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Crime Mexican Environmentalists Missing: Suspicion Focuses on Transnational Mining Company Ternium

Freddy

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It was a peaceful Sunday evening in the rural community of Aquila, Michoacán. But as the night wore on, two activists, Ricardo Arturo Lagunes Gasca and Antonio Díaz Valencia—a renowned human rights lawyer and leader of the Aquila Indigenous community—were reported missing. Witnesses said they were threatened and followed by several men in cars and motorbikes after they left an anti-mining community meeting. Now, relatives of the two missing environmentalists are pointing the finger at a transnational mining company Ternium that they claim is responsible for environmental destruction and violence in the area.

Environmental Destruction in Michoacán by Ternium


The transnational mining company has been linked to environmental destruction in Ternium and surrounding communities. The contamination from open pit mines has poisoned local water sources, killing livestock and depleting local fishing stocks. In addition, heavy machinery used for extractions have damaged land used for agricultural production as well as sacred sites important to local indigenous communities.

The incident has sparked outrage among many environmental groups who are demanding justice for Lagunes Gasca and Díaz Valencia. They allege that the transnational mining company's (Ternium) activities have caused severe environmental destruction and led to violence in the region, not only against people but also against wildlife. Several animal species have been decimated due to deforestation caused by mining operations in this area, leading to a decrease in biodiversity.

The Mexican government has yet to announce any investigation into the disappearance of Lagunes Gasca and Díaz Valencia. Some activists are concerned that authorities may be turning a blind eye to this case due to its potential political implications; if indeed these two activists have been targeted by individuals associated with the mining company, it could be seen as an attempt to stifle dissent towards their operations.

The Fight Against Impunity

The recent disappearances of Ricardo Arturo Lagunes Gasca and Antonio Díaz Valencia have sparked outrage among human rights groups across Mexico who are calling for a full investigation into what happened to them. Meanwhile, their families are demanding justice from both Mexican authorities as well as from international organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch which have already denounced their disappearances as yet another example of impunity faced by activists fighting against corporate interests in Mexico.

Local communities have organised marches calling for justice for Lagunes Gasca and Diaz Valencia, but so far there has been little response from authorities or the mining company itself. Community members fear that this case highlights just how vulnerable they are when it comes to standing up against powerful corporations that often operate with impunity.

The disappearance of Ricardo Arturo Lagunes Gasca and Antonio Díaz Valencia has put a spotlight on powerful transnational mining companies operating in Mexico, as well as on local communities' vulnerability when it comes to opposing them. Activists around Mexico continue to call for justice for these two missing environmentalists—and until their fate is discovered or those responsible are held accountable, these protests will continue until something changes. Until then, questions remain about how far corporations can go when it comes to protecting their interests in Mexico's rural regions.
 
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