PBI-Mexico monitors the trial for the murder of Indigenous Rarámuri land defenders Julián Carrillo Martinez and Victor Carrillo

On February 2, the Peace Brigades International-Mexico Project posted: “Today at 9:30 hrs., in Parral, Chihuahua, the trial will be opened against one of the persons identified as responsible for the murder of Julián Carrillo Martinez and his son Victor Carrillo.”

PBI-Mexico highlights: “We are monitoring the case and urge the authorities to ensure that this crime does not remain in impunity.”

Alianza Sierra Madre A.C. (ASMAC), the Centre for Women’s Human Rights (CEDEHM), family representatives and interveners in the trial have noted they “hope that justice will be served in the case of Julian and his son, that they will be punished appropriately to all responsible and to achieve a comprehensive repair including non-repetition measures.”

CEDEHM says: “The Indigenous Rarámuri community of Coloradas de la Virgen has maintained for decades a dignified defense of its land, territory and natural resources, in front of a group of chieftains (caciques) who seek to strip them of them.”

La Jornada reports: “Alianza Sierra Madre and CEDEHM warned that Chihuahua leads the top places in the country in aggression against human rights defenders, and except in the case of Isidro Baldenegro, the rest has not been resolved, so impunity persists.”

CEDEHM adds: “Unfortunately, the case of Coloradas de la Virgen is a reflection of what many indigenous communities experience in our country, so the case should not go unpunished.”

Noting the start of the trial today, Embassy of Canada in Mexico tweeted: “Canada calls for the protection of all parties and witnesses involved in the judicial process.”

Raíchali has reported the trial “could take a couple of weeks.”

PBI-Mexico has accompanied ASMAC since 2018.

PBI-Canada and PBI-Mexico will be holding a webinar featuring Isela Gonzalez, the director of ASMAC, along with Neftali Reyes from Educa Oaxaca on March 11 at 3:30 pm EST. More details on how to register for that coming soon.