“Let us always keep the Light of Truth and Peace burning. It does not matter what storm we are going through.”
Las Abejas de Acteal Civil Society Organization
Sacred Land of the Martyrs of Acteal
Acteal, Chenalhó, Chiapas, Mexico
January 22nd, 2026
Brothers and Sisters:
We give thanks to the Heart of Mother Earth and the Heart of Heaven, to God the Father-Mother, who have protected us, embraced us, and carried us so that we may reach the New Year 2026, because we are their daughters and sons. We are determined to continue fighting in defense of Mother Earth, in defense of the human rights of our people, in defense of life and liberty.
The new authorities of the Board of Directors, who this year have the honor of serving in the Las Abejas de Acteal Organization, greet the organizations, organized communities, collectives, women and men, youth, children, and elders who, like us, continue the struggle against the deadly policies of the corrupt governments in power, who walk hand in hand with the rich and powerful, plunderers and dispossessors of the lands and territories of the Indigenous peoples in Chiapas and throughout Mexico.
It is outrageous and shameful what is happening on the international stage. Barely into 2026, the insatiable ambitions and greed of the imperialist government of the United States led it to violate international law by kidnapping the President of the Bolivarian Republic, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3rd of this year.
The human rights situation in Chiapas, in Mexico, and around the world is in profound crisis. We see how, globally, wars of destruction and extermination have not stopped, such as the genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza, the West Bank, and other peoples who defend their autonomy and their territory from unscrupulous, power-hungry, and money-grabbing genocidal forces like the governments of Israel and the United States.
The dispossession, plunder, destruction, and genocide perpetrated by capitalist governments of death, whether against the Venezuelan people, the Palestinian people, or any people with natural resources in their territory such as oil, water, gold, silver, etc., are also suffered here by the Indigenous peoples of Chiapas and Mexico, but at the hands of the corrupt governments of the so-called “Fourth Transformation.”
In Chiapas, as throughout Mexico, these corrupt governments, along with the wealthy and powerful and organized crime, have left us in misery, on the brink of death every day. If we don’t die from curable diseases, we die from the bullets of the police, the military, or hired killers.
The MORENA government, through its president Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, claims they are not the same as the former PRI and PAN administrations. However, their practices, their demagogic and hypocritical rhetoric, clearly demonstrate that they are no different. One need only look at the human rights situation and the ongoing crimes committed against defenders of the land and life; forced disappearances are increasing daily, annually, and with each presidential term.
What is happening in Chiapas and in Mexico, just 22 days into 2026, cannot be described or denounced in two, three, or even 100 pages or more. And we are not the only organization that publicly exposes and denounces what is happening; many human rights defenders have done so and continue to do so, but the governments and the corresponding authorities have no will to listen and act accordingly. We continue to confirm that they do not govern for the people, but rather for the rich and powerful capitalists of death and for the interests of organized crime.
Above all, given the dark outlook in Chiapas, Mexico, and the world, we, the members of the Las Abejas de Acteal Organization, have always maintained that no one can defeat our hope. The light of peace that emanates here in Acteal can no longer be extinguished, because the blood spilled by our 45 sisters and brothers, plus the four unborn babies, is the energy that keeps the fire burning in our hearts. This fire is our strength, allowing us to continue our struggle with the conviction that our fight is necessary and just, especially in these critical times.
Our Martyrs of Acteal, and the courageous women of our Organization, have taught us not to retreat and to always move forward. That is why we remain here despite everything. That is why we will not sell out; we will not exchange the blood of our Martyrs and our dignity for money.
For us, this new year is like the land ready to be cultivated with peace, justice, freedom, and new seeds to build a more just and humane world.
This new year is a metaphor for the youth of Las Abejas de Acteal, who are taking their places by decision of our organization’s assembly.
This new Board of Directors for 2026 signifies a new beginning. Our mission is to care for and protect the hive from pests and corrupt governments. We will be here tending the hive, continuing to produce the honey of peace, always faithful to the nonviolent struggle taught to us by our beloved Tatik Samuel Ruiz García through the life of Jesus Christ, our teacher of nonviolence. Therefore, this January 25th, we will join together to honor the memory of Tatik Samuel, along with the faithful of the Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, who will journey with dignity for life, justice, and peace.
Brothers and sisters, this concludes our message for this month. Stay informes for our journey in 2026. We will publicly announce any activities or actions we undertake for Peace, Justice, and in Defense of Life.
And in the meantime, let us always keep the Light of Truth and Peace burning brightly. It does not matter matter the storm that is passing through us, let us remain united by the strength of our Martyrs of Acteal, in memory of those who have fallen fighting to defend their people, such as: Simón Pedro, Father Marcelo, Samir Flores, the 43 students of Ayotzinapa, and the thousands of disappeared throughout Mexico.
From Acteal, House of Memory and Hope.
Sincerely,
The Voice of the Civil Society Organization Las Abejas de Acteal.
On behalf of the Board of Directors:
Eduardo Gutiérrez Pérez
President
Juan Pérez López
Secretary
Original statement from Las Abejas de Acteal, January 22nd, 2026.
Translated by Schools for Chiapas.