Fri, 10/04/2020 - 08:29
Municipalities close the way to coronavirus
At least 28 municipalities in Oaxaca have determined to close accesses and exits to their communities as extreme measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 contagion.
The cases documented by the Human Rights Defender of the People of Oaxaca (DDHPO) contemplate San Lorenzo Albarradas, a population that determined to prohibit the entrance to the Hierve el Agua tourist spot.
Another town is Capulálpam de Méndez, which in addition to closing accesses established a curfew.
Villa Alta did the same, same as this Thursday, according to a complaint from the medical and nursing staff working in the town, by restricting free movement they were retained.
In Santiago Astata the population agreed to close the beaches and their agencies.
In San Dionisio del Mar they closed the main access to the population.
In Valle Nacional they prohibited access to ecotourism areas in San Mateo Yetla.
The same restricted access in Cerro Marín, Rancho Grande, Nuevo Palantla in the Cuenca.
San Juan Mixtepec, San Antonino Monteverde, Santa María Camotlán, Asunción Nochixtlán, Santa María Colotepec, Santa María Huatulco, Tonameca, San Mateo Piñas, San Miguel Puerto, La merced del Potrero, Santiago Pinotepa Nacional, Puerto Escondido Beaches, Zicatela joined with the restriction measures.
In addition, the beaches of Huatulco, Zipolite in Pochutla, likewise San Pedro Mixtepec, Villa de Zachila, Magdalena Apasco Etla, San Andrés Huayapam, Tlalixtac de Cabrera.
Respect for human rights
The head of the DDHPO, Bernardo Rodríguez Alamilla indicated that, although the communities that are governed by indigenous regulatory systems have the right to decide in community assembly about internal life, these actions must respect human rights.
“These actions have a limit and this is the limit of human rights. We respect their powers, but we ask that in this decision, human rights not be violated and that these actions be based on scientific criteria, that they be respectful of human dignity, not arbitrary or discriminatory, ”he stressed.
He added that in crisis contexts the population often panics and based on this make radical decisions, however, you should not lose sight of the technical criteria established by the authorities so as not to fall into arbitrariness and discriminatory situations, even placing yourself in risk.
“These geographical spaces or territories may somehow put other rights such as free transit, food and the right to health at risk, since by restricting free transit, it may be that no medicines arrive or an ambulance in the journey from one community to another, if this geographic space is closed, it is probably going to be late to offer a service and could be counterproductive, "he stressed.