@Twitter Alejandro Encinas
On July 30th, the municipal authorities of Aldama and Chenalho ratified the non-aggression pact to prevent further violence, deriving from the agrarian conflict over 60 hectares that both municipalities have had for 45 years, which has left around 25 dead, dozens displaced people and several injured people.
Alejandro Encinas, Undersecretary for Human Rights and Population of the Ministry of the Interior, was present at the ceremony held at the government palace in Tuxtla Gutierrez. He stated that “we have made progress and there is a show of will, but there are still attacks that cause damage to the physical integrity of the inhabitants of that area.” He asked the parties to “make this reconciliation process a sign that we can rebuild our community life, of social coexistence, recognition and respect in order to live in peace. The effort that you develop is invaluable, and from which we hope to have better results.” Although he underlined the will “of the traditional authorities and the commitment that Governor Rutilio Escandon Cadenas, who heads the Security Tables, to guarantee peace and protection of families,” he said that “it is necessary to redouble efforts to achieve this reunion and a final solution.”
For his part, Governor Rutilio Escandon Cadenas acknowledged the progress that has been made just over a year after this agreement was signed for the first time, “to leave behind the conflicts of the past and walk together for the good of their communities.”
The following day, during a visit to the area, Alejandro Encinas promised to repair the damage caused by the deaths of 19 people from Chenalho and five from Aldama. He declared that “the first remedy must be justice so that aggressions, homicides and injuries do not go unpunished, but for there to be justice we all have to cooperate.” He also reported that two detachments of the state police were established in Aldama, in order to avoid aggression between inhabitants of both towns, but warned that “it is not enough for the police and the Army to be there if we do not all work to avoid confrontations.”
The undersecretary of government, Ismael Brito Mazariegos, also present at the visit, said that the request that the people of both towns who are in prison for crimes related to the agrarian conflict will also be met.
For more information in Spansh:
Aldama y Chenalhó firman convenio de paz por conflicto de tierras (La Jornada, 30 de julio de 2020)
Ratifican no agresión entre Aldama y Chenalhó (Diario de Chiapas, 30 de julio de 2020)
Encinas se compromete a reparar daños a víctimas de Aldama y Chenalhó (La Jornada, 1ero de agosto de 2020)
Dialogan Encinas y Brito con autoridades indígenas (Cuarto Poder, 3 de agosto de 2020)
Alejandro Encinas e Ismael Brito dialogan con autoridades de Aldama y Chenalhó (Chiapas Hoy, 3 de agosto de 2020)
For more information from SIPAZ:
Chiapas: Base Requested for Aldama, Chenalho (July 23, 2020)
Chiapas: Hieren de bala a niña de Aldama en ataque armado (July 18, 2020)
Chiapas: Injunction Granted to Protect Life, Integrity and Security of Displaced Tsotsil Communities in Aldama (May 4, 2020)
Chiapas: Attacks against Tsotsil Communities in Aldama Continue (April 16, 2020)
Chiapas: Authorities in Santa Martha and Aldama Denounce New Attacks (March 5, 2020)
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