By Irudhaya Jothi
Bankura, Oct 22, 2024: Jesuit Father Marcelo Pérez, who like his Indian counterpart Stan Swamy, advocated indigenous and labour rights, was assassinated in Mexico, according to information received on October 22.
Father Pérez, a member of the Tzotzil tribe, was gunned down two days earlier by two men on a motorcycle as he was returning from Mass at Chiapas in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, a city long plagued by violence. He was 50.
He was the third Jesuit to be killed in Mexico in the past two years.
The killing has sent shock waves among the members of the Society of Jesus worldwide and reignited concerns about the escalating violence in the region, driven by organized crime and the exploitation of local resources.
For more than two decades, Father Marcelo had served the Indigenous communities in Chiapas, southern Mexico, standing by their side in disputes over land rights and social justice. He was hailed as a voice for the voiceless.
His work extended beyond spiritual guidance, becoming a symbol of resistance against exploitation, corruption, and the violent criminal elements entrenched in the region.
Father Marcelo was also a dedicated advocate for peace, often acting as a mediator in local conflicts and speaking out against the violent activities of cartels and vigilante groups.
His advocacy for the Tzotzil community and his outspoken criticisms of organized crime made him a target for threats, yet he continued his mission undeterred.
In his final months, Father Marcelo described the worsening conditions in Chiapas as a “time bomb,” where disappearances, kidnappings, and killings had become rampant, particularly as criminal groups like the Sinaloa cartel and the Jalisco New Generation cartel fought for control of the region.
On the day of his assassination, Father Marcelo had finished celebrating Mass in the Cuxtitali neighborhood of San Cristóbal.
As he made his way back to his parish, the assailants shot him in his vehicle, leaving the community reeling from the sudden loss of one of their most vocal and trusted defenders.
His death marks a dangerous escalation in the violence in Chiapas, a region that has seen an alarming rise in organized crime, extortion, and forced recruitment, reports say.
The Jesuit congregation immediately condemned the murder, calling it part of a broader wave of violence sweeping the region.
They emphasized that Father Marcelo’s death should not be viewed as an isolated incident, but as part of a structural problem demanding urgent attention from both local and national authorities.
The Mexican Catholic Bishops’ Conference and various human rights organizations have also called for justice, emphasizing the need for immediate action to address the violence and protect those who advocate for peace.
Father Marcelo’s assassination is part of a broader pattern of violence in Mexico, particularly against Indigenous leaders, activists, and environmental defenders.
Like India’s Chhotanagpur where Father Stan Swamy worked, Chiapas is a region rich in natural resources. It has long been a battleground for cartels seeking to exploit its people and land.
Alongside the violence, the region suffers from systemic issues such as kidnappings, forced labor, and the plundering of resources, leaving its communities in a state of fear and insecurity.
The killing follows the murders of two other Jesuit priests, Fathers Javier Campos and Joaquín Mora, in 2022, further illustrating the dangerous environment in which clergy and activists operate.
Despite the Mexican government’s promises to bring the killers to justice, impunity remains a major issue, with around 95 percent of murders going unsolved.
In the wake of Father Marcelo’s murder, the Jesuits of Mexico and the United Nations Human Rights Office have demanded swift action from the government.
The UN had previously warned of the increasing threats against Father Marcelo, highlighting the risks faced by human rights defenders in Chiapas.
The Jesuits have reiterated their commitment to continuing Father Marcelo’s work, calling for solidarity and prayer for his community, while emphasizing that peace and justice can only be achieved through addressing the root causes of violence and inequality.
The assassination of Father Pérez has once again highlighted the precarious situation in Chiapas, where violence, criminal impunity, and human rights abuses have devastated communities.
Father Marcelo, who devoted his life to defending the dignity and rights of the marginalized, has become a martyr for peace and justice.
His legacy of resistance and commitment to the oppressed will continue to inspire others, but it also serves as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by those who stand against oppression in Mexico today.
In memory of Father Marcelo, the call for justice remains, and with it, the hope that his tireless work toward peace and dignity will not be forgotten.
Father Swamy (1937-2021), a tribal rights activist for several decades, died as an undertrial prisoner, after being accused of terrorism in India.
(Sources: Jesuits Global and other news outlets)