Public Denunciation
June 24, 2026.
To the public
To human rights organizations
To the national and international media
To free and alternative media
To national and international civil society
To the Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas
To the people of faith of the Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas
Brothers and sisters of Mexico and the world, we—the families belonging to the autonomous resistance group that has been active since 1994 in the municipal seat of San Andrés Sakamch’en, Chiapas, and also the faithful of the Parish of Saint Andrew the Apostle, in the Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, denounce the cutting off of electricity service to five of our families by individuals belonging to different political parties on Morelos street in the Centro neighborhood of the municipal seat, accompanied by the municipal police and with the full knowledge of the municipal authorities. These events came about as a result of our resistance; since 1994, we have remained committed to this organizational process, and as such, we have refused to pay electricity bills, as this is a human right we have exercised, and furthermore, electricity is a common good, owned by the people of Mexico.
The Facts
First: On Sunday, June 13 of this year, a transformer installed on Morelos street in the municipal seat malfunctioned, and electricity customers on that street began looking for ways to resolve the issue. Among the options, they proposed requesting that the CFE repair the transformer, and in that context, all users were required to submit copies of their electricity bills to verify that everyone was up to date on their payments. However, among all the affected users were the five families belonging to this autonomous group. They were forced to submit copies of their bills, but since they did not have them, they were told that if they wanted to have service, they would have to pay 150.00 pesos every two months. Our colleagues refused this agreement, since the payment requirement applies only to them and not to everyone else. They were also told that if they did not want to pay, they should install their own transformer or purchase solar panels. Faced with this situation, the autonomous municipal representative proceeded to speak with the PRI municipal representative to mediate the matter; however, they refused to address the issue, claiming that it was a matter for the neighborhood and Morelos street.
Second: The matter had been put on hold, since all the affected users agreed to find a technician to fix it; to that end, they each contributed 100.00 pesos toward the technician’s fee. That amount was insufficient, so they decided to collect an additional 50.00 pesos from each affected user. Our colleagues made their contributions in a timely and proper manner.
Third: On Sunday, June 21, the people on Morelos street once again demanded a copy of the receipt and stated that anyone without one would face the consequences. Since our five colleagues do not have a receipt, they were again asked to pay 150.00 pesos every two months; when they refused, they were threatened once more—including with being hung from a tree. Immediately afterward, the officials climbed the utility pole and cut the electrical downwires, leaving them in several pieces so they could not be reconnected. The municipal police were present during the service disconnection.
Fourth: After what happened, the autonomous authorities asked the municipal officials to engage in dialogue to resolve the issue and restore electricity service. At first, the officials showed a willingness to do so, but after several attempts, they simply stated that they would no longer intervene because it was outside their jurisdiction and that the matter should be referred to municipal officials. In response, the autonomous representatives again requested a meeting with the official representatives of the municipal seat, to which the latter agreed; however, they refused to discuss the matter, simply stating that they would not restore electricity service to the five families and that what had happened was only the beginning, as they would proceed neighborhood by neighborhood. The autonomous authorities sought alternative ways to resolve the issue, but received no positive response. This arbitrary act involved individuals from various political parties—primarily the PRI—as well as members of the municipal seat’s official agency and believers from different churches, such as Mr. Francisco Leonardo Hernández Díaz, minister of communion at the parish of San Andrés Apóstol.
Fifth: Since we have found no other alternative, and by agreement of the autonomous group, we will proceed to reconnect the electricity service for the five affected families using our own resources, as this service is a human right and cannot be denied to us—especially not by members of the political party who oppose our resistance, who are also suffering and face the same adverse economic conditions as we do.
Therefore, we hold the San Andrés Larrainzar municipal government and all official authorities in the municipal seat and throughout the municipality, as well as the state and federal governments, responsible for any harm to our physical integrity that may result from the reconnection of electricity or thereafter.
We also demand:
First: Intervention by the state and federal governments to ensure that their officials and institutions are held accountable, so that these human rights violations are not repeated and the full exercise of our human right to electricity is guaranteed.
Second: Guarantees that the physical integrity of the five affected families and all members of the autonomous group in resistance in San Andrés Sakamch’en, Chiapas, will not be violated.
We demand respect for our autonomy and dignity as Indigenous peoples!
Stop the harassment and threats, because we do not want to confront our own brothers and sisters!
Stop demanding that autonomous communities in resistance pay electricity bills!
Stop the war against the peoples organized in resistance!
Sincerely,
Autonomous Community in Resistance, Municipal Seat of San Andrés Sakamch’en, Chiapas
Original text published by Frayba on June 24th, 2026.
Translation by Schools for Chiapas.