NOTE: This chronology is in the interest of documenting the timeline of the current wave of violence in San Juan Copala. Additions and corrections (backed up by a link to source material) are welcome.
Saturday, September 25: Around 100 people participate in a women’s march in Oaxaca City called by women from the MASJC encampment. One person, David García Ramírez, remains missing.
Oaxaca Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortíz denies the presence of paramilitaries, deaths or missing persons in San Juan Copala.
Friday, September 24: The Las Abejas Civil Society, survivors of the Acteal Massacre of 1997, express concern over the actions of armed groups in the Triqui region in a letter addressed to top national and state government officials.
Day 45 of the women’s protest encampment in support of the Municipio Autonomo de San Juan Copala (MASJC). Day 2 of the MULT women’s sit-in.
Thursday, September 23: Women from the MULT begin a sit-in in the Alameda de Leon, on the opposite end of the Zócalo from the encampment of displaced autonomy sympathizers. MULT sympathizers say they will continue their sit-in until a march planned for Oct 12th.
Ten female autonomy movement members lift their hunger strike after 3 days, saying all but the most elderly of their members have fled San Juan Copala.
September 22, 2010: Day three of women’s hunger strike in Oaxaca City camp. Oaxaca’s State Human Rights commissions issues written recommendations regarding the Copala case.
Around 400 people have reportedly fled San Juan Copala at this point, with many taking refuge in nearby communities.
Eugenio Martínez López, María Agustina Flores, and Jordan Gonzales – previously reported as missing – now confirmed as alive. New missing persons reported by the Oaxaca City camp: Angelina Ramírez Ortega, María Juana Agustina and a granddaughter, Sofía Martínez. The number of missing persons remains at 6.
September 21, 2010: Pablo Velasco Dorantes (16) reported as injured from gunfire on Sunday, September 19th. José Gonzalo Cruz added to list of missing; six total.
Children removed from Oaxaca City hunger strike in its second day.
MULT issues communique regarding church-mediated dialogue.
Reports that houses belonging to MULT-I leaders and sympathizers burned inside of San Juan Copala.
September 20, 2010: Displaced women and children begin hunger strike in Oaxaca City camp demanding safe passage for some 30 autonomy sympathizers trapped in the town.
Family of MULT-affiliated Daniela and Virginia Ortíz Ramírez issues communique asking MULT-I not to count the missing sisters among their dead.
Citing weekend violence, MULT-I cancels participation in dialogue meeting called by the Bishop of Tehauntepec and Wilfrido “Padre Uvi” Mayrén. MULT attends. UBISORT was not invited for the 1st round of talks.
September 19, 2010: A “considerable group” of autonomy sympathizers flee San Juan Copala in the night to take refuge in other communities, according to the women in the Oaxaca City camp.
Paulino Ramírez Reyes reportedly killed. Jordan González Ramírez, Susana López Martínez, Eugenio Martínez, and María Augustina Flores missing.
A video uploaded a “grito” Independence celebration inside of the Copala municipal office with alleged members of UBISORT.
September 18, 2010: David Garcia Ramirez shot while attempting to leave Copala. Reported as dead, but found wounded. Women from Oaxaca City camp say state police handed him over wounded but alive to paramilitaries.
September 15, 2010: Celebrations held across Mexico for the Bicentennial of the declaration of Independence. Macaria Merino Martínez (85) wounded by gunfire.
September 14, 2010: María Rosa Francisco and María Rosa López wounded by gunfire. Paramilitaries allegedly issue moratorium to leave town or face death.
September 13, 2010: Displaced women agree to move their protest encampment from the zocalo for Bicentennial festivities in exchange for state government promise to send 15 tons of food aid and two state police patrols to San Juan Copala.
Armed men allegedly with UBISORT and MULT take control of San Juan Copala.
September 7, 2010: Two women attacked while attempting to escape San Juan Copala. Natalia Cruz Bautista gang-raped and beaten, Francisca de Jesús García wounded by a bullet in the back while running away. Those accused of the rape are: Antonio “El Pájaro Toño” Cruz García, Julio César Martínez Morales, Ramiro Domínguez García, and Mauro Vásquez.
September 5, 2010: Pedro Santos Castro, municipal agent of Agua Fría Copala killed – MULT and UBISORT blamed.
August 22, 2010: Caravan scheduled to leave Copala with women and children canceled.
August 21, 2010: Ambush in the community of Hierba Santa targets truck carrying people organizing the women’s caravan to Mexico City. Antonio Ramírez López, Antonio Cruz García and Rigoberto González die in the attack. Victor de Jesus Gonzalez and Alfredo Martínez González injured.
August 11, 2010: Women and children displaced from San Juan Copala set up a protest encampment in the Zocalo of Oaxaca City
August 9, 2010: Announcement of a “Third Peace Caravan” to transport women and children from San Juan Copala to Mexico City on August 23rd.
July 30, 2010: Oaxaca state police and UBISORT enter San Juan Copala to pick up the body of UBISORT leader, Anastasio Juárez Hernández
Teenaged sisters Selena and Adela Ramírez López shot during incursion. Bullet lodged in 14 year-old Adela’s spine left her paraplegic.
June 26, 2010: Marcelina de Jesús López and Celestina Cruz Ramírez wounded by sniper fire after leaving a meeting in San Juan Copala.
June 24, 2010: Eight year-old Miriam Martínez wounded by sniper fire in San Juan Copala.
June 8, 2010: A second aid caravan carrying tons of aid and federal congressmen forced to turn back shortly after passing through Santiago Juxtlahuaca.
May 20, 2010: Timoteo Alejandro Ramírez (one of the founders of the autonomous municipality) and his wife Tleriberta Castro murdered in their home in Yosoyuxi.
May 15, 2010: Twelve women who snuck out of Copala to search for food captured and held hostage by armed men.
April 27, 2010: Paramilitaries open fire on a caravan of national and international observers, activists, teachers and journalists. Beatriz Alberta Cariño Trujillo, the director of the Centro de Apoyo Comunitario Trabajando Unidos (CACTUS A.C.) and Jyri Jaakkola, an international observer from Finland, die in the attack from gunshot wounds to the head.
November 29, 2009: Child care center fired upon. Nine year-old Elías Fernández de Jesús dies and Tomotelín y Jacinto Velasco wounded. Another unnamed child reportedly injured. The road blockade installed in La Sabana.