On 16 October, the general assembly of the Zoque municipality of Santa María Chimalapa decided to declare itself an autonomous municipality, this until the three branches of governmental power in Oaxaca ratify the dismissal of the mayor and the cancellation of his powers in the municipality. In a public communique, the assembly denounced the behavior of mayor Raymundo Zárate Zárate,who has not “honestly and responsibly carried out his charges as assigned to him by the People.” They indicated that, as a result, on 8 July they dismissed the mayor and his cabinet, requesting that the state congress nullify his powers; regardless, this institution has delayed the process. In a communique, the communards indicated that the root of the conflict within the municipality has to do with “the invasion encouraged by the government of the neighboring state of Chiapas.”
For more information (in Spanish):
Comunicado: Santa María Chimalapa se declara municipio autónomo (16/10/2012)
Noticias: Se declara Santa María Chimalapa municipio autónomo (22/10/2012)
La Jornada: Santa María Chimalapa, municipio autónomo (22/10/2012)
For more information from SIPAZ (in English):
Oaxaca/Chiapas: meeting among governors in Governance regarding the Chimalapas case (18 May 2012)
Oaxaca/Chiapas: Possible “electoral fraud” is denounced in the Chimalapas region (3 April 2012)
Oaxaca/Chiapas: Update in the Chimalapas case (6 March 2012)
Oaxaca/Chiapas: Zoques present case before the SCJN regarding Chimalapas; Army installs base in zone of conflict (8 February 2012)
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