Eloxochitlán women demand return of 14 exiled defenders

The Colectiva de Mujeres de Eloxochitlán por la Libertad is demanding legal action from Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice (SCJN) to resolve the status of 14 community defenders who have been in exile for over a decade.

The conflict originated in Eloxochitlán de Flores Magón, Oaxaca, following a violent confrontation in December 2014 during a community assembly. The dispute was linked to the excessive extraction of stone material from the Xangá Ndá Ge river and local political tensions involving the Zepeda family. Following the incident, which resulted in two deaths, authorities allegedly issued approximately 300 arrest warrants against community members, leading to mass incarcerations and forced displacement.

The women's collective has set a deadline of December to secure the return of the 14 exiles. They have stated that if no response is received by the end of the year, they intend to formally invite the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) to join their mobilization efforts.