The municipalities where the blockades began were La Trinitaria, Frontera Comalapa, Chicomuselo, Mazapa de Madero, Bejucal de Ocampo, El Porvenir and Motozintla, so it is not possible to enter or leave these places. However, today, Sunday, 19 more municipalities are joining these blockades.
Gunshots were also reported from 12:00 noon and continued on Saturday night in the Zacualpan ejido, in the Chicomuselo Municipality, and in the surrounding areas of Amatenango de la Frontera.
On social media, residents of these towns posted that there are armed men on board vehicles coming from Amatenango de la Frontera and heading to the Comalapa Border.
The SIERRA MADRE OF #CHIAPAS and the Border Region is paralyzed. At least 13 roadblocks have been registered. You cannot enter or exit anywhere. For two weeks organized crime groups have been fighting over that region. But this morning, at least 13… pic.twitter.com/MZ1YLFZu0t
— Isain Mandujano (@isain)
July 20, 2024
This is not the only violent incident. Last week in the municipalities of Monte Cristo Guerrero and Jaltenango de la Paz, criminal groups allegedly forced residents to set up blockades to prevent the passage of the Army and its adversaries.
Local media have reported that, in response to the various incidents, residents have abandoned their homes and fled these municipalities for fear of being killed or forced to participate in violent acts.
Warning of violence in Chiapas
Civil organizations, such as the Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas Human Rights Center, along with three other organizations, said that residents of at least 14 municipalities in the Sierra and the border are “at imminent risk” due to “the escalation of violence that is occurring in the area” due to the dispute over territory between criminal groups.
“The signatory organizations are activating this urgent action due to the escalation of violence that is currently taking place in several communities in the border region of the state of Chiapas with Guatemala and for which we require immediate intervention to guarantee the protection of the civilian population,” they stated in a letter sent to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
They mentioned that the municipalities where this risk occurs are in Frontera Comalapa, Chicomuselo, La Grandeza, Bella Vista, Siltepec, El Porvenir, Motozintla, Bejucal de Ocampo, Honduras de la Sierra, Mazapa de Madero, Amatenango de la Frontera, La Concordia, Montecristo de Guerrero and Angel Albino Corzo.
They recalled that since Sunday, July 14, there have been signs of an increase in hostilities between armed organized crime groups that have been fighting for control of the border area since 2021.
“The situation has worsened particularly today, Saturday 20 July, with the besieging of several communities and municipal capitals, including Chicomuselo, by means of at least 13 roadblocks, armed civilian checkpoints and physical obstacles,” they said.
They also stressed that civilians are being forcibly recruited to join armed groups.
