Elio Henriquez
Correspondent
Newspaper La Jornada
Tuesday, February 22, 2022, p. 8
San Cristóbal De Las Casas, Chis., Five thousand residents of Altamirano marched yesterday in the municipal seat to demand the release of 48 people held (27 of them since December 29) – presumably by supporters of former mayor Roberto Pinto Kánter– and that they ask for the disappearance of the municipal council.
Residents of that town said that another reason for the demonstration was to summon all sectors to build peace in Altamirano, where the situation worsened at the end of September, when opponents of Pinto Kánter held him for a month to force the resignation of his wife, Gabriela Roque Tipacamú, who would succeed him in office as of October 1.
The march began at 10 am at the exit to Comitán and after going around the central park it returned to the starting point, where it concluded two hours later with a rally. They added that the protesters, grouped in the so-called August 14 Movement, called on those who are holding the 48 people to sit down and talk to solve the problem.
On December 29, the followers of Pinto Kánter, from the PVEM, detained 27 ejidatarios who support the municipal council chaired by the indigenous María García and took them to the town of La Candelaria.
Weeks later they arrested another seven farmers and in later days they did the same with drivers of vehicles from different companies that distribute products such as Bimbo, Lala, Sabritas and Y Griega, whose number has not been specified because they are kept in La Candelaria along with the units, but according to residents’ estimates it could be about 10.
At the same time, members of the August 14 Movement, supporters of the municipal council, keep the exits to Ocosingo and Comitán blocked. In turn, the opposing group has closed the road to La Candelaria and another road that leads to the municipality of Las Margaritas. Another blockade that had been installed in San Miguel was removed in recent days, after a minor was injured in a confrontation.
