A month after the violent events in the Chiapas municipality of Tila, there are still displaced people who refuse to return to their town. The fear of becoming victims of the paramilitary group “Los Autónomos” makes them decide to stay away from their homes.
Dozens of houses and cars were burned last June. Tila is a town of 83,000 inhabitants, most of whom live in extreme poverty. The origin of the problem is 130 hectares of ejido land, where the government, led by the Green Party, does not assume its responsibilities, according to the residents of Tila. There is a lack of water, electricity, and sanitation services.
The greatest risk faced by the inhabitants is forced recruitment by organized crime, especially the recruitment of young people who, despite being in school, are forced to become gunmen.
The criminal group known as “Los Autónomos,” whose leader is José del Carmen Jiménez Pérez, is accused of executions and looting. It should be noted that “Los Autónomos” expelled the municipal government in 2015.