Mexico: Military controls Chiapas municipality after clashes between criminals

After seven days of clashes between organized crime groups, some 1,500 military agents took control of the municipality this Wednesday Mexican of Comalapa Borderstate Chiapason the border with Guatemala, to try to calm its inhabitants.

Last week, several communities in the aforementioned municipality were the scene of shootings and blockades between criminal groups, according to security sources, the clashes were carried out by alleged members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and of the Sinaloa cartela situation that caused the displacement of at least 3,000 inhabitants.

LOOK HERE: Mexico: 50 migrants who were traveling by bus are kidnapped and ask for $1,500 for the freedom of each one

While on Tuesday, residents of the community the Quespalapart of Comalapa Borderthey confronted state and federal agents who were seeking to enter the municipality to carry out security actions.

The residents stationed themselves at the main access to the town to prevent Mexican Army agents from entering the place, for which a confrontation with stones and tear gas was recorded for several minutes.

Burning vehicles used as barricades on May 31, 2023, in the Mexican municipality of Frontera Comalapa, Chiapas state, Mexico. (Photo by Carlos López / EFE)

While this Wednesday, agents of the Army, National Guard and federales arrived at the municipality of the state of Chiapas to take control of it.

the commissioner Victor Fernandez Mondragonstate coordinator of the National Guard in Chiapastold EFE that to enter the place it was necessary to disperse a group of people from the community Quespala that maintained a blockade on a stretch of road.

He added that on this day they carried out surveillance tours in the communities of chicommusel, sinaloa, Independence and in the main communities of Comitan.

He pointed out that during the eviction operation, carried out on Tuesday, a dozen weapons were confiscated that were buried in an abandoned lot.

In the area there are approximately 1,500 agents who participate in the operation and are installed at the exit of the municipalities of Comitan, Motozintla, chicommuselborder with Guatemala.

MORE INFORMATION: What is known about the mysterious disappearance of seven employees of a call center in Mexico linked to “international fraud”

old problems

The municipality of Frontera Comalapa has suffered, for more than a decade, serious problems with people and drug trafficking and due to this, there is currently a struggle between criminal groups for control of the region.

When touring the highways and the towns of this area of ​​the southern border of Mexico you can see hundreds of abandoned houses, closed businesses, burned vehicles and dozens of rental premises and what was a prosperous community now looks desolate.

Members of the Mexican Army and the National Guard check vehicles at checkpoints installed on May 31, 2023, in the Mexican municipality of Frontera Comalapa, Chiapas state, Mexico. (Photo by Carlos López / EFE) (Carlos López /)

Its inhabitants speak prudently about the current situation and few are the ones who let it be known that it is no longer possible to visit the municipality due to the insecurity that exists.

Anthony Thomasa resident of Frontera Comalapa, told EFE that “The situation has been tense for several months, maybe four months, they have taken a lot of people and after 8:00 p.m. we try not to leave the house”.

It was expressed in the same way Ricardo Vazquez Roquesupervisor of a small company, who told EFE that the arrival of military forces brings calm to the place.

“It is security for us, the situation is tense and thank God nothing has happened to us and we hope it continues like this, since we were no longer coming here (Comalapa Border) everything was by mail”.

ALSO SEE: Mexico: Bus carrying 54 migrants, most of them from Venezuela, suffers an accident and leaves one dead

Just last weekend, more than a hundred NGOs demanded that the municipal, state, and federal governments guarantee the safety and integrity of the population of several municipalities in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas in the face of violence caused by organized crime groups, according to reports. of the Human Rights Committee worthy ochoathe municipalities of Chicomuselo, Mazapa and Frontera Comalapa, for two years have reported the presence of organized crime.

Meanwhile, human rights defense organizations have indicated that from 2022 to date there has been a forced displacement of some 8,000 people.

Source: Elcomercio