Pilgrimage of Believing People in Simojovel, October 2013 (@CDHFBC)
On 12 October, the Believing People belonging to the parish of San Antonio de Pádua in Simojovel, an organization process which pertains to the San Cristóbal de Las Casas diocese, carried out a pilgrimage to “seek out and demand peace and liberty with justice and dignity.” The participants marched through the streets and ended the event in the central park by celebrating mass. The principal objective of the pilgrimage was to warn the people of the increasing violence seen in the municipality.
In a parish communique, it is stated that “For years, the people of Simojovel has lived through violence and insecurity for several reasons: murders, robbery, assault, corruption of authorities, injustices, impunity, alcoholism, sale of cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs, etc. What has moved us most in these days has been the merciless murder of an elder in her house during daylight on 14 September. Also on 16 September at dusk another elder was robbed and nearly murdered; in recent months nearly every day there have been robberies, attacks at home and in the streets. For these reasons the people experience much suffering.”
For more information (in Spanish):
Comunicado del Pueblo Creyente de Simojovel: “Peregrinamos para buscar y exigir paz” (12 de octubre de 2013)
Piden en Simojovel detener la violencia (Chiapas Paralelo, 27 de septiembre de 2013)
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