14 Deaths Reported in Oaxaca Dispute

A violent land dispute in the southern state of Oaxaca this week left 14 people dead, 12 hurt and others missing, local authorities said. Information on Tuesday’s violence had been incomplete because a new administration took over the Oaxaca state government the same day. Authorities initially said four people were killed when residents from two rival villages opened fire on each other. Early Thursday, Justino Diaz Perez, mayor of Santo Domingo Teojomulco, said three men from his town were killed in the gun battle, eight were wounded and five were missing. In neighboring San Lorenzo Texmelucan, 50 miles southwest of Oaxaca city, the president of communal property, Felix Martinez, said six villagers had died, four were hurt and two were missing. The updated death toll of 14 released late Thursday presumably includes some of those previously listed as missing.