The demand of the indigenous population of the municipality of Pantelhó to elect its authorities has reached the Electoral Tribunal of the Judiciary of the Federation. The inhabitants of Pantelhó reported the decision of the local Congress to appoint a municipal council instead of holding extraordinary elections within the framework of the electoral process of 2024, due to the violence generated by armed civilian groups related to organized crime.
In response to this situation, the Electoral Tribunal issued a resolution last Wednesday, May 7, recalling the security and governability crisis that Pantelhó, Chiapas, has faced for decades. The violence and conflicts in the area have directly affected the political-electoral rights of the population, preventing the municipality from being governed by democratically elected authorities.
The ruling of the Tribunal orders the Congress of Chiapas to call for a second extraordinary electoral process in 2025. In addition, it urges various institutions to develop a Comprehensive Peace and Security Plan that addresses the causes of violence, marginalization, and poverty in the region. The creation of a Dialogue and Peacebuilding Table with participation from government representatives, traditional authorities, and other sectors is proposed, which will remain active until the elections of 2027.
Judge Reyes Rodríguez Mondragón emphasizes the importance of ensuring security and respect for the self-determination of the indigenous community, highlighting the need for the State to fulfill its obligation to hold periodic elections in secure conditions. The ruling also demands that resources be allocated to ensure that the authorities comply with the established measures.
