By: Elio Henríquez, Correspondent

San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas

Subjects with high-caliber weapons fired shots into the air in the area of the José Castillo Tiélemans Market, the city’s main supply center, which caused panic and anxiety among hundreds of people; Many ran through the streets while others at evening Mass remained locked in two churches.

According to neighbors, at approximately 10 o’clock Saturday night, men identified as members of gangs that move around on motorcycles, known as Motonetos or “Scooters,” fired shots into the air, without any report of people injured. [1]

The neighbors commented that apparently their purpose was to frighten members of an antagonistic group with which they dispute spaces in what’s called “Mercadito 2,” next to José Castillo Tiélemans. Shops closed and waiting vans left in a hurry.

Some Catholics who were at Mass in the churches of Santo Domingo and La Asunción, in the Mexicanos Barrio (neighborhood), remained locked-in, waiting for the situation to calm down.

The municipal police reported that they responded to a first report of three shots at 4 p.m., but the criminals fled.

They added that around 8 p.m. “a second warning of more weapon detonations was received, but shortly before 9:20 p.m. control of the area had already been regained with the collaboration of the Mexican Army, National Guard and state preventive police.”

The incident occurred on the eve of the start of Spring Holiday and Easter, from April 9 to 16, so since this Sunday, security forces of the three government levels increased patrols at strategic points in order to protect all the events that will be held, such as the inauguration, the parade of floats and the coronation of the queen.

In a statement they said: “In addition to surveillance with feet-on-the-ground and motorized personnel in patrol cars, since the early hours of this Sunday security filters and checkpoints have been arranged in coordination with preventive state police, the Mexican Army, the National Guard, civil protection and municipal traffic, in order to guarantee order and tranquility throughout the city.”

The corporation explained that “the corporations that make up the Inter-Institutional Group patrol the perimeter of the José Castillo Tiélemans public market.”

[1] The significance of this note in La Jornada is that the “Scooters” (Motonetos in Spanish) are still organized and active as a criminal gang, despite the arrest and imprisonment of its leader, Pablo Santiz and his right-hand man Cecilio “N” (See the 2^nd note below).

Originally Published in Spanish by La Jornada, Monday, April 10, 2023, https://www.jornada.com.mx/2023/04/10/estados/023n2est and Re-Published with English interpretation by the Chiapas Support Committee

They arrest Cecilio “N,” the right-hand man of “Pablo El Pinar,” linked to the Scooters

By: Angeles Vargas | El Heraldo de Chiapas

The State’s Attorney General (FGE), through the Special Issues Prosecutor executed an arrest warrant for rioting and attacks against the peace and integrity of the collectivity of the State of Chiapas against a subject who is linked to the so-called Scooters (Motonetos) of San Cristóbal de las Casas.

Cecilio “N,” the one arrested, is identified by people from Santiago El Pinar, located in the northern zone of San Cristóbal de las Casas municipality, as the right hand of Pablo Santiz or “Pablo El Pinar,” arrested and held in the State Center of Social Re-insertion for those Sentenced Number 3 in Tapachula on October 28, 2022.

Given this situation, members of the Investigative Police assigned to this Prosecutor’s Office, executed a warrant against Cecilio “N” this Thursday. He is identified as second in charge of the “Scooters” gang for the crimes of rioting and attacks against the peace and collectivity of the state, to the detriment of society for the events that occurred at Km 46 of the San Cristóbal – Tuxtla Gutiérrez toll road, for which he was placed at the disposal of the control judge.

According to the authorities on October 30, 2022, Cecilio “N” and other people blocked kilometer 46 of the San Cristóbal – Chiapa de Corzo toll road after the arrest of their leader Pablo Sántiz alias “Pablo El Pinar,” who led the Scooters criminal group.

As it will be remembered, this group has been linked to robberies, uprisings, protection fees and roadblocks, among other crimes. On November 8, 2022, when they caused several disturbances in San Cristóbal de las Casas, among them they confronted police, fired shots into the air, burned vehicles and destroyed the Municipal Presidency and the Palace of Justice.

Additionally, prior to this, they were also linked to a riot where for almost five hours they shot, burned vehicles, blocked streets and took control of a part of the city, terrorizing the people who walked through the streets and had to take refuge where they could, even in supermarkets, while dozens of schoolchildren were trapped in their schools and parents sought to reach them generating great psychosis.

At the same time, another one of the disturbances generated by the so-called “Scooters” was in the place known as the Northern Market, where they also shot more to persuade than to kill, but it was there where a stray bullet hit a young man who died, while the group was masked and fired into the air and the citizens lived hours of terror.

Ω

Originally Published in Spanish by El Heraldo de Chiapas, Friday, March 31, 2023, https://www.elheraldodechiapas.com.mx/policiaca/san-cristobal-de-las-casas-los-motonetos-cecilio-n-9848407.html and Re-Published with English interpretation by the Chiapas Support Committee