part of the caravan hoping to reach the U.S
The 150 buses that the Governor of Veracruz promised to the Central American migrants to get to Mexico City
part of the caravan hoping to reach the U.S.
at a makeshift shelter in Sayula de Aleman
A boy gives food to central American migrants
part of the Central American migrants caravan hoping to reach the U.S
Nicaraguan migrant Javier Velazquez wheels his 14-year-old son across the highway
as part of the Central American migrant caravan hoping to reach the U.S
Javier Velazquez said that Axel was shot in the leg during protests in Nicaragua and both are looking for political asylum in the United States
Doris Vanesa Perdomo and her daughter Nicol
talk while traveling with fellow Central American migrants on a truck in Loma Bonita
Mexico (AP) — Hundreds of Central American migrants from a 4,000-strong caravan winding its way through southern Mexico and toward the U.S
border splintered off on their own Saturday after broken promises of bus transportation
Patience appeared to be wearing thin among the exhausted trekkers after Veracruz Gov
Miguel Angel Yunes reneged on an offer Friday to provide buses to leapfrog the migrants to the Mexican capital
Tempers flared as the migrants struggled with exhaustion
Caravan organizers have pleaded for buses in recent days after three weeks on the road
The group scattered between several towns in Veracruz Saturday
raising questions of whether they would stick together
Several thousand planned to spend the night in Isla
about 700 miles (1,126 kilometers) south of the U.S
while another large contingent hunkered down in Juan Rodriguez Clara and yet another reached Tierra Blanca
the migrants lambasted Mexican officials for directing them northward through the Gulf Coast state of Veracruz
calling it the “route of death.” Some migrants branched off in the belief that they were near the metropolises of Puebla and Mexico City
where they aimed to rest and receive medical attention
A trek via the sugar fields and fruit groves of Veracruz takes them through a state where hundreds of migrants have disappeared in recent years
falling prey to kidnappers looking for ransom payments
Authorities in Veracruz said in September they had discovered remains from at least 174 people buried in clandestine graves
Some security experts have questioned whether those bodies belonged to migrants
said he decided to strike out on his own for Puebla because he felt frustrated by the lack of organization in the caravan
“We don’t believe the coordinators anymore
today no,” said the sunburned welder from Honduras
If you could have only seen the people’s happiness last night when they told us that we were going by bus and today we’re not,” he said
The caravan’s ‘strength in numbers’ strategy has enabled them to mobilize support as they move through Mexico and has inspired subsequent migrants to try their luck via caravan
Mexico now faces the unprecedented situation of having three caravans stretched over 300 miles (500 kilometers) of highway in the states of Chiapas
a caravan from El Salvador waded over the Suchiate River into Mexico
bringing 1,000 to 1,500 people who want to reach the U.S
That caravan initially tried to cross the bridge between Guatemala and Mexico
but Mexican authorities told them they would have to show passports and visas and enter in groups of 50 for processing
entered Mexico earlier this week and is now in Chiapas
largest group of mainly Honduran migrants entered Mexico on Oct
At its peak that caravan swelled to an estimated 7,000 participants
Mexican officials appear conflicted over whether to help or hinder their journeys
Immigration agents and police have at times detained migrants in the smaller caravans
There has also been pressure on the main caravan
with federal police pulling over freight trucks and forcing migrants off
saying that clinging to the tops or sides of the trucks was dangerous
But several mayors have rolled out the welcome mat for migrants who reached their towns - arranging for food and camp sites
Mexico’s Interior Department says nearly 3,000 of the migrants in the first caravan have applied for refuge in Mexico and hundreds more have returned home
He plans to sign an order next week that could lead to the large-scale detention of migrants crossing the southern border and bar anyone caught crossing illegally from claiming asylum
Associated Press writer Amy Guthrie in Mexico City contributed to this report
during a workshop organized by the Altepee collective
The memory of another time is kept between the fine lines of its grain
the harmony and song of the birds that once perched on its leafy crown
the cedar tree has been cut down and lies mutilated
Parts of the trunk will beautify a floor or be converted into expensive furniture
and perhaps nobody will take account of the memory it holds
It is to convert the wood into an instrument that moves the body and memory
Sael Blanco remembers that more than a decade ago he was given a piece of wood in a workshop he attended in a community in Veracruz
“I was only a spectator of what was taking place and they gave it to me,” he shares letting off a smile
Sael working in the Altepee collective’s workshop
