The Oaxaca Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that Rigoberto Martínez, coach and teacher, was shot dead on Monday afternoon in the municipality of Putla de Guerrero, in the Sierra Sur of Oaxaca. The Triqui Unification Movement is demanding justice for his murder.
“We continue to promote and support sports so that our children have more opportunities, in addition to teamwork and healthy coexistence,” was the last post on social media by Martínez, who was killed by several gunshots after finishing a training session with children at the “Presidente Lázaro Cárdenas” Experimental Normal School.
Martínez, 34, originally from Santa Cruz Río Venado, a Triqui community, was not only a coach but also a preschool teacher in San José Yosocañu, Constancia del Rosario’s agency. His passion for sports and providing hope for children in violent Triqui communities began about 10 years ago when he joined the ‘Descalzos de la Montaña’ project.
A few months ago, Martínez founded his own basketball academy, “Rigo’s Oaxaca,” with the dream of creating a team of dedicated young basketball players. However, his dream was cut short around 7 pm on Monday when he was shot on the “Lázaro Cárdenas” highway, near C2 cameras.
Just last Saturday, “Rigo’s Oaxaca” published a list of 11 games featuring teams such as Copala, San Miguelito, La Joya, Los Amigos, ABR, and IEBO.
“Sport is a resource that all children should have by right. In San José Yosocañú, we promote basketball for children at an early age. It is a great challenge, but we have many dreams and hopes of achieving our goals. Thanks to the parents for their support. Always working as a team,” Martínez said a few days ago. He was also the director of the Preschool Education Center “San José Yosocañú.”
Martínez was a member of the Triqui Unification and Struggle Movement (MULT) and trained a team of children interested in basketball at the Normal School of Putla in the afternoons.
According to neighbors and security reports, Martínez was on the “Lázaro Cárdenas” boulevard when he saw his aggressors and ran towards the Normal School, where he was shot and killed.
Martínez’s family announced that his body will be laid to rest in Santa Cruz Río Venado on Tuesday.
With Martínez’s death, three members of the MULT have now been killed in Oaxaca as victims of high-impact attacks.
The Attorney General’s Office of the State of Oaxaca, through the Regional Vice-Prosecutor’s Office of the Mixteca, confirmed that Martínez died from gunshot wounds. A team of experts and investigative agents has been sent to the area to gather evidence and clarify the events to find those responsible.
The Triqui Unification Movement of Struggle (MULT) condemned the murder and demanded justice, pointing out that the aggressors are hiding in the region. Martínez’s death leaves a void not only in the sports community but also in the social and community struggle of Oaxaca, where he was known as a defender of indigenous peoples’ rights and a promoter of sports in marginalized areas.
Source: El Universal
