Mexico: Alive Presentation of Sandra Estéfana Domínguez Martínez!

We hereby publish an unofficial translation of an article published by Sol Rojo México.

On October 4, Sandra Estéfana Domínguez Martínez, sister of our colleague Kenia who is a member of our democratic organization, disappeared in the town of María Lombardo de Caso, San Juan Cotzocón Mixe, Oaxaca.

This morning, Sandra’s family, with the support of Current of the People – Red Sun, Consorcio Oaxaca, and various groups and personalities, gave a press conference.

Below we share the bulletin prepared for the media.

PRESS RELEASE

Oaxaca, Oaxaca, on October 11, 2024

They demand an effective search for the alive presentation of Sandra Domínguez Martínez, Human Rights Defender

· The family requests the intervention of Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, President of the Republic, so that the federation can assist in locating the human rights defender alive

· The family asks Salomón Jara, Governor of Oaxaca, to assume with priority the search and the alive location.

· The family requests that the State guarantee their physical safety, as well as the necessary means to carry out the search.

Sandra Estéfana Domínguez Martínez has been missing since October 4, 2024. As soon as the family learned of the situation, they went to the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Oaxaca to file a formal complaint for her disappearance, despite the fact that, firstly, they also activated the action of the State Search Commission, however, to date they still have no information on the whereabouts of the defender.

Today, in a press conference, accompanied by various organizations, people from the community, and friends, the family made public two letters, one addressed to the President of the Republic and another to the Governor of Oaxaca, in which they request action and intervention to act with diligence, because as it is known in the context of the disappearance of a person what counts is time and it cannot be delayed because delaying can cost a life.

The family was represented by her mother, Kenia and Aracely Domínguez Martínez, sisters of the Defender.

In the public letter addressed to the president of Mexico, Aracely Domínguez Martínez, (her sister) stated:

“I am writing to you with a heart full of hope and anguish, requesting your intervention in a matter of extreme importance and personal pain. My sister, Sandra Estéfana Domínguez Martínez, disappeared on October 4, 2024 in María Lombardo de Caso, San Juan Cotzcón Mixe. Since then, we have been tirelessly searching for any clue that will lead us to her location.

Despite our efforts, the situation has been overwhelming and heart-breakening. As a family, we feel desperate and vulnerable, and we appeal to your sensitivity and commitment to human rights and the safety of our citizens.

I ask for your support to intensify the searches and allocate additional resources to this case. The intervention of your office could make a crucial difference in locating my sister and in addressing cases of missing persons in our country.”

In the Public Letter addressed to the Governor, Kenia Domínguez Martínez, states:

“Your administration’s commitment to the safety and well-being of all citizens is well-known and respected. I therefore appeal to your humanity and leadership to take immediate action to strengthen the search for Sandra Estéfana Domínguez Martínez. Your government’s active participation could make a significant difference and restore hope by returning Sandra to us alive.”

Eduardo Palma, representative of the organization accompanying the Current of the People – Red Sun case, expressed his full support and accompaniment to the family from the first moment of the news of the disappearance and called on the State to expedite intelligence mechanisms in the search to determine the whereabouts of his companion Sandra.

For her part, Elizabeth Mosqueda Rivera, a member of the Collegiate Board of Consorcio Oaxaca, expressed her concern for the life of the defender, urging the State to speed up the search for her alive. She also brought up the serious situation of missing women in Oaxaca, which with Sandra are 653 during Salomón Jara’s six-year term. She stated that from Consorcio Oaxaca we will be joining each of the actions to demand her alive presentation that the Family carries out. We are not willing to remain silent.

On the other hand, Yésica Sánchez Maya called on Salomón Jara Cruz not to repeat the history of his predecessor Alejandro Murat, who was unable to bring the defenders Irma Galindo and Claudia Uruchurtú back alive, and to this day we still do not know their whereabouts.

The call to the executive branch officials to not contaminate the investigation by leaking or taking positions that only show their interest in hindering the search was emphasized. At this time, the Government’s priority is to FIND HER ALIVE and return her to her family. The State Attorney General’s Office is responsible for reporting on the investigation, and it was stressed that it is important to protect its independence.

The family was also accompanied by various people from the community, human rights defenders, organizations and collectives that carry out their work in Oaxaca; the Network of Women Human Rights Defenders and Activists in Oaxaca, CLADEM, the Damián Gallardo Martínez Committee, the Mariposas Network of Mixe Women, Chatinas for Equality, the Chimalli Network, Oaxacan Women Weaving Community, the lawyer and human rights defender Joaquín Galván and the Federal Deputy Aracely Cruz, who supported the request for the alive presentation of the defender and the request for guarantees so that the family can continue to raise their voice in the search for Sandra, as well as to avoid any act of intimidation, harassment or threats.

They closed the press conference with the slogan “Because they took her alive, we want her alive.”