Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador acknowledged the mass displacement of 4,200 residents from the town of Tila in Chiapas, where armed gangs attacked and burned homes. This event, the largest displacement in Chiapas since 1997, led to the setup of camps for the displaced people.
The residents, trapped in their homes for days, fled with minimal belongings as army troops and state police arrived to assist. The conflict stemmed from a longstanding land dispute amongst farmers, although criminal gangs and political interests were also involved.
López Obrador ensured food supply to the camps and expressed a desire to negotiate for a safe return to the communities. Chiapas has been a hotspot for drug cartel clashes due to its proximity to the Guatemala border, with past instances of violence leading to displacement, such as the Zapatista uprising in 1994 and the Acteal massacre in 1997.
Despite the turmoil, the government aims to restore peace in the region through negotiations with the involved groups. However, the underlying issues of land disputes and criminal activities continue to pose challenges in Chiapas.
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