SUMMARY

The paramilitary group Paz y Justicia has made use of one-sided violence in the context of an intense struggle over resources and political loyalty in Chiapas, one of the poorest regions of Mexico. The group started operating in that region after the beginning of the intrastate conflict launched by EZLN (Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional, Zapatista National Liberation Army) in 1994 (see Mexico: Government. The Zapatistas wanted to achieve economic and social reforms to overcome the alleged marginalization of indigenous peoples.

Paz y Justicia mainly targeted suspected Zapatista supporters. It was found responsible for killing unarmed civilians including women and children suspected of supporting the Zapatista rebels. Moreover, the group drove some 10 000 alleged Zapatista supporters from their homes according to human rights organisations. Paz y Justicia reportedly also harassed and threatened members of Human Rights organisations, such as the Red de Defensores Comunitarios (Community Defenders Network) that had published reports on human rights abuses against indigenous communities in Chiapas. Paz y Justicia has used automatic weapons, rifles and machetes in the killings. At least on one occasion, the one-sided attacks were committed with the acquiescence and tacit support of government troops.

A leader of Paz y Justicia, Samuel Sanchez, denied the involvement of his group in the massacring of civilians. He added: "We are not a paramilitary organization. But we are in a state of war. (...) We at least have to defend the rights of our communities. We search for ways to defuse tensions between communities.”

Paz y Justicia first became active as a one-sided actor in UCDP data in 1997, when the one-sided violence resulted in over 25 civilian deaths. The threshold was reached on 22 December that year when Paz y Justicia killed 45 suspected Zapatista supporters, who were praying in a church in Acteal in Chiapas, Mexico.