The Assassination of Digna Ochoa - Essay Example

Betrayed: The Assassination of Digna Ochoa is a book which investigates the death and also the life of Digna Ochoa who was a Mexican human rights attorney. The book tells us about her journey from a girl spending her life in poverty to becoming supporter of her country’s most ill-treated people. The book talks about Ochoa’s death which was declared suicide by the government during the year 2003. The book takes into account various aspects of her death where she might be was a victim of a murder (Diebel, n. p.). The book takes into account the discussions between various countries on free trade agreements like NAFTA which was taken as something not being in favor of global economy by them. The book was written by Linda Diebel who is known for working in order to uncover the human right abuses that are covered by a glossy lie which sabotage the democracy and the freedom. Investigation in the book is linked with a great historical event which was assassination of a great and internationally well known human rights lawyer Digna Ochoa during the year 2001. Book starts with an extensive survey of the political landscape of Mexico which unfolds the upsetting development of death squads which are based in a Canadian tourist destination. The inquiry which was linked with Ochoa’s murder is a very important controversy in the history of human rights and people protecting human rights. Her murder which on the surface was declared a suicide was an obsession for Diebel who knew Digna Ochoa. They were together for about seven years while they were working in Star’s Mexico City bureau. The said book narrates about all the horror and mysterious stories which came out of Central America’s history in. There is a suspicion drawn by Diebel towards government authorities linked with asking too many questions which are an integral part of history. Diebel talks about all the important historical events linked with Ochoa’s death where she herself was present and she recorded the events first hand. Digna Ochoa was demanded dead, on 19th October 2001, she was found shot twice, once in the thigh and once in the head at the office on Mexico City’s Zacatecas street which was located in the rundown Colonia Roma neighborhood. People who were close to Ochoa were not that surprised when they got to know about her sudden death as they were well aware of her practice of law which was extremely risky. She was a scorching and minuscule ex nun who was a pain for the political establishments for several years along with the Mexican army. She had a strong say on the court and was an integral character in the arena of international human rights. She was associated with many human rights campaigns on behalf of the accused Zapatistas who were ill treated and tortured by the Mexican army and other cruel clients. Ochoa was an Indian descent and she has a special feel for the Mexico’s indigenous poor and she was an important and crucial character in the cases that were challenging and against the nation’s new post NAFTA economy along with all the impact it was having on the poorest classes negatively (Diebel, n. p.) One week before her murder, Ochoa was in the rugged hill country of Guerrero which was beneath the brooding peaks of the Sierra Madre where she met peasant activists working for the organization of peasant ecologist of the Sierra Petatlan. It talks about the fact how all these people were locked in life and death struggle with the politicians and also the American logging companies. The book clearly reveals how the peasants wanted to stop the forest clearing which was covering the Sierra forest which was extremely profitable and important for the powerful and the rich class as the trees disappeared throughout the mountain road but it was extremely important peasant ecologists as it was like a life sustaining base for them. Many group members were already arrested on various charges along with many hiding in the caves of Sierra and also the canyons (HarperCollins, n. p.). Ochoa went towards the Guerrero to meet all the poor people who were under attack along with promising them that she will be their voice and will tell their stories to the world press through all her contacts in the world of human rights organizations. She wanted to work for those people who are innocent but are under attack for no reason. Ochoa was an important recipient of an Amnesty international spirit award and was also an integral character in Kerry Kennedy’s fact based drama which was about human rights advocated and was about speaking truth to the powerful and the rich ones. Ochoa was determined that she will follow through all the promises she had made to the peasants of Guerreri about knocking the doors which were around the world in order to spread the voice of the poor and to get attention for their predicament. Ochoa was well aware that by making all these promises she is bringing herself into trouble, as all the eyes of the powerful forces in Guerrero politicians along with the army officers, international investors, landlords and also the drug traffickers. There was a fierce top down class war along with profitable networks of co operation to be developed in that area and amongst the powerful which were based on both sides of the law. All these enemies of that tiny and dedicated lawyer knew that something needs to be done in