Hundreds of Me’phaa (Tlapanec) indigenous people from the Tilapa community, in the municipality of Malinaltepec, blocked the Mexico-Acapulco Autopista del Sol highway for nearly nine hours yesterday to demand that the state government hand over 600 hectares of land promised to them as a solution to a long-standing agrarian conflict and as support for the damage caused by recent weather events.
The blockade began at 10:15 a.m. near the Parador del Marqués and lasted until 7:05 p.m., despite Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado’s telephone call at 1:27 p.m. with Gelasio Ambrosio, president of the Tilapa communal property commissioner.
During the call, the governor proposed setting up a dialogue table next Thursday, a proposal that was accepted, although the protesters maintained the blockade until late into the night.
Ambrosio explained that the central demand is for compliance with the agreements previously reached with the Secretary of Government, Anacleta López, during meetings held in both Chilpancingo and Tilapa.
He noted that the transfer of the lands would resolve a border dispute that has lasted more than 80 years with the community of Iliatenco and allow for the relocation of families displaced by storms Ingrid and Manuel (2013) and hurricanes Otis and John (2023 and 2024).
Disputed Lands
The community leader recalled that in 2005, the Agrarian Unitary Court ordered the demarcation of the disputed lands, but the process was halted the following year due to complaints from Iliatenco.
He added that clashes with the Tierra Colorada community also occurred in 2011 and 2012, which left people dead.
Ambrosio explained that after assuming office in 2023, he resumed dialogue with Iliatenco, but the other party refused to continue the talks.
Both communities then decided that the federal government would set the boundaries, an agreement that Iliatenco presented to agrarian authorities.
Although the Secretary of Government promised the purchase of the 600 hectares in March of this year, the meeting scheduled for March 28th was canceled without a new date.
The Tilapa community members reiterated their demand that the government fulfill its commitments and ensure decent living conditions for those who have lost land and homes due to natural disasters.
Source: elimparcial
