The president of the Center for Human Rights and Legal Assistance to Indigenous Peoples (Cedhapi), Maurilio Santiago Reyes, denounced the abduction of Macario García Merino, leader of the Independent Triqui Unified Struggle Movement (MULTI), from his home by the Oaxaca state police. García Merino is also under the protection of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) as a representative of displaced Triqui families from the community of Tierra Blanca Copala.
Santiago Reyes reported that the abduction occurred on Friday, May 15, around 10:00 a.m., when approximately 20 members of the Oaxaca State Police arrived in four pickup trucks and raided Mr. García Merino’s home, taking him away with excessive force.
He specified that Macario is a beneficiary and petitioner of precautionary measure 279-22, granted by the IACHR in favor of displaced Triqui families from Tierra Blanca Copala, Juxtlahuaca, who are currently in the neighboring community of Yosoyuxi.
The police entered Mr. Macario’s home arbitrarily without a warrant. “His whereabouts are currently unknown, as he is considered disappeared,” he stated.
He emphasized that just on April 29, 2026, the IACHR convened a virtual meeting with the participation of the Mexican State, which committed to complying with the precautionary measure granted on October 27, 2023.
It was also agreed that the Mexican State and the beneficiaries would hold a consultation meeting in May of this year, within the framework of the precautionary measures; however, what occurred was this arbitrary detention.
Therefore, the Center for Human Rights and Legal Assistance to Indigenous Peoples requested “that the Mexican State, through the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urgently inform us of the whereabouts of Macario García Merino, the beneficiary of precautionary measures.”
They also held “the Mexican State responsible for the psychological integrity” of the Triqui leader.
They considered that “the attitude taken” by the government in “arresting” García Merino is “defiant of the urgent measures and actions issued by international organizations.”
The statement was accompanied by two videos showing how the police took García Merino away, using violence.
To date, neither the Oaxaca government nor the State Attorney General’s Office has confirmed or denied the arrest of the MULTI leader.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=954466607576356
Source: proceso
