Four Roman Catholic bishops in Guerrero, Mexico, have issued a call for authorities to protect residents in the face of escalating violence in the region. The recent surge in violence near Tecpan de Galeana, located approximately 65 miles up the Pacific coast from Acapulco, has resulted in the deaths of over a dozen individuals. As a precautionary measure, classes at schools in Tecpan de Galeana and two neighboring municipalities were suspended on Monday.
In a joint statement released by the Catholic bishops conference of Mexico, bishops Jesús González, Leopoldo González, Joel Ocampo Gorostieta, and Dagoberto Sosa expressed concern over the increasing power struggles among criminal organizations. They highlighted that these groups are gaining strength due to the complicity, tolerance, or indifference of certain individuals responsible for upholding justice, legality, and security.
Earlier this year, the same four bishops made headlines for engaging in discussions with leaders of Mexican drug cartels in an attempt to broker a potential peace agreement. However, the negotiations did not materialize as one of the parties reportedly did not agree to the terms. Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador had previously expressed support for such dialogues.
The current administration under President Claudia Sheinbaum has faced a turbulent start marked by a spate of violence. Notably, Guerrero witnessed the brutal killing and decapitation of the newly elected mayor of the state capital shortly after assuming office. Additionally, incidents of violence have been reported in the states of Sinaloa and Chiapas, where a prominent Catholic priest and Indigenous activist were gunned down last week.
In response to queries from the media, President Sheinbaum emphasized that her security strategies, which largely align with those of her predecessor, will be gradually implemented. She affirmed her stance against negotiating with criminal elements and instead pledged to combat impunity and address the underlying causes of violence, particularly social issues.
