Paramilitary Group That Killed 120 Mexican Indigenous in Chiapas Reappears teleSUR
go to original December 30, 2015

Indigenous Zapatista activists protest in Chiapas (Reuters)

A Mexican paramilitary group that killed or forcibly disappeared 122 indigenous people between 1995 and 2000 is on the rise again in the southern state of Chiapas with suspected links to local politicians, the Mexican daily La Jornada has reported.

In a statement, activists in Chiapas accused Edgar Leopoldo Gomez, president of the Tila municipality, of supporting “in his service” the resurgence of the Peace and Justice paramilitary group with the goal of “controlling” local indigenous residents.

The statement was issued by the Tila Ejido Supporters of the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle, a Zapatista declaration of revolutionary movements’ vision for Mexico. The group also accused other Tila municipal officials of supporting the rise in paramilitary activity.

Aside from being behind the deaths or disappearances of over 120 indigenous people, the Peace and Justice paramilitary group also has forcibly displaced some 4,000 Ch’ol and Tzeltal indigenous residents in northern Chiapas.

According to the activists’ statement, paramilitary perpetrators of historical human rights abuses have long enjoyed impunity for their crimes.

Read the rest at teleSUR

Related: Militias in Mexico: Citizens’ Security or Further Conflict Escalation? (Insight Crime)

Related: Mexico Indigenous Group Accuses Authorities of Land Grab Plot (teleSUR)

Related: Richard Stahler-Sholk Talks Indigenous Autonomy Movements in Mexico (The Eastern Echo)

Related: 15 Indigenous Rights Victories That You Didn't Hear About in 2015 (IC Magazine)

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