The Veracruz native had attended a workshop to learn to make jaranas jarochas (small guitar-like instrument) made with cedar wood
This is one of the instruments providing life and rhythm to the festivity known as fandango or huapango
which is celebrated principally in the states of Veracruz
Members of the Altepee collective in their workshop making various string instruments
The fandango is a magnificent party with singing in verse
The heels of those who take the stage make hearts beat with the sound of the jaranas
“Today it is music that is played in different parts of the world
and only played by older people in their 70’s and 80’s,” shares Blanco
Among the turns and stomps that mark the music’s rhythm
there was a moment when together those who brought joy to different festivities in the neighboring communities
they decided to create the Altepee collective
“This collective emerged from the need to preserve this music
Amongst friends we began giving workshops to share this knowledge,” says the jaranero to the Avispa Midia team
The idea of rescuing this combination of sounds was something that vibrated with members of the group
Then a question arose: “What are saving the music from
In reality the music had continued existing and always had a very large importance in these territories
we just didn’t approach the communities as young people who lived in the city,” shares Gemaly Padua Uscanga
Fourteen years have passed since these young people
began workshops to share and learn from the music
“We realized it was more complicated than just playing the instruments
he has to eat and cover his basic necessities
to be campesino is synonymous with poverty
we turned our gaze to the rural sector,” relates Blanco
Veracruz participate in workshops given by the Altepee collective
Not only is it the music that makes up a fandango
there is an entire organizational process which includes organizing the food for dozens of people
but it is also a service they offer to their communities
to its care and defense,” shares Padua with the Avispa Midia team
the collective has maintained a process of constant learning and training in Acayucan
members began organizing independent media activities using online radio
They have immersed themselves in exploring traditional medicine and other activities
“Because the fandango and the festivities have the power to convoke us
to propose possible solutions to a problem
It is not the same to convoke a meeting where nobody shows up
The fandango can’t take place without people,” says Padua
Among the materials they have documented are elders in the community who made music
“Some of these older folks have already passed away
Their memory is recorded so we can continue sharing it,” says the singer with joy
They also shared that they have a historical registry from 11 years back
when Veracruz was taken over by military forces
and different companies arriving to the region
“We were watching a video we made 11 years ago and we noticed that in a certain way we had documented the militarization of Veracruz,” says Padua
At a time when “there was a drastic upsurge of security forces which obviously elevated the acts of violence which are now currently normalized.”
According to a report from the first half of 2023
the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) deployed around 1,296 soldiers for security operations in Veracruz
This was in addition to the security forces already required for projects related to the Interoceanic Corridor which crosses through both Veracruz and Oaxaca
At least 1,950 uniformed personal were distributed in 19 detachments and 3 naval stations
to daily cover the 2,600 kilometers of the Interoceanic Corridor
Blanco explains that things began to change very rapidly a decade ago with the arrival of organized crime and militarization
when they announced that in the region they were going to create a special economic zone
which now they are calling the Interoceanic Corridor
“They began a large four lane freeway
They were talking about a fiberoptic network
Many businesses and projects began to establish themselves here,” says Blanco
Armed forces surveil the lines of Ferrosur in Coatzacoalcos
A member of the project guided the Avispa team through the region of Acayucan
part of the route of the Interoceanic Corridor in Veracruz
in order to show us that the massive industrial and economic complex—the Industrial Corridor and the Maya Train connecting with the port of Coatzacoalcos—isn’t new
Before the arrival of the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador
extensive oil palm plantations (also known as African palm) had been planted in the region
a crop that requires immense quantities of water and the use of agrochemicals like glyphosate
Along with these plantations arrived the industrial palm oil processor Oleofinos
Next to this palm oil processing plant are the multinational corporations Harinera de Veracruz
that have arrived to the region even receiving fiscal benefits
The state built them their own pipeline to feed them gas from the para-state company Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX)
The train lines pass right next to where these industries are established
Just a few kilometers from these companies
there is also an open pit silica sand mine
