abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb

The content is also available in the following languages: español, français

Article

18 Jan 2023

Author:
The Guardian,
Author:
Revista Espejo,
Author:
Alban Lavy, Journal de Bâle (Suisse)

Mexico: Disappeared community leader and lawyer had attended meeting to discuss Ternium's non-compliance with Las Encinas mine agreements

"Fears mount over safety of two missing Mexican environmental activists", 17 January 2023

...Ricardo Arturo Lagunes Gasca, a human rights lawyer and environmentalist and Antonio Díaz Valencia, leader of the Aquila Indigenous community in Michoacán, were last seen on Sunday evening travelling toward the neighbouring state of Colima after attending an anti-mining community meeting.

Lagunes, 41, and Díaz, 71, are presumed to have been abducted after the white Honda pickup truck was found abandoned on the side of a highway.

Lagunes, a high-profile environmental and land rights lawyer who has faced multiple death threats over the years, is representing the Aquila community against mining operations which have generated a myriad of environmental, health and social harms...

Thousands of people have signed a petition calling on authorities to rescue the men amid fears that it could already be too late.

Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for environmental and land rights defenders...In 2021, 54 land rights defenders were murdered and 19 others disappeared...

Lagunes had previously helped Indigenous communities in the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Yucatán and Campeche win legal land battles, and also worked on defending migrants and refugees...

Timeline

Privacy information

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies. You can set your privacy choices below. Changes will take effect immediately.

For more information on our use of web storage, please refer to our Data Usage and Cookies Policy

Strictly necessary storage

ON
OFF

Necessary storage enables core site functionality. This site cannot function without it, so it can only be disabled by changing settings in your browser.

Analytics cookie

ON
OFF

When you access our website we use Google Analytics to collect information on your visit. Accepting this cookie will allow us to understand more details about your journey, and improve how we surface information. All analytics information is anonymous and we do not use it to identify you. Google provides a Google Analytics opt-out add on for all popular browsers.

Promotional cookies

ON
OFF

We share news and updates on business and human rights through third party platforms, including social media and search engines. These cookies help us to understand the performance of these promotions.

Your privacy choices for this site

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies to enhance your experience beyond necessary core functionality.