From the Editors of La Jornada

Hundreds of residents of the Cuxtitali el Pinar ejido, who demanded the liberation of Pablo Pérez Sántiz, who is alleged to head a group of gang members that travel on motorcycles, now in prison charged with murder, caused damages in public buildings and burned a vehicle in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas.

The State’s Attorney General (FGE), who initiated an investigation notebook against whoever turns out to be responsible for the crime of attacks on the peace and the corporal and patrimonial integrity of the state’s collectivity, reported that 10 males were arrested and four motorcycles were seized.

The more that 500 demonstrators, some on motorcycles and wearing masks, kept local society in fear yesterday for more than two hours, because on Monday night rumors spread that they would “takeover” the palace of justice, where the FGE’s regional offices and lower courts, as well as other public buildings are located, and additionally that they would block the San Cristóbal-Tuxtla Gutiérrez toll road.

Some agencies didn’t work this Tuesday and some 300 agents from the National Guard, as well as state and municipal police, were posted early in the morning at kilometer 46 of the toll road, at the entrance to San Cristóbal, to prevent the scooters from blocking entrance to the city.

In front of the buildings, they broke windows of the courthouse, the administrative unit and the municipal presidency. They demanded the release of Pérez Sántiz and launched rockets. They also set fire to a parked vehicle.

Agents from various corporations, with the support of a helicopter, dispersed the demonstrators with tear gas and a group apparently on its way to block the toll road was restrained by police.

The FGE reported in a statement that “security forces made up of the Ministry of National Defense, the National Guard, the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (state police) and the municipal police began surveillance and presence patrols in the area, as well as in streets and avenues of the city, with the aim of safeguarding the integrity and heritage of citizens. “

Originally Published in Spanish by La Jornada, Wednesday, November 9, 2022, https://www.jornada.com.mx/2022/11/09/estados/032n2est and Re-Published with English interpretation by the Chiapas Support Committee