September 29, 2020
To the Indigenous Governing Council
And the National Indigenous Congress
On September 24, a commando unit of more than twelve hitmen assassinated Óscar Eyraud Adams, defender of water, land, and life and member of the Kumiai community from Tecate, Baja California. The murderers moved freely within the territory, entered his house, shot him, and fled without being disturbed by anyone.
Our Kumiai compañero Óscar Eyraud Adams fought for the rights of indigenous peoples and supported other national struggles. Recently he focused on the defense of water and territory. He sought the self-determination of the Kumiai community and the use of water concessions that Conagua had denied them. Oscar was willing to fight until these goals were achieved.
He was assassinated by the narco-state in Tecate, Baja California. None of this could have happened without the collusion of authorities; the impunity that criminals enjoy is only possible due to the open complicity of society with the government and those who have money.
The Kumiai tribe, native inhabitants of this land, has survived a war of extermination for more than 500 years. They have preserved the traditions, language, and knowledge rooted in these lands. Still, they continue to be persecuted by the state, which is rooting out the young people who are fighting for the self-determination of their people, for life, and for the territory. To the Narco-State, money seems to be the only thing that matters. For large corporations there is water, and everything they need to to continue fattening their wallets at the expense of our land, while for the Kumiai there is only bullets and slander.
This is not the first time this has happened. Let us recall the case of Aurora Meza, who was unjustly imprisoned some years ago, a situation that considerably worsened her health, and cost her her life.
We demand an end to the extermination of the Kumiai tribe, of the defenders of the territory and of life. Extermination and death can come in many forms, sometimes through cowardly bullets as in the case of Oscar, other times through defamation, or by unjustly imprisoning activists. The denial of the right to water, life, and territory are just different forms of the same plan of extermination.
Sincerely,
Indigenous National Congress of the Northwest
and
The Northwest Regional Resistance and Rebellion Network
Original Spanish: Pronunciamiento del CNI Noroeste y Red Regional de Resistencias y Rebeldías NOROESTE por el asesinato del compañero Oscar Eyraud Adams