On 10 November 2013, two days before the latest hearing in the Ejido La Sierrita’s agrarian court case against the Canadian mining company Excellon Resources Inc., public security officials arbitrarily detained Omar Pacheco, Adolfo Gómez Chareo, Julio Orona, Héctor Pacheco, Luis Orona, and Ricardo Calderón, all members of the La Sierrita de Galeana community in the State of Durango and relatives of ejidatarios (communal landowners). Furthermore, two days previously, Héctor Pacheco was arbitrarily detained and beaten in detention. None of those detained arbitrarily were brought before a judge and no arrest warrants were shown. The six community members have since been released, but the climate of intimidation and violence remains. All but the last three people named are also affiliated to Local 309 of the National Mining Union (SNTMMSSRM) and were fired by Excellon last year for demanding their labour rights.
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The Letter
I believe that the arbitrary detentions of Omar Pacheco, Adolfo Gómez Chareo, Julio Orona, Luis Orona, Ricardo Calderón, and Héctor Pacheco, as well as the other acts of intimidation and violence carried out by Durango State Police officials and members of the Durango State Bureau of Investigation, are a direct consequence of the legitimate struggle of the Ejido La Sierrita and Local 309 of the National Mining Union in the defense of their human rights, in the face of the actions being taken by Excellon Resources Inc. I urge you to immediately drop any criminal or other charges against the individuals mentioned above; to identify, investigate and sanction those responsible for the above incidents; and to take the necessary measures to guarantee the security and physical and psychological integrity of the La Sierrita community members and the Local 309 affiliates, along with their family members, in accordance with their own wishes.