Environmentalist from Guerrero Killed and Dismembered; US Embassy Condemns Murder

“MX” for Borderland Beat

Carlos Márquez Oyarzabal, municipal commissioner of Las Conchitas, in the municipality of San Miguel Totolapan, Guerrero, was assassinated earlier this week. An agency reported that a criminal group kidnapped, murdered, and dismembered Marquez Oyarzabal, who worked as an ecologist, forest defender, and municipal commissioner.

The incident occurred when he was travelling in his ATV accompanied by his two children. They detailed that around 7:00 p.m., at the point known as “Agua Escondida”, they were intercepted and taken to La Ciénega Ejidal Police Station in Puerto Alegre.

Immediately, the ecologist was beaten. His abductors made him call up his relatives demanding money and cars so that they could be released. The alleged members of the criminal group then murdered and dismembered Marquez Oyarzabal. His remains were scattered in the community of Puerto Alegre.

“His limbs were left in the facilities of the Cienega Police Station in Puerto Alegre, and his head was left in another location”, investigators said.

After the incident, the Observatory for the Peace and Development of the Sierra (​Observatorio por la Paz y el Desarrollo de la Sierra — OPDS) demanded justice and a quick resolution to the case from Governor Héctor Astudillo Flores and from President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Likewise, the OPDS requested the permanent presence of the State Police, National Guard, and Army in that area of ​​the Tierra Caliente de Guerrero, as they warned that more murders of this type could be committed.

According to the OPDS, Márquez Oyorzabal had been defending timber resources for 20 years and formed a Community Police to prevent their looting by criminal groups.

US Reaction

The United States Embassy in Mexico sent their condolences to the family of Márquez Oyarzabal a few days after the incident. The embassy condemned the murder and assured that it is waiting for the corresponding Mexican authorities to carry out a comprehensive investigation to find those responsible.

“Our deepest condolences to the family of Carlos Márquez Oyarzabal, the defender of forests and environment who was murdered on Sunday in Guerrero. We condemn his murder and we hope a comprehensive investigation will find those responsible,” the Embassy posted on Twitter.

Sources: Milenio (1); (2); Noticias en la Mira