order to stop what is happening (Quill & Quire, n. p.). Ochoa was in the Mexico City for a very less period of time after the decision was implemented and very soon she was found dead. People who knew her were sure of the fact that her murder was indeed linked with her practice in favor of the human rights law. She before her death was already a victim of sexual assaults, kidnapping and various threatening messages saying her life is at risk. Advocating and supporting human rights is extremely risky in Mexico and she was promising to support the poor going against the strong parties which were established in Mexico. The writer sadly in her book states that everything in Mexico is extremely difficult and was immensely disturbed at the stating of Mexican government that Ochoa’s death was a suicide of a young woman who was disturbed and surprisingly all her friends and even the colleagues started to support this decision. “Betrayed” in an amazing manner narrates about the puzzles, which surrounded Digna Ochoa’s death and also her life. The book is an amalgam of amazingly readable incidents about the political journalism along with a bit of mystery and also love story. It reveals the real picture of Mexico which is hidden behind the NAFTA cheerleading and also tourist posters. It is for readers who care about social justice and also how a murder mystery came into existence. Writer in a very realistic manner illuminates the gloomy and misty complexities of recent Mexican history along with a heart touching personal story of Ochoa. It talks about all the human flaws, breathtaking courage and also dedication along with predictable imperfections which exist in the larger portion of the history. The existence of NAFTA in Mexico is the major historical event which is depicted in the book along with highlighting the damage and destruction that was caused by the trade deal and how it totally sabotages the lives poorest citizens of the nations. Power and money are the highlighted elements in the book and how the interlocking system linked with these two elements have an impact on the lives of the innocent people. The relationship which exists between the Mexican villages along with the power centers in New York, Mexico City, Toronto and also Washington. The book also shed light on the problems which are faced by the human rights campaigners working in the modern Mexico. The issues and problems are under focus, those which are existent in the government among the officials and the Mexican army. There is special citation given to Leo McGrady and also Gail Davidson for playing an integral role in the human rights activism along with being involved in Ochoa’s case. Diebel stresses on the crime which is linked with larger economic and also social forces which are not in favor of simple justice. The book depicts the real picture of Mexico and how social activists like Digna Ochoa are murdered in a cruel manner for raising their voices but still they are for their human frailties along with foibles a true heroic figure. In the world of injustice there are some people who are willing to live and die for justice and support justice. Her life is an inspiration for everyone, the story of her death and all the mean spirited attempts to cover up along with victim blaming which came into existence after the death which was instructive and also grim. The book reveals the persistent research about the dark secrets which existed within the Mexican government and police’s investigation of Digna Ochoa’s death. The book talks about a sad story which is true about a courageous women and how the elected governments cannot be essentially counted to ensure protection of the human rights. The identity of the killer and the deceit around the death of Ochoa are the main focus of the book and how a vivid picture of Ochoa is revealed who is a victim not only of a brutal and cruel murder but later on a victim of a character assassination as well. The historical and cruel reality of Mexico is depicted where the strongest branch of the organized crime is military and the book is basically a properly constructed true and furious investigation into reality. The social in justice, racism, poverty, human rights violations and poor stability are few of those many issues which were existent in Mexico. The death of this courageous lawyer was ruled by the Mexican government who called it a probable suicide and the case was thus closed. The book reveals how she was murdered in a cold blooded manner and also a cover up which was on this brutal act of humanity. Diebel in her book reveals the complex plot which was surrounded by the death of Ochoa from the Vatican (developing from the corridors of the presidential power to the jungles which were inhabited by the rebels). The book is a depiction of betrayal, friendship and also tribute to all those people of Mexico who are fighting for dignity and truth. Works Cited Diebel, Linda. Betrayed: The Assassination of Digna Ochoa. New York, NY: Carroll & Graf, 2006. Print. HarperCollins. "Betrayed: The Assassination of Digna Ochoa by Diebel, Linda." HarperCollins Publishers Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. . Quill & Quire. “Review of Betrayed: The Assassination of Digna Ochoa by Linda Diebel.” Canada's Magazine of Book News and Reviews, Quill & Quire. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. . Read More