More than Monarchs
Documenting Local Stories in the Disappearing Monarch Forests of Mexico
Mar 31, 2003
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To:
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Attorney General, Michoacán |
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From:
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Alejo Claudio Cayetano
Agrarian Community
Crescencio Morales
Michoacan State |
Re:
(Specific Request)
(TRANSLATED FROM SPANISH) Leonel Godoy Rangel
Attorney General
State of Michoacan
We are writing to inform you regarding the problems affecting us since about a year ago due to the lack of attention from local authorities. We have had to make decisions to try to stop illegal logging, but as we have mentioned in previous letters handed to you (on September 13, 2002, where we asked that you give orders so the Justice Department would take notice. But because you had a lot of work you did not even bother to send a response or ask what we were talking about. Maybe you did not understand what the statement signed by eight landowners said, but the problem was not significant on April 26, 2002). Trying to do something to protect life in the forest, I and another three people went to El Rosario and ask that the landowner’s chief let the neighbors know that we had found illegal logging in our forest, that they should restrain from going up because people in Crescencio Morales were really upset. We also gave notice to the City Major from Zitacuaro, Silvano Aureoles Conejo, describing sizes of stomps, and requested radios to communicate on surveillance patrols that we have carried out with volunteers. It seems that the authorities are only interested in problems by word because they do not provide any help. Now that we were able to stop woodcutters, delinquents convinced us to make a deal and set them free, and now we are accused of criminals, leaving those who steal and kill the life that forests provide as innocent people. I mean steal because it is because of our job that the forest in Crescencio Morales is protected. It is not possible that people from other towns come and steal our work and that there is no law to punish them. The law says that it is not a serious offense. If stealing the community’s work is not a crime, then Manuel Jiménez González, from the Justice Department should let the community of Crescencio Morales charge his salary to cover for damages since he is fully aware that some people work and others charge the salary.
On April 9, Pedro Peredo and I requested the certificate for March 7 problem. Agent No. 2 from the Attorney General’s office guaranteed the document right then. It is not possible that when we look for arguments in our defense these people turn against us.
Our question is, How much does woodcutter’s pay them and if negotiating the work of a native because his is ignorant is allowed?
To make it clear, forests belong to those who protect them. Natives and forests form a family and if you don’t support us, don’t take away from us the wish of continuing to protect our forests.
The proposals we make in order to keep working for the society’s well-being:
1. That you make a commitment to have all departments create a plan to fight the problem, since woodcutters are well organized groups with a lot of money.
Stamped and received by the Attorney General’s Office. April/2003
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