Civil organizations raised alarms about the alarming situation in Chiapas, which has been described as a "civil war field" due to the rise of violence against land defenders and indigenous peoples, such as the recent assassination of Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez. This statement was made at a press conference in Mexico City, where actress Julieta Egurrola read the collective statement.
The statement mentioned the warning from the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) in 2021 regarding the situation in Chiapas and asserted that the region has now become a true civil war field. Additionally, threats and violence suffered by residents of the '6 de octubre' community of the EZLN were reported, including threats, rapes, arson, and theft of their properties.
Carlos González of the Indigenous National Congress (CNI) detailed that community members have been threatened by residents of another community called Palestina, allegedly accompanied by members of organized crime. Following the assassination of Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez, the situation worsened further, according to González, who warned of an increasingly dark scenario in the region.
The seriousness of the situation was emphasized, describing Chiapas and Mexico in general as conflict zones and warning about the infiltration of criminal cartels into state institutions. Furthermore, the implication of large projects driven by external interests, such as the Maya Train, in worsening the situation was highlighted.
Activists made an urgent call to the government to stop the violence and collaboration with the cartels and requested the cessation of militarization in the region. Finally, Isabel Valencia, a delegate from an Otomi community in Mexico City, criticized the attitude of President Sheinbaum and pointed out that she does not represent indigenous peoples.
