Jyri Antero Jaakkola – February 11, 1977 - April 27, 2010
Loosely translated from Finnish:
“If by my own presence, I have the chance to prevent the violence; that would be the thing to do...” Jyri, in an interview before traveling to Mexico.
The 33-year old Jyri Jaakkola, a great friend, comrade, and ally of many in the environmental and climate justice movement lost his life recently in a violent and repressive attack on an international human rights and observation caravan in Oaxaca, Mexico. The caravan, which intended to deliver much-needed food, water, and other supplies to the autonomous municipality of San Juan Copalá, was at a certain point ambushed and fired upon; Jyri and Bety Cariño Trujillo were killed in the attack. Those responsible are said to be members of the Union of Social Welfare for the Triqui Region (UBISORT), an organization that has been said to be a paramilitary group tied to Mexico's Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)—the party of the present governor of the state of Oaxaca, Ulises Ruiz Ortiz.
We, the international Rising Tide network for climate justice condemn these attacks on the Triqui communities and the various groups in Mexico and internationally that have shown support and solidarity to their communal autonomy project. Below follows a list of resources and contact information to demand Mexican and international authorities to persue and convict those responsible for the deaths of our fallen companions, and to secure and guarantee the rights of the communities of the San Juan Copála municipailty, and the project for autonomy and self-determination of the Triqui peoples.
Jryi was involved throughout his life in many groups, projects, campaigns, and alternative movements in Finland that most of us are just recently learning about; Uusi Tuuli ry (New Wind) a solidarity exchange organization; S/v Estelle, a sailing vessel that took Jyri to Angola; and Hyökyaalto, a climate justice collective based in Finland, Jyri's native country, that is part of the international Rising Tide network for Climate Justice. We remember Jyri for his invaluable contributions to our shared struggle for social and climate justice, his selfless and consistent work defending Mother Earth, and for his ever-giving efforts against all forms of oppression.
Normally one gets to know another through their words and ideals, and then after through their actions- but in the case of Jyri Jaakkola the great part of us came to know him because he died in a terrible paramilitary attack. Eyewitnesses saw Jyri leaning towards Bety Cariño to protect her, but at the very same moment a bullet hit him too. His actions tell us much about his character and values. His death seems as if there was no hope.... but his death also reveals to us the courage that a human being can have, and that solidarity really does exists; and that there are things that are worth living for, and when death is imposed, there still are those that decide to risk themselves for another.
In his own words, “...we see that this is the right time to try and revolutionize things and make our dreams come true, it's time for what's real... some sort of inspiration, and maybe even hope for a different and better world could be brought from another place, which can be very valuable and honorable.”
Jyri was in the streets during the COP15 meetings in Copenhagen, and participated in the Hit the Production and Reclaim the Power actions, as part of Climate Justice Action. And while in Mexico, he recently took part in the People's Climate Dialogue and Convention. Here, he shared with us all insights and invaluable reflections on our capacity to act and change the world for the better, creating a sense of place and
connection to the earth and to one another that goes beyond empty words and gestures.
Bety Cariño Trujillo was a living example of a true defender of human rights, and a friend and companion of many communities and social movements that considered her work invaluable in their struggles for self-determination. She was a leader, a teacher, and a champion of the poor who created and helped found numerous networks and initiatives that carried the her spirit of over-coming all obstacles in the face of tremendous odds. Her memory will also be carried on by many in Mexico and beyond for years to come.
There is much that can be said about the life and work of Jyri Jaakkola and Bety Cariño Trujillo. It is almost impossible for any honest and sensible person to not coincide in some way with the ideals and actions of our fallen friends. It is very important for us to recognize who our fallen friends are, not just because we knew them, but rather because we share a common struggle, because our fallen allies give us identity, they teach us and unite us, and they are those that give us hope and strength for the future.
With profound respect for Bety and Jyri, we'll never forget.
Rising Tide International Network for Climate Justice
Red Internacional de Justicia Climatica Marea Creciente
President of Mexico.
Lic. Felipe Calderón Hinojosa.
Residencia Oficial de los Pinos, Casa Miguel Alemán, Col. San Miguel
Chapultepec, C.P. 11850, México DF. Tel: +52 55 27891100; Fax: +52 55
527 72 376. E-mail: felipe.calderon@presidencia.gob.mx
Secretary of State.
Lic. Fernando Gomez Mont.
Bucareli 99, 1er. piso, Col. Juárez, Delegación Cuauhtémoc, México D.F.,
C.P. 06600, México, FAX +52 (55) 5093 34 14. Email: secretario@segob.gob.mx
Attorney General of the Republic.
Licenciado Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza
Procuraduría General de la República, Paseo de la Reforma nº 211-213,
Piso 16, Col. Cuauhtémoc, Del. Cuauhtémoc, México D.F., C.P. 06500, Fax:
+52 55 53 46 09 08; + 52 55 27 89 11 13 (si responde una voz, digan:
"tono de fax, por favor"), Correo Electrónico: ofproc@pgr.gob.mx /
wmaster@pgr.gob.mx
President of the National Comision on Human Rights
Dr. Raúl Plascencia Villanueva.
Periférico Sur 3469, Col. San Jerónimo Lídice, Delegación Magdalena
Contreras, C.P. 10200, México D.F., Teléfonos (55) 56 81 81 25 y 54 90
74 00, Toll-free 01800 715 2000
Human ringhts promotion and defense unit of the Secretary of State.
Lic. Mauricio E. Montes de Oca Durán,
Av. Paseo de la Reforma 99 Piso 19 Tabacalera, Cuauhtémoc, Distrito
Federal, 06030, Tel: (55) 51-28-00 Ext: 11863, Email:
mmontesdeoca@segob.gob.mx
High Comisioner on Human Rights in Mexico.
Head of the Office (52 55) 5061 6350. Mexico D.F., Mexico Email:
oacnudh@hchr.org.mx
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Palais Wilson, 52 rue des Pâquis, CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland
Special Rapporteur of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights:
OHCHR, United Nations- 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland, Tel. + 41 - 22 917 96 47
fax + 41 - 22 917 60 10 Email: indigenous@ohchr.org
Send copies to:
Centro Regional de Derechos Humanos “Bartolomé Carrasco Briseño, A.C.
Mariano Azuela 203, Col. José Vasconcelos, Oaxaca, México. Email:
barcadh09@gmail.com
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