Activist and fishing businesswoman María Gemima Hernández Ávalos denounced the existence of 'protection money' payments in the fishing sector of Baja California Sur and linked the murder of her brother, businessman Ismael Hernández Sábalos, to previous extortion complaints.
Originally from Mulegé and active in the northern part of the state, particularly in Guerrero Negro, she explained in 'Aristegui en Vivo' that the conflict erupted when her brother, who headed a fishing cooperative, reported being a victim of extortion by criminal groups, but his complaints were not addressed by the authorities.
'My brother stated in his complaint that he was a victim of extortion and 'protection money' payments, as he represented the cooperative in Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, as president and leader within the municipality. He defended the rights of fishermen, and that meant confronting criminals and the authorities that are colluding with them,' she said.
According to her testimony, after these complaints, a series of aggressions, deprivation of liberty, and torture of the businessman began months before his murder, an attempted homicide when he was traveling with his 14-year-old son, as well as constant threats against the family.
Hernández Ávalos stated that attacks on her assets and surroundings were also recorded, such as the burning of her home and the incineration of a truck that was to be donated to the National Guard, which —she said— had custody.
Faced with the escalation of violence, she indicated that she went to Mexico City on several occasions to request federal intervention.
She mentioned that she delivered documents directly to the Presidency of the Republic and participated in security meetings, where she exposed both the aggressions and alleged omissions by state authorities.
She recounted that on August 28, 2024, she warned of the imminent danger to her brother and told 'the President that they were going to kill him,' but three days later, on September 1, Hernández Sábalos was murdered.
'If they had paid attention from the beginning (…) my brother would be alive,' the activist asserted.
Hernández Ávalos also stated that after the homicide, the violence continued, and she denounced death threats against her, harassment on social networks, and psychological effects on her children, aged 12 and 14.
'I am being threatened with death, I have already filed a complaint, I have already provided the phone numbers with which I am being threatened for carrying out what corresponds to me as a victim, which is to file a complaint,' she added.
She also mentioned that she has filed at least eight complaints for these events and accused authorities in Baja California Sur of being colluded with criminal groups.
'There are quite a few authorities colluded in my state,' she said.
She also pointed out that 'protection money' affects different sectors in the entity, but many victims do not report out of fear, although 'there are so many of us victims that very few dare to report,' she affirmed.
She indicated that the situation has caused family breakdown, as some of her acquaintances have chosen to distance themselves for fear of retaliation; in addition, two minors —the children of her brother— were left orphaned.
Currently, Hernández Ávalos remains in Mexico City due to the lack of security conditions to return to Baja California Sur.
Among the agreements with federal authorities, she mentioned the installation of a security base in Puerto San Carlos, municipality of Comondú, as well as management before instances of the Ministry of the Interior regarding the treatment of her case and support for her nephews.
'We want justice, and I don't want anything to happen to me, I cannot return to my state under these conditions,' she concluded.
