Finland demands investigation in the case of the human rights activist

Press release 137/2010
30 April 2010

Finland has sent a note to the State of Mexico demanding a full investigation of the event that led to the shooting of human rights activist Jyri Jaakkola. In addition, Finland condemns the violence and demands that those responsible are brought to trial.

The Finnish Embassy in Mexico has conveyed the same demands to the Secretary General and the Interior Minister of the state of Oaxaca. So far, local authorities have not provided information as to which of the armed groups active in the area is responsible for the killing.

Jaakkola’s stay in Mexico was linked in part with preparation of a development cooperation project for which the non-governmental organization Uusi Tuuli ry has been granted support by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Uusi Tuuli is planning cooperation with the organization Universidad de la Tierra (Unitierra), with the aims of raising self-sufficiency, improving the quality of nutrition and increasing market access while at the same time preserving the food culture and food production traditions of the indigenous peoples.

Support for project preparation trips is one aspect of the support granted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to the development cooperation work of Finnish non-governmental organizations.

Further information: Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, Press Attaché to the Minister, tel. +358 40 732 8340