The murder of Fernando Ruiz Hernández, identified as one of the leaders of the self-defense group El Machete, has once again placed the Los Altos region of Chiapas on the brink of renewed violence. Just days after the crime, members of the organization released a video warning that they would take up arms again if authorities did not arrest those responsible.
The video shows dozens of hooded men, dressed in tactical gear and carrying high-powered rifles. In the message, they blame the rival group Los Herrera for the murder, which occurred in the community of La Esperanza, in the municipality of Chenalhó, and accuse the state government of inaction.
Members of El Machete gave authorities five days to clarify the murder. Otherwise, they warned they would take justice into their own hands and take up arms again, as they did in 2021.
What happened to Fernando Ruiz, and why does this threaten to reignite the conflict in Chiapas?
According to initial reports, Fernando Ruiz Hernández was ambushed on July 3rd while attending a basketball tournament as a sponsor in the community of La Esperanza.
Armed men shot him multiple times, and a minor, initially identified as his daughter, was also wounded in the attack.
Following the murder, a statement from residents began circulating, demanding justice and warning that if authorities failed to act, the community might resort to vigilante action.
Hours later, a video from El Machete surfaced, in which its members directly accused Los Herrera of carrying out the attack and blamed the Chiapas government for its inaction.
El Machete and Los Herrera have been engaged in a dispute since 2020.
The conflict between El Machete and Los Herrera is not new.
Since 2020, El Machete and Los Herrera have been engaged in a dispute over political, territorial, and public resource control in Pantelhó, an Indigenous municipality where authorities have historically been elected through traditional customs and practices.
El Machete emerged publicly in July 2021 under the name Autodefensas del Pueblo El Machete (People’s Self-Defense Forces of El Machete), arguing that it sought to protect communities from violence attributed to Los Herrera, a group accused for years by residents and civil organizations of maintaining political control and alleged links to criminal activities.
However, over time, both groups have been denounced by human rights organizations for alleged abuses against the population, disappearances, forced displacements, and acts of violence that have plunged several Indigenous communities in the Highlands of Chiapas into crisis.
The Machetes also level accusations against the Chiapas government.
In addition to demanding justice for the murder of Fernando Ruiz, the armed men used the opportunity to denounce alleged acts of corruption by the state government.
In the video, they question why the authorities, according to them, did not respect the appointment of Juan Pérez Pérez as municipal authority after the 2025 special elections, and they accuse the current mayor, Juan Gómez Sántiz, of acting in the interests of the Herrera family.
“We, as the people, disassociate ourselves from everything that may happen and hold the corrupt government directly responsible,” says one of the masked men before the group chants slogans in support of El Machete while raising their weapons.
To date, the Chiapas government has not issued a specific statement regarding the ultimatum released by the armed group.
Source: reporteindigo
