**Basketball Coach and Teacher of Triqui Children Tragically Killed in Oaxaca**
Rigoberto Martínez Sandoval, a dedicated basketball coach and teacher affiliated with the Movement for the Unity of the Triqui Struggle (MULT), was tragically shot and killed on the evening of November 12, 2024, in Putla Villa de Guerrero, Oaxaca. The local authorities confirmed the shocking incident, identifying the body at the Lázaro Cárdenas Normal School where he conducted training sessions.
The State Attorney General’s Office of Oaxaca dispatched a multidisciplinary team to the scene to gather evidence and pursue those responsible for this heart-wrenching murder. Local reports suggest that Martínez Sandoval was ambushed as he attempted to seek refuge inside the school premises. At just 34 years of age, he hailed from Río Venado, a village in Constancia del Rosario.
In addition to his role as a basketball coach, Martínez Sandoval taught preschool in San José Yosocañu. He gained acclaim for coaching a group of Triqui children who played barefoot in gyms across North America, South America, and Europe, showcasing their incredible talent and determination.
Rafael Alejandro Moreno Cárdenas, President of the National Executive Committee of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), expressed his outrage over the killing via social media. He condemned the crime and emphasized the need for federal and state governments to uphold their duty to protect the community, noting that this murder adds to a troubling tally of unresolved cases involving MULT members.
**Secondary Article: Rising Tensions and Violence Against Indigenous Groups in Oaxaca**
The murder of Rigoberto Martínez Sandoval is part of a broader pattern of violence against indigenous communities in Oaxaca. Just days earlier, two sisters, Adriana and Virginia Ortiz García, were brutally murdered in the city of Oaxaca. As artisans, these women were integral members of the Triqui community and also aligned with MULT, which is dedicated to defending indigenous land rights.
On November 6, 2024, the Ortiz sisters were gunned down by assailants on a motorcycle outside their home after a day of selling crafts. Despite local assistance and emergency services’ quick response, both women succumbed to their injuries. MULT has been vocal in demanding justice and accountability for these heinous acts.
In response, MULT members organized protests, blocking key access points in Putla Villa de Guerrero. Additionally, a group demonstrated at the Ministry of the Interior in Mexico City, calling for the national government to handle the investigation and ensure the perpetrators are punished.
The same day, President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo publicly condemned the killings and stressed the urgency of resolving ongoing agrarian conflicts. Her administration has faced pressure to address the escalating violence affecting indigenous populations and to implement more effective protective measures.
As these events unfold, the struggle for justice and safety continues, highlighting the necessity for solutions that integrate both legal and social support for marginalized communities in Oaxaca.