Justice for the Residents of Lomas de Poleo
Sponsored by Charlotte Lipson and Father Bill Morton
For more information send email to Charlotte
The Issue
Lomas de Poleo continues to be the site of egregious human rights abuses. The village shares the border with Sunland Park, New Mexico—the residents there are our neighbors. Their land is in the path of a proposed border crossing and area of potential lucrative binational development.
In 2003 the wealthy and powerful Zaragosa family began a campaign of intimidation to force the residents off their land. They surrounded the village with barbed wire, surveillance towers, and illegally-armed guards. They displaced hundreds of residents, burned and bulldozed their homes, and destroyed possessions and domestic animals. Adults and children have died amidst the violence.
What We Are Asking
1. Read the petition below.
2. Add your name to the petition by sending an email with the following text:
Please add my name to the petition to support justice for the residents of Lomas de Poleo.
Name:
City:
State:
3. Send the email message by clicking the following link:
unifiedaction@pva-nm.org and foro.lomasdelpoleo@yahoo.com.mx
4. That’s all! We will compile the names received and forward the petition with all the names attached to the appropriate Mexican and U.S. officials listed below.
For More Information
The Web has a wealth of information on the history and current situation in Lomas de Poleo. You can start with
www.pasodelsur.com
www.facebook.com/lomasdelpoleo
Amnesty International, call for Urgent Action
You Tube has dozens of video clips for Lomas de Poleo. You can take a virtual drive around the village here, listen to Father Bill Morton here, and watch an interview with former Juarez Mayor Hector “Teta” Murguía and residents of Lomas de Poleo.
Note: According to Father Morton, Lomas de Poleo is the “correct” and original usage. Over time the “de” has morphed to “del,” which is now more frequently used. You will find it both ways on the Web. PVA is sticking with “de.”
PetitionWe the undersigned respectfully urge that you provide justice and safety for the residents of Lomas del Poleo, past and present: * Ensure that the residents and their representatives who have been assaulted, threatened and harassed by employees of the Zaragoza family are given appropriate protection and that there be independent investigations into the attacks resulting in appropriate penalties and reparations. * Ensure that residents forced off their land, having their homes, possessions and farms bulldozed, their domestic animals killed, are given true value compensation for their losses and their suffering. * Demolish the “concentration camp.” Remove barbed wire fencing, guard towers, gates and all “guards” employed by the Zaragozas. Ensure that residents, their friends and families, have unimpeded access to their homes. * Restore municipal services, including electricity and water, to Lomas del Poleo. * Ensure that the land dispute is resolved fairly and speedily in the Agrarian Tribunal. Waiting seven-plus years for justice is wrong. |
Mexican and U.S. OfficialsLic. Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa Lic. Fernando Francisco Gómez Mont Lic. Raúl Plascencia Villanueva President Barack Obama Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Senator Tom Udall, New Mexico Senator Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico |
