Translated by Yaqui for Borderland Beat from an El Debate article
Family and friends say they were scared because the area was very dangerous, but nobody would listen to them.
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Family and friends say they were scared because the area was very dangerous, but nobody would listen to them.
The death of three teachers of Escuinapa in the highlands of Concordia, Sinaloa was preventable since the teachers repeatedly warned the educational authorities about the insecurity that prevailed in this area by criminal groups, Paola Lizet, sister of one of the murdered teachers says.
With tears and the pain of having lost her loved one in such a tragic way, José Feliciano's sister, demands that educational authorities guarantee the safety conditions of teachers in Sinaloa.
"I am dismayed that this tragedy could have been avoided. My brother and other teachers had already warned the education authorities of the situation of insecurity in the mountain communities of Concordia, but unfortunately they were ignored by their supervisor, Victor Loera, which forced them to go up to El Cuatantal risking the life of its teachers, " said Paola.
Jose Feliciano's parents were teachers for 30 years in the Concordia mountains. They were well known by the families who live in the communities of the mountainous area and had already warned that the safety of teachers was not guaranteed, "since the situation was very ugly, it was better not to go up."
"As a family we know perfectly the conditions that are lived in the mountains of Concordia and that is why we told my brother not to go up, but he was so noble that he did not want to have a problem with his boss and so he decided to go." stated Paola.
She regretted that the death of her brother and the other two teachers of Escuinapa could have been due to a confusion of the criminal groups that operate in that zone, since they had never been in the vehicle in which they travelled that fatal day. They usually travelled in a "vocho" or van, but these vehicles were undergoing repair and for this reason, one of the teachers got / borrowed the vehicle in which they were beaten.
Paola reported that her brother's life could have been saved, as he was wounded in one leg and one arm, but unfortunately he died bleeding while the support of the police authorities, took more than two hours to reach the scene of the crime.
Paola demanded that the highest authorities of the Ministry of Public Education be more aware and caring for their teachers, since like her brother, there are more than 40 teachers who teach classes in the communities of the Sierra de Concordia, and they must ensure their safety.
"I know that they cannot return my brother to me, but this injustice must not go unpunished. I'm going to work so that the supervisors realize that their job is not only being behind a desk and sending orders, they were also teachers once and they must guarantee the safety of their teachers, " said Jose Feliciano's sister.
NO RESPONSE
The Zone 029 supervisor, Victor Loera Álvarez, said regarding teacher Paola Lizet's statement that last year there was a shoot-out in the town of El Cuatantal and an official report was drawn up and handed over to the then Secretary of Education Public and Culture, Gómer Monárrez, with information on violent events and the request for change, but no response was obtained.
In response, the decision was made that the mentors did not introduce themselves to the community until the insecurity calmed down.
"They returned to work and no longer made any complaints, today I am surprised that the teacher makes these statements and in truth I understand the pain that is happening. She and her parents know me because we both worked together in the area for 30 years and they know what I'm like. "
The supervisor accepts that the climate of insecurity is serious. They once had 95 students and today there are only 59 in elementary school. Zone 029 has 32 schools which have been closed by violence and today there are only 14 schools in the municipality of Concordia and in the community of Palmillas, which is also a remote area.
The Zone 029 supervisor, Victor Loera Álvarez, said regarding teacher Paola Lizet's statement that last year there was a shoot-out in the town of El Cuatantal and an official report was drawn up and handed over to the then Secretary of Education Public and Culture, Gómer Monárrez, with information on violent events and the request for change, but no response was obtained.
In response, the decision was made that the mentors did not introduce themselves to the community until the insecurity calmed down.
"They returned to work and no longer made any complaints, today I am surprised that the teacher makes these statements and in truth I understand the pain that is happening. She and her parents know me because we both worked together in the area for 30 years and they know what I'm like. "
The supervisor accepts that the climate of insecurity is serious. They once had 95 students and today there are only 59 in elementary school. Zone 029 has 32 schools which have been closed by violence and today there are only 14 schools in the municipality of Concordia and in the community of Palmillas, which is also a remote area.
Original article in Spanish at El Debate