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Latest News
| Update: Lomas del Poleo |
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Dear Friends and Supporters of the Residents of Lomas del Poleo: Thank you so much for your support of the people of Lomas del Poleo. Due to illness, Barbara Zamora was not able to be in Chihuahua on June 16. Her husband, Santos Garcia, was there and eager to continue, but the presiding magistrate said it was not possible in the absence of Barbara. The audience was cancelled, and everyone has to return on August 4. The civil engineer who is to do the survey for the "perito," or expert witness, is still pending appointment by the court. On a more positive note, the radio program with City Representative Steve Ortega went well. State Congressman Joe Moody, who had been on previously, remained in the studio and participated in the segment on Lomas. Both officials were sympathetic to the plight of the Lomas residents and interested in ways their cause might be advanced. Don Alfredo Pinon, one of the residents of Lomas whose house was knocked down last November, was able to travel and attend the conference, "Chiapas: Premier Encuntro Contra la Impunidad" June 20- 21, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor. He shared the trauma of being kidnapped, having his house knocked down and being kept from entering the colonia and rebuilding on land upon which he had lived peacefully for so many years. Don Alfredo's experience illustrates the flagrant violation of human rights by the wealthy and the powerful who continue dispossessing the poor of the land they are occupying. One of our priests continues to celebrate the 9 o'clock Sunday Mass at the Jesus de Nazaret chapel. He said even though the numbers are few he is always amazed at the people’s faith and their willingness to stay after and share with one another how things are going. On Sunday June 21, Sonia Escorza, the widow of Carlos Avitia, attended Mass with her sons to commemorate the first anniversary of Carlos' death. On June 20, 2008, Carlos was shot to death outside the Agraraian Tribunal in Chihuahua. There has been no investigation, arrest or prosecution and so the case remains unresolved, and the family continues to grieve the sudden and violent death. Please keep Sonia and the boys in your prayers. As always we ask for your continued prayers and advocacy for all the residents that a just, peaceful and legal solution be achieved. We ask for prayers that officials complicit in the tragedy awaken to the immorality of these human rights violation. We ask prayers, especially, for the conversion of the hearts of the Zaragozas and all their employees.
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