Mexico City | Desinformémonos. The Tsijil Ba Bij (New Path) Collective and the National Indigenous Congress in Agua Clara, Chiapas, denounced the imposition of the San Cristóbal–Palenque highway without prior consultation and demanded justice for the murders and imprisonments of community defenders.
On the occasion of their sixth anniversary, the members of the collective recalled the attacks that took place on August 4, 2019, against their community for defending human rights, autonomy, and land as the Tzeltal people. They reaffirmed that in the face of violence, their response has been dignity and organization. “No to oblivion, yes to resistance,” they said.
They expressed their total rejection of the highway megaproject, which they called a “ project of death” because it was imposed without free, prior, and informed consultation. They denounced that the project has caused division in the communities and puts their way of life at risk. “Our land is our roots, our food, and our future, not a commodity,” they declared.
The group demanded justice for the murder of Father Marcelo Pérez and defender Simón Pedro Pérez López, a member of Las Abejas de Acteal. They called for the release of five Tzeltal prisoners from San Juan Cancuc, who have been arbitrarily imprisoned since 2022. Finally, they denounced that there is no peace in Chiapas, only disappearances, murders, and militarization. In response, they called on the people to unite to defend life, rights, and territory.
The full statement is below:
Statement from the Tsijil Ba Bij Collective (New Path)
PUBLIC DECLARATION
Ejido Agua Clara, Salto de Agua, Chiapas.
August 23, 2025
To the struggle for life, for rebellion, for the defense of Mother Earth and the territory.
We, the members of the Tsijil Ba Bij (New Path) Collective and the National Indigenous Congress (CNI) in Agua Clara, Salto de Agua, Chiapas, in the context of our 6th anniversary of resistance and rebellion, raise our voices to denounce and declare the following:
We commemorate what happened on August 4, 2019, when our community was the victim of attacks and intimidation for being Tzeltal indigenous people, for defending human rights, autonomy, and territory. That violence sought to sow fear, but it did not succeed in taking away our dignity. Today we reaffirm: no to oblivion, yes to resistance. We are still here and we will continue to be here.
We express our total rejection of the San Cristóbal-Palenque highway megaproject, imposed without free, prior, and informed consultation. This project has created division in our communities and threatens our way of life. Our land is our roots, our food, and our future, not a commodity. We say loudly: we do not accept this project of death.
We demand justice for the murder of Father Marcelo Pérez last year, and for our brother Simón Pedro Pérez López, a member of Las Abejas de Acteal, murdered on July 5, 2021. We remember his words and his journey, which are seeds of struggle that blossom in our hearts.
We demand the immediate release of our Tzeltal brothers from San Juan Cancuc: Manuel Sántiz Cruz, Agustín Pérez Domínguez, Juan Velasco Aguilar, Martín Pérez Domínguez, and Agustín Pérez Velasco, unjustly imprisoned since May 29, 2022. Their incarceration is part of the criminalization of those who defend life and autonomy.
We denounce the government’s lie that Chiapas is peaceful. The reality is quite different: disappearances, kidnappings, murders of social activists, and the militarization of our territories continue. There is no peace when there is war against the people.
We know that we are facing a storm that is destroying nature and threatening our lives. But we also know that if we organize, we can defend what belongs to us. That is why we call on all peoples, collectives, and solidarity organizations to join us in defense of what gives life:
- Defend our rights.
- Defend our land.
- Defend the lives of our daughters and sons.
Our struggle is nonviolent, but firm and determined. We want a dignified future for present and future generations.
SINCERELY,
Tsijil Ba Bij Collective (New Path)
National Indigenous Congress – Agua Clara, Salto de Agua, Chiapas
Original text published in Desinformémonos on August 27th, 2025.
Translation by Schools for Chiapas.