where the company Materias Primas Monterrey operates
who in 2017 formed part of the Covia Materias Primas group
an affiliate of the United States Covia Holdings LLC
According to the Secretariat of the Economy
they processed more than 2,000 tons daily of this material
Open pit mining activity of the Covia Materias Primas group
This region is very rich in biodiversity and culture “because the people have cared for the region and because their forms of life have allowed it
now there is the exploitation of oil deposits
they are opening more freeways around the train and a new gas pipeline,” explains Blanco
the best portions of land of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec
affirmed that “there is a demand for each pole (industrial park) of more than 30 businessmen,” of which five parks have already been destined to three companies
These development poles are: Coatzacoalcos I
The Altepee collective is extremely concerned
a cedar tree can’t grow and you can’t make a jarana
Nobody talks about the immense quantities of water they are going to need for these industries
Nor do they talk about the waste they will generate,” shares Blanco with concern
One of the young people who participates in the collective
particularly amongst those his age and the other children
“The promise is that there is going to be progress and that the families are going to have an income
The universities only teach us how to be workers for these industries
Many young people are accepting this discourse
but with that they are going to lose a lot of wealth
The memory will be lost,” says the musician Chavez
This collective is aware that beneath the asphalt
there is a memory that could possibly be buried
together with forms of life that accompany it
it has to do with passing on knowledge so that there are also young folks who are interested in these issues,” says Blanco
While the musicians sand and put strings on the new jaranas
with a certain nostalgia they share that it is the elders who have cared for and preserved the music and territory
“You go to the assemblies and the majority of the people are in their 60’s or 70s
We are concerned because there is no new generation to care for mother earth
the elders are being pressured to sell their lands
which further undermines the possibility of handing them down to the next generation
Veracruz hosted the so-called Territorial Planning Program of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec Region (POT-RIT)
where they invited municipal presidents and community representatives of 33 entities located in the pathway of the Interoceanic Corridor (part of Veracruz)
The objective is to create the legal framework to cede the lands to private capital
as the majority of this territory is currently registered for collective or common use
This event was promoted by the federal government via the Secretariat for Agrarian
Land and Urban Development (SEDATU) and organized by the government of Veracruz in collaboration with academia and civil society
Event of the Territorial Planning Program of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec Region
the plan is to create the conditions needed for the industrial parks
they also require sleeping spaces for the workers
which will mean the privatization of the communal and ejidal lands
The musicians sense that if the land is converted into private property
there will be no reason for the existence of the comuneros
the assembly as maximum authority of a community will also disappear
the youth will lose the opportunity to make decisions in assembly
That is a major blow to our communities,” adds Blanco
The musician emphasizes that this is why working with young people is so important
“Part of what we do is organize with the boys and girls,” he adds
“Its no use if its only us organizing amongst ourselves
we have to organize with more people and raise the consciousness about what we are living through
Because these problems don’t only affect us
it is at the planetary level,” says the jaranero adding that
“something that is currently happening is the dehumanization
we don’t care about where our water comes from
Blanco is emphatic in pinpointing the issue of climate change
“It is important for the people to understand that the heat of more than 50 degrees Celsius has to do with the way we are living
We cannot think that the next generation is going to fix it
because the next generation will have nothing to fix
The jaranero insists that we have to look beyond our own spaces
Think about the communities that are being devastated by mining
These are issues that concern humanity as a whole,” adds the musician
concludes another member of the collective
are the tools with which they continue the struggle
“The memory is stored there and all it takes is a jolt to make us remember
and that’s what jarana does,” he reaffirms
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who`s the Governor of the Mexican South Eastern State of Veracruz
says the migrants can be taken by buses all the way to Mexico City
or even further afield. He stresses that it`s important that the migrants are able to move from Vera Cruz to another location
because the health and security of his people is his number one priority
