Marciano Martínez Cruz, coordinador of Movimiento de Unificación y Lucha Triqui (MULT) and Rafael Cisneros Hernandez were shot dead on Saturday 7th of January 2017 in Putla, a municipality located in Sierra Sur, Oaxaca.

According to the security sources, the double homicides occurred in the afternoon as the two members of the indigenous community were travelling on board their white van and were intercepted and shot dead.

The attack took place on the line federal 125 Alfonso Pérez Gasga, at 134 kilometres from El Chorrito stop in Putla region.

Marciano Martínez Cruz, originally from  Lázaro Cárdenas, San Juan Copala, was coordinator of MULT in the district of Putla.

The second person murdered was identified as  35 year old Rafael Hernández Cisneros.

That night following the killings, a group of community members started a protest in front of the government palace in Oaxaca City.