Witness for Peace is extremely concerned about the safety of Oaxacan human rights defenders Rodrigo Flores Peñaloza and Bettina Cruz Velázquez. Since February 10th, they have been repeatedly threatened and followed by heavily armed men. Most recently, a written note was left on Rodrigo’s windshield on April 26, threatening him directly and confirming he is being watched.
Through their organizations APIIDTT and APOYO, Rodrigo and Bettina have mobilized communities from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca. Their work involves resisting multinational wind energy “development” projects that have lacked transparency, excluded local groups from the decision making process and displaced communities, disrupting social and cultural dynamics.
