Rural violence. (Breves).

Sixteen people were arrested in June following the massacre of 26 rural workers who were ambushed on their way home from work in Agua Fria, Oaxaca. The incident is allegedly linked to an ancient land dispute between the towns of Santo Domingo Teojomulco and Xochiltepec.

Despite the arrests, the Oaxaca state government has come under heavy criticism for failing to do more to prevent the massacre, despite receiving several warnings of imminent violence by municipal authorities in the area. Xochiltepec authorities had warned the state government that the inhabitants of Teojomulco were stockpiling weapons and preparing a violent incursion into Xochiltepec.

The written notice to the state government declared: "We are seriously worried that violence will be used to settle the differences we have.... We hereby request your valuable cooperation and intervention so that vigilance is intensified in the area, so we do not have to lament subsequent incidents of greater dimensions."

Oaxaca state Governor Jose Murat subsequently refuted the criticisms, and said security measures were taken as a result of that request and a similar request made earlier by inhabitants of Teojomulco.