Mexico City, Mexico – Prosecutor’s offices in Oaxaca and Veracruz are offering rewards for information about the disappearance of Mexican activist Sandra Domínguez, who was last seen with her husband, Alexander Hernández, on October 4.
More than a month after the disappearance of the 38-year-old activist, who belonged to the Ayuuk community in the Mixe Sierra of Oaxaca in southeastern Mexico, the State Prosecutor’s Office has announced a reward of half a million pesos (over $24,400) for information about her whereabouts. joining another reward of 350,000 pesos (US$17,000) offered by the prosecutor in neighboring Veracruz.
Domínguez was known in the region for her dedicated work in protecting the rights of women and girls, helping victims of sexual and gender-based violence, and supporting the families of victims of disappearances and femicides.
Talking to Aztec reportsher friend and colleague, human rights defender Joaquín Galván, described the announcement of the reward as bittersweet.
“It’s an ambivalence. On the one hand, personally, he represents a light, a small hope that he can generate the effects of receiving information to find Sandra. But on the other hand, it represents the most desperate act that the state government has done, given the inefficiency of its processes and protocols for search efforts and the investigation related to the case,” said Galván.
Dominguez’s family has mobilized since losing contact with the new lawyer early last month, denouncing from the start the lack of initiative and improper actions of the state prosecutor’s office.
On October 20, authorities in Veracruz arrested a man possibly connected to the disappearance of the activist and her husband, who was found in possession of Domínguez’s phone. However, there has been no progress in the investigation or information regarding the whereabouts of Domínguez or her husband.
Galvani, who has supported his dear friend’s family, has been very vocal about the shortcomings of the government, which was initially committed to finding the activist alive.
“I don’t see any intelligence work. Both prosecutors have limited themselves to tracking phones. But where are the interviews with the suspects? With the main criminal groups that have been identified in the area? What intelligent work is being done to extract information from those sources?” asked Galvani.
Galván and Domínguez have supported numerous people who have been victimized by criminal groups and the state government itself – a dangerous assignment in the most violent entity for human rights defenders, which may suggest a line of inquiry into the disappearance of Sandra.
In 2020 and again in 2023, Domínguez reported that high-ranking officials from the government of Oaxaca, controlled by the ruling MORENA political party, were involved in WhatsApp chats sharing sexually explicit content of indigenous women without their consent , especially from the Mixe indigenous community. .
Among the officials was Donato Vargas, Coordinator of Peace Delegates, a close associate and political operator of Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara.
Although some of those involved in the conversation, dubbed “Sierra XXX,” were fired from their posts, Vargas’ closeness to the governor has kept him in government roles to this day.
Additionally, Domínguez had supported Vargas’ former partner, House Representative Martha Aracely Cruz, in her legal complaint against Vargas, accusing him of violence and threats.
According to Cruz, also a member of the Mixe community, Donato Vargas had physically abused her to the point that she suffered two miscarriages as a result of the brutal beatings he inflicted.
Additionally, Cruz reported in 2022 that Vargas had threatened to throw acid in her face or attack her with a machete if she reported it.
Despite the complaint and calls for action from civil society organisations, Governor Jara defended his loyal political operative, describing him as “very hardworking, very dedicated”.
In February 2024, Cruz reported receiving death threats after making accusations against Vargas, holding the government of Oaxaca and Donato Vargas responsible if anything happened to him.
“I want to express that I fear for my life, that my safety and that of my family is at risk. Therefore, I make it clear: If something happens to my physical integrity, I hold the government of Oaxaca and my aggressor responsible, as they have acted in collaboration to continue the violence against me,” Cruz said in an open letter.
After her endorsement of Cruz, Sandra Domínguez also received phone calls and threats, Galvan recalled.
“[Sandra Domínguez] reported threatening calls to her office. So that’s the main component that we’re missing when we talk about Sandra’s disappearance: how there is a political component, very interested or very nervous about the whole situation that’s unfolding, all the attention the state is getting on this issue, and that it needs to be looked at by an authority as impartial as possible to investigate to what extent there may be any responsibility in this situation, “said Galván.
