The Catholic Church asks to stop violence in Chiapas, Mexico

The Catholic Church urged federal and local authorities to act “in accordance with the law, from the truth and applying justice” in the face of the escalation of violence in the municipality of Pantelhó, in the Mexican state of Chiapas: “this war is also theirs.”

In a statement issued on December 5the Diocese of San Cristóbal de las Casas, in which the region affected by violence is located, indicated that since December 3 the group called “Herrera Civil Army” began “detonations of high-caliber weapons and bombs” in the town of San José Buenavista Tercero. According to the statement, during these attacks “they went in to burn houses, terrorizing and causing the displacement of families.”

The next day, the violent acts of the “Herrera Civil Army” spread to the communities of San Francisco and El Roblar, neighbors of San José Buenavista Tercero. In response, the self-defense group called “El Machete” took Pantelhó.

“Armed violence bleeds our communities,” warned the diocese, which recognized the sacrifice of those who come to give their “own lives” in defense of their communities: “the beat of their hearts is an echo that embraces us to continue insisting for peace for our people.”

Likewise, the diocese highlighted that other regions of Chiapas “continue to become cruel battlefields and live under siege by criminals, armed groups and drug trafficking cartels,” and where members of indigenous Mayan communities “are being subjected to pain, death and suffering.” endless ones typical of slave peoples.”

Finally, the Diocese of San Cristóbal de las Casas urged the faithful of the Mexican state to continue forward “on the path of faith, hope and charity, preaching the Word of God with the testimony of life, being resilient in trials “, solidarity in need, sharing the dignity of daughters and sons of God until He comes as the Sun of Justice to give us His peace.”