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Threats, firearms used against Lomas del Poleo residents

Dear Friends of Lomas de Poleo:

On Friday evening, December 4, Adelaida Plasencia Sierra was gravely wounded by a firearm, after what seemed to be a “common robbery attempt”

At 600 p.m.in the afternoon, two men arrived at Adelaida’s house and said they had run out of gasoline.  They tried to sell a cellular phone to Adelaida who said she had no money and they then asked if Vicente (husband of Adelaida) or Aurelio (a neighbor and companion in the struggle in Lomas) were around.

Adela noticed that the men had their faces covered and were carrying a pistol.  The supposed thieves then grabbed Adelaida by the arms, pulling off her jacket but she got back in the house and as she was standing in the doorway the assailants fired nine shots at her and the house and then fled in the car which supposedly had run out of gasoline.

Earlier this same Friday, a white car without plates was parked in front of Adela’s house for more than three hours. This same vehicle was circling around the house of Adela and Vicente.

Two years ago,  a group of residents in Lomas decided to initiate a legal process for their land against Pedro and Jorge Zaragoza Fuentes.  In 2008 and part of 2009 this group suffered various acts of aggression perpetrated by the paid guards that work for Pedro Zaragoza: destruction of homes, threats, attacks, kidnapping of residents, injuries, etc.

In the last few months the Agrarian Tribunal has issuing rulings in favor of the residents of Lomas in their legal case.  The case is in its ultimate stage and the Zaragoza Fuentes has not demonstrated to the Tribunal that the land is their.

Adelaida is in the hospital, still, recovering from the bullet wound to her chest.  The doctor said if it had been just a couple centimeters lower she would have been dead. That she is alive is a miracle, then, and a sign of hope that violence and aggression will not always win the day.

We are issuing a call for solidarity with all the supporters and friends of Lomas del Poleo, to support Adelaida in her process of recovery and to continue the just struggle for their land in Lomas.

We will be awaiting another Amnesty Alert and forming a plan to further publicize and seek justice in one more attempt outside the law to remove the residents from Lomas who have legally and peacefully been seeking their rights to their land in the Agrarian Tribunal.

Land, Justice and Freedom for Lomas de Poleo!

Thanks for your prayers and support for the people of Lomas,
Fr. Bill Morton, SSC

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