In the wake of two murders involving tourists, two arms of the state government have signed a collaboration agreement whose purpose is to expedite attention to crimes that affect national and foreign tourists, foreigners who reside in Oaxaca and those in transit through state territory.
The accord was signed by the General Coordination of International Relations (CGRI) and the state Attorney General’s office (FGEO).
CGRI head Maribel Cruz Rojas said the state government wants to ensure that resident foreigners and tourists have access to “all their rights,” as well as access to swift prosecution of justice with mechanisms for immediate attention.
To reach this goal, the FGEO will create the Specialized Operational Unit for Tourism Assistance, whose main function will be to investigate crimes committed against national and foreign visitors.
Cruz said her office seeks to strengthen trust and relations with all nations, especially those that maintain consular representation and have compatriots living in the state.
“We see them as oaxaqueños and oaxaqueñas,” she said.
Consular presence in Oaxaca includes that of the United States, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Guatemala, El Salvador, Germany and Spain. Official figures show that 22,659 foreigners have chosen Oaxaca as their place of residence.
This announcement comes two weeks after two foreign tourists were murdered — a 23-year-old man from Argentina was slain in a machete attack in Chacahua and a 27-year-old Canadian visitor was shot to death in Puerto Escondido.
With reports by El Universal
