On May 23, 2023, Jorge López Sántiz, an indigenous Tseltal member and support base of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN, Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional) was admitted to the Dr. Gilberto Gomez Maza Hospital in the city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, after public pressure derived from this Urgent Action. 

Jorge’s current condition is grave. He is on ventilator support and medications to keep his heart functioning, because he was shot in the upper left side of his chest, which injured several organs. Given his health condition, he has the criteria for being placed in an intensive care unit, but the Hospital has no space in such unit and, therefore, he is in an area that is not adequate to guarantee the highly-specialized care that he requires.

We reiterate the demands enunciated in this urgent action and emphasize:

• The Mexican State is responsible for guarantying the life of the EZLN support base and providing the necessary attention.
• We urge the State to provide adequate attention in the Intensive Care Unit with instruments and equipment necessary for saving his life. 

Despite petitions, the Mexican State has remained remiss given the violence in the community, the continuous attacks reveal the complete lack of fulfillment of its obligation to guarantee and protect human rights.

Mexico City, May 23, 2023

On the night of May 22, 2023, Jorge López Sántiz, an indigenous Tseltal member and support base of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN, Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional) was the victim of an armed attack and his life remains at grave risk. He was shot in the high left side of his chest. Hours before, the Moisés y Gandhi autonomous community, Lucio Cabañas Autonomous Municipality (Ocosingo, Chiapas) reported the armed attack perpetrated by members of the Regional Organization of Ocosingo Coffee Growers (ORCAO).

According to documentary information received by the Executive Secretariat of the TDT Network, it stated that the events began at 4:32 p.m. when members of the ORCAO from the El Sacrificio community, municipality of Ocosingo, activated firearms whose record counted 130 small caliber shots and 15 high-caliber shots.

At 7:59 pm, ORCAO members from the 7 de febrero community also began to shoot from a coffee warehouse located on the side of the San Cristóbal–Ocosingo highway, at the Cushuljá crossroads. First, they fired 8 shots from a small-caliber weapon and 6 from a high-caliber one; then, they fired 18 shots from a high-caliber weapon and initiated a volley of shots that could not be counted.

Today, May 23, testimonies report that the shots against the Moisés y Gandhi Autonomous Community continue and that the public health care services have not wanted to receive Jorge López Santiz, wounded by a bullet, justifying that they do not have instruments and medical personnel to carry out the surgery and necessary care. This documentary information has been verified by civilian authorities of the Good Government Junta of New Dawn in Resistance and Rebellion for Life and Humanity, Caracol 10, the Rebel Seed Blooming, based in Patria Nueva, Lucio Cabañas Autonomous Municipality (official municipality of Ocosingo), Chiapas.

In view of these facts, we urgently demand:

• Urgent medical attention be provided to Jorge Lopez Santiz, injured by a bullet, for the purpose of saving his life and his physical and psychological integrity.
• Investigate and determine responsibility for the criminal act of attempted murder and armed attack perpetrated against the inhabitants of the Moisés y Gandhi community.
• Immediate cessation of armed attacks against the Support Bases of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) of Caracol 10 by the ORCAO.
• Carry out the corresponding investigations in order to sanction and punish the persons responsible for the crimes indicated and the human rights violations against the EZLN support bases in Chiapas.

Originally Published in Spanish by the Red TDT, Tuesday, May 23, 2023, https://redtdt.org.mx/archivos/18337 and Re-Published with English interpretation by the Chiapas Support Committee