Chiapas: Frayba Denounces Threats and Harassment of Simojovel Parish Priest Marcelo Perez Perez

image_large @Frayba

In a bulletin published on April 18th, the Fray Bartolome de Las Casas Center for Human Rights (Frayba) expressed concern about the most recent death threats and acts of surveillance against Father Marcelo Perez Perez, pastor of Simojovel de Allende, “harassment that also endangers the safety of his pastoral team and the general population.”

It compiled a series of events that occurred between March 29th and April 6th and recalled that Father Marcelo Perez, in addition to being coordinator of the Social Pastoral of the Province of Chiapas, which integrates the Dioceses of San Cristobal de Las Casas, Tapachula and Tuxtla Gutierrez, “has precautionary measures (MC-506/14) granted by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and with measures carried out by the Protection Mechanism for Defenders and Journalists.”

Frayba also pointed out that the priest “continues his religious activities and the defense of human rights, especially of Original Peoples, despite the deficient political will for protection by the Mexican State and in a context where organized crime operates.”

Finally, it emphasized that it is “the obligation of the Mexican State to implement the necessary measures so that those who defend human rights carry out their work without any type of violence, threat, retaliation, surveillance and harassment.”

For more information in Spanish:

Amenazas a la vida del defensor comunitario Padre Marcelo Pérez Pérez (Frayba, 18 de abril)

Frayba denuncia amenazas contra párroco de Simojovel, Chiapas (La Jornada, 18 de abril de 2019)

Amenazas de muerte y vigilancia en contra del Párroco de Simojovel (El Heraldo de Chiapas, 18 de abril de 2019)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Chiapas : Alerta máxima del Pueblo Creyente en Simojovel ante nuevas amenazas (17 de mayo de 2018)

Chiapas: Celebration of Simojovel Believing People (April 12, 2017)