Last night on the news, we told you about the double murder of the sisters, 20 year old Cresencia and 18 year old Josephina Oh.
On Sunday evening, they left their home village of San Antonio to attend a church service 10 miles away in the neighboring village of San Jose. They stayed back in that village to visit their brother, and they didn't catch a ride home with the San Antonio Resident who brought them.
Instead, they were attempting to walk home, but they never made it. Hours after they were last seen alive, their mutilated and partially nude bodies were found on the outskirts of the village. Someone had viciously chopped them to death.
Today, the Toledo Alcalde's Association sent out a press release condemning the violent murders of the sisters.
Their press release says quote, "These horrible acts being committed against Maya women have shaken our peaceful communities to its core....the Alcaldes call on the Police Department to ensure that (there is) a thorough investigation... The TAA stands ready to support and has been in touch with the Alcaldes of San Jose who are and will continue to collaborate with the Punta Gorda Police to resolve this latest incident." End quote.
We spoke via telephone with the Association's program coordinator, who told us that the TAA recognizes that the case could prove difficult for the police. He said that this is the reason why they want to make themselves available to assist the police to try to bring the perpetrator to justice:
Pablo Mis - Program Coordinator, MLA/TAA
"The Toledo Alcalde's Association is outraged, of course, at the act against the two young women of San Antonio. The association is aware that such against women have been increasing, not only in the Toledo District, but throughout the country. And, the Association wants to be clear in stating that such criminal acts against women and children cannot be tolerated, and that it is the duty and obligation of all members of our community to unite and to bring this to an end. The nature of this crime is that it is beyond the jurisdiction of the Alcaldes. However, the Alcaldes Association in close contact with the Alcalde of San Jose, and the Alcaldes of San Jose are prepared. They stand ready and continue to collaborate and assist the police on the ground, in terms of whatever support they might need. The Alcaldes are very familiar with the community members. They are very familiar of their community. They are a resource to go to, and it is the intention of the communities and the Alcalde's Association that the knowledge of the Alcaldes on the ground and the community members be used so that the perpetrator or perpetrators that committed this crime be brought before the law. It is a case that is very alarming to us at the Maya Leaders Alliance and the Alcalde's Association, precisely because it involved women. If this is a case where women are being targeted, then as a community, it raises the bar of which we need to act in terms of addressing that matter. We've seen these type of incidents very rare in Toledo. I think this is just the third in recent memory that we're seeing. There was the incident in San Pedro Colombia. The community was able to come together to also bring the perpetrator before the law. There was also an incident in Laguna. Again, the police were able to act very quickly about the support of community members. And now, we have this incident in San Jose."
The TAA's release from today concludes, quote. "We call on persons who may have information related to this latest incident to visit the Punta Gorda Police or seek the guidance of the San Jose Alcalde or the TAA." End quote.
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