family's eldest son was accidentally killed by a bullet, is thought to be at the hands of the father, who thought it was another person that had problems. This case was justified because they know who killed him. It is speculated that the wife and mother Franco Edmundo Canales of Canales Temples brothers, could also die of a bullet, although it said it was a natural death. But only they know, accept.
Aora, affects the family suspected of being responsible for the deaths of Samuel Cruz Hernandez and Francisco Gómez García and awarded by the poor to claim 60 hectares of forest in this community. To do so, presented a deed dated 2003 and I do not even match the boundaries, some witnesses reported.
Also notable is the influence of the family in the social and political aspects of the region. Even the town priest is his friend and the mayor, so do not discard the influence peddling to obtain operating permits owned forests is uncertain. Quietly, the neighbors say that the scriptures that have the channels were obtained by terror or distributing money to some authorities. "So they operate," they say.
addition to fear of this family, originally from Tonalisco, Puebla, there is a fear of gangs of robbers and loggers of forests, a fact already admitted by the mayor who accepts poor results in combating illegal logging that devastated local and much of the forest Acaxochitlán.
So people are afraid. For this reason very few get involved to help, although sympathetic to the movement claimed, because they worry that cutting down the forest to build huts, as suspected, the stream of water that supplies of water, perhaps for lack of dry trees.
Posted: Year in February / March 2007 / No. 18
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