What began as a protest over a historic territorial dispute escalated into a day of extreme violence this Friday, April 24. Tsotsil villagers belonging to the *Casa del Pueblo* (House of the People) organization—affiliated with the OCEZ—clashed with a group of hitmen from the Sinaloa Cartel who attempted to forcibly break through a road blockade, leaving a toll of dead and wounded, as well as incinerated vehicles.
The events—documented in graphic videos and audio recordings circulating on social media—underscore the magnitude of the confrontation that took place in the Los Llanos region.
The conflict originated when members of the OCEZ-*Casa del Pueblo* established a perimeter blockade at the entrances to the municipal seat. Their objective was to protest against “trail-clearing” work being carried out by the *Alianza de Comuneros Indígenas Tsotsil Totik San Bartolomé de los Llanos* (Alliance of Indigenous Tsotsil Communal Landholders of San Bartolomé de los Llanos)—an organization with which they have maintained a land dispute for five decades.
Around 4:00 PM, the atmosphere of protest shattered when several pickup trucks carrying heavily armed hitmen arrived at the checkpoint. According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants opened fire indiscriminately in an attempt to clear the road, leaving a man and a woman dead; this act provoked an immediate reaction from the villagers.
Unlike in previous incidents, the communal landholders did not retreat. Following the initial aggression, the inhabitants armed themselves and pursued the attackers, unleashing an exchange of heavy gunfire.
Several of the hitmen were gunned down beside a white pickup truck and were subsequently incinerated.
Local residents report that at least six hitmen lost their lives at the scene, although authorities are still working to recover the remains and formally identify the victims.
As part of the preliminary investigation, the state prosecutor reported the discovery of two completely incinerated vehicles at the site of the skirmish. Reports regarding the death of Gerardo Gael Machado—known as “El Azul” or “El Blu”—have gained traction across digital platforms. The individual is identified as the nephew of Jesús Esteban Machado Meza, nicknamed “El Güero Pulseras,” the Sinaloa Cartel’s regional plaza boss in the state.
Although the presence of this criminal group in the area is a recurring complaint among residents, the State Government has not officially confirmed the demise of this criminal leader. It is presumed that the armed group originated in the municipality of Nicolás Ruiz, where they had reportedly previously clashed with other indigenous groups attempting to prevent drug cartels from encroaching upon their territories.
Although the blockade was lifted on Saturday, the peace in Venustiano Carranza remains fragile. The Los Llanos region is considered a strategic location, as it serves as a corridor connecting central Chiapas with the border zone.
Residents report that armed cells continue to prowl the outskirts of their communities, forcing villagers to maintain constant vigilance through permanent guard patrols. The long-standing land dispute in the region now appears to have become intertwined with the struggle of indigenous peoples to defend their autonomy against the expansion of drug cartels.
