Tzotzil indigenous men killed by suspected paramilitary group in Chiapas

Two Tzotzil indigenous men were killed in an ambush by a suspected paramilitary group in Venustiano Carranza, Chiapas, while they were working to plant corn. The incident occurred on Wednesday, June 17, when a group from Candelaria El Alto, identified as Los Manguitos, were attacked on their land.

The victims have been identified as Roberto Carlos de la Cruz Morales, who died at the scene, and José Rubén de la Cruz Méndez, who was initially reported missing. His body was found later, bringing the total death toll to two. The Organization of Campesino Emiliano Zapata (OCEZ) Region Carranza reported the attack and has sent a document to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the National Human Rights Commission, and federal and state governments, calling for the dismantling of armed groups in the municipality.

Indigenous organizations, including the Coordination of Independent Organizations of Chiapas (COICH), have been aware of land disputes in the area for months, noting a lack of attention to regularizing plots of land in communities like El Desengaño, Santa Cruz, and Nuevo San José. The two Tzotzil men were buried amidst calls for justice, with organizations denouncing the "cowardly manner" of their execution, noting that one of the victims had been shot in the back of the head.

The OCEZ has accused Manuel de la Cruz Jiménez, Ángel Moisés de la Cruz González, Abelino de la Cruz Méndez, Artemio de la Cruz Hernández, and Juan de la Cruz Jiménez of leading the armed group. Neither the Prosecutor's Office nor the Secretariat of Security has commented on the executions or initiated a search operation for the armed group.

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We bid farewell to our brothers in struggle, while at the same time we strongly repudiate the cowardly way in which they were executed.