Displaced persons from the communities of Santa Martha, Chenalhó, seek help. Photo: Isabel Mateos/Cuartoscuro.
SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LAS CASAS, Chiapas. A group of 267 Tsotsil (61 families) displaced from the community of Tzanembolom, municipality of Chenalhó, who fled last July due to violence, asked authorities to provide them with humanitarian aid, as they have not received anything since November.
The displaced people who are staying at the Chenalhó Cultural Center stated: “They have abandoned us, we are suffering, while those responsible for our displacement are selling off our land, lots, and coffee plantations cheap, and our homes are destroyed.”
They explained that the last time they received support from the state Civil Protection Secretariat was on November 13th, when the agency’s staff brought a stove, a water tank, gas cylinders, plates, pots, and other items that had been provided to them.
“The authorities have told us to return because the National Guard and the military are already there, but we are afraid because there are no guarantees of security, as they haven’t carried out any operations or cleared Tzanembolom; the armed men of the Tzembolom Fraction are still there.”
On July 20th, protected by state police, a group of 108 Tsotsil people were displaced and settled in the House of Culture in the municipal seat of Chenalhó, where they joined other previously displaced people.
“Civil Protection sent us food supplies, but since the new administration began, they haven’t given us anything. We’ve only received a little from some churches that help us, but we are suffering because they haven’t brought us any more. We have asked the mayor of Chenalhó several times for support, even with corn, but he hasn’t given us anything either.”
At a press conference, the displaced people revealed that they have been requesting assistance in writing from the Secretariat of Government and Mediation since last January, but have received no response. “We have asked Civil Protection what happened, and they only tell us that they are already working on it, that the request is already on the table, but nothing. We are suffering, eating corn shorn of weevils.”
The Tsotsil are requesting 25 tons of Maseca, 25 tons of beans, 25 tons of corn, 65 packages of oil, 65 packages of soap, 122 packages of rice, 122 packages of sugar, 65 cartons of eggs, 65 packages of salt, 267 pieces of mattresses, 267 blankets, and 267 cots.
In addition, they also need a stove for preparing their meals, two gas cylinders, five large pewter pots, five large frying pans, 50 eating spoons, six ladles, four medium-sized frying pans, 50 plates, 50 glasses, five large cans for storing water, 40 12-liter buckets, and a water tank.
In total, 73 men, 88 women, 58 boys, and 48 girls “are suffering because we are not receiving the support that Civil Protection provided us until November.”
The children have not attended classes since they left Tzanembolom. According to the protesters, the Secretary of Education (Roger Mandujano Ayala) wants to send teachers from the community, but the teachers have not arrived at the House of Culture to give the children homework.
Original article by Gabriela Coutiño, Proceso, April 6th, 2025.
Translated by Schools for Chiapas.