Thousands of members of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) demonstrated on the roads of Chiapas to remember Samir Flores, a community communicator assassinated on February 20, 2019, during protests against the construction of the Integral Project Morelos (PIM). Samir was the main opponent of the Huexca Thermoelectric Plant. The Zapatistas began the demonstration on Saturday morning along the roads connecting Palenque, Comitán, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, and Ocosingo, carrying candles and distributing printed messages to motorists.
In the message, they recalled that Samir confronted the federal government's superdelegate, Hugo Erick Flores, about the negative impacts these projects would have on the towns. Samir's death was described as an act ordered by transnational businessmen, according to the EZLN, who want governments to be agents of death.
During the demonstration in Palenque, the Zapatistas took a stand against the construction of a road to connect San Cristóbal de Las Casas with Palenque, holding a sign that rejected the project. In their statement, they expressed that Samir's biography was representative of all those who fight for life, and asserted that justice must be carried out by the people of Mexico in the streets and communities.
"Samir, you were murdered treacherously and they will continue to betray you," concluded the Zapatistas' message.