Meanwhile Guatemala`s President Jimmy Morales is travelling to the United States to scrutinize and guarantee the well being of children who are being held by the US Immigration system. And then on to Honduras on Monday
for urgent talks with Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez about the ongoing crisis
Update: Hours after Miguel Angel Yunes cancelled his offer hours after making it citing water shortages
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Read moreGumaro Pérez Aguilando was attending the school event in the town of Acayucan on Tuesday
when a pair of gunmen burst into the building and killed him in front of a classroom full of schoolchildren
His death marked the 12th murder of a media worker in Mexico in 2017
according to the press freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
The killing puts Mexico alongside Syria as the most murderous country for journalists
Pérez covered police matters for several publications and founded the news site La Voz del Sur in the violent city of Acayucan, in Veracruz state, where drug cartel and organised crime activities have been rife
He also worked in the communications department of the local government
Pérez had not reported any threats against him
president of the State Commission for the Care and Protection of Journalists
He was third journalist murdered in the Acayucan in recent months
was killed with two others outside a convenience store in August
even though he was enrolled in a federal government protection program after receiving threats from a mayor in the region
A month earlier, photojournalist Edwin Rivera Paz, a Honduran national, was shot and killed by gunmen on a motorcycle in Acayucan
site of a Mexican immigration processing centre
Rivera had fled Honduras earlier in the year after a colleague there was killed
Veracruz, which stretches along Mexico’s Gulf coast, has become notorious as one of the most dangerous places in the world to work in journalism. At least 19 reporters were murdered there during the 2010-2016 administration of former governor Javier Duarte, who fled Mexico, but was brought back to face corruption accusations in court.
“It continues being the same nightmare,” said Miguel Ángel Díaz, founder of Plumas Libres, an online news site in the state capital Xalapa. “Nothing and no one protects us. Criminals have permission to do as they want.”
Read moreDespite promises of action from the authorities several high-profile killings of journalists in 2017 have brought no charges or convictions
Miroslava Breach, who covered criminal activities in northern Chihuahua state, was shot dead in March as she drove her child to school. One of the publications she contributed to, the newspaper Norte in Ciudad Juárez, subsequently closed
with the owner citing journalist safety as a motive
Javier Valdez, founder of the newsweekly Ríodoce in western Sinaloa state, was pulled from his car and shot in the street as he left his office in May
Pérez’s murder comes as Mexico remains convulsed with violence
The country recorded 20,878 homicides over the first 10 months of 2017
making it the most murderous year since the government began tracking such data in 1997
July 28 (Reuters) – Mexican authorities rescued nearly 100 migrants who escaped from a stifling trailer being driven by a people smuggler in the coastal state of Veracruz
About 400 migrants were being transported in the trailer
“They broke through the roof of the trailer because they were suffocating and since there was a gas station nearby
the employees there helped them escape,” said Jose Dominguez
director of civil protection in nearby Oluta
“Most of them jumped off,” paramedic Cristobal Cisneros said
adding that many had been treated for ankle or knee fractures
Dominguez said a 911 call came in at around 9:20 p.m
on Wednesday and a total of 94 migrants were found after a search of the truck and nearby brush where some had tried to hide
Thirty-two of those found were from Guatemala
one Salvadoran and one Nepali were among those on the trailer
adding that the rest were not identified because they had “left” the scene
Guatemala’s foreign ministry issued a different number on Thursday
saying 89 of the rescued migrants were Guatemalan
One official who declined to be identified told Reuters he believed the smuggler transporting the migrants was inexperienced because the trailer was abandoned before a toll booth where trailers are inspected
The rescue follows a series of deadly incidents involving migrants in Mexico and the United States
Last month, 53 migrants died in San Antonio, Texas, after being packed into a sweltering tractor-trailer. read more
some jumping from the wall that separates Mexico and the United States
Deaths on the border broke records last year
and are on track to be as bad or worse in 2022
Mexico’s migration institute and the national guard
did immediately respond to requests for comment
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A moderate magnitude 4.0 earthquake hit 61 km (38 mi) away from Acayucan, Estado de Veracruz-Llave, Mexico
2025 at 5.52 pm local time (America/Mexico City GMT -6)
The quake had a moderate depth of 127 km (79 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter.