SUMMARY

Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) has transformed from a rural development movement into a paramilitary organisation in the 1990s. In late 1994, shortly after the beginning of the intrastate conflict fought between the government and the EZLN (Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional, Zapatista National Liberation Army) in Chiapas state of Mexico, Paz y Justicia started operating in that region mainly from the highland village of Tila. Paz y Justicia became Chiapas leading anti-Zapatista paramilitary organisation according to human rights organisations. Although the group has acknowledged its opposition to the Zapatistas, it has denied it is an armed paramilitary force, saying it has worked only for economic development in rural areas. As a matter of fact, Paz y Justicia was a registered organisation and received government funds amounting to at least half a million US dollars for agricultural projects from 1997 to 2000.

Paz y Justicia had several leaders and founders, including Samuel Sanchez, a Chol Indian from Tila, who was a deputy of the ruling PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional, Institutional Revolutionary Party) in state congress. The PRI dominated Mexican politics from 1929 until a defeat of its candidate in the July 2000 presidential elections. A few months after the shift in power in the country, Sanchez was arrested together with ex-soldier Marcos Albino Torres and Mario Cruz, who allegedly had been co-leaders of Paz y Justicia.

Paz y Justicia has been less active after the year 2000. The state government arrested some of the group’s members and Mexican police reports even claimed that the group had ceased to exist. However, non-governmental organisations argued that Paz y Justicia had not dismantled and claimed that the majority of its leaders had never been brought to justice.

The group openly admitted to having received support from the PRI and from government troops.

Paz y Justicia has been involved in the one-sided category of UCDP organised violence.