Catholic priest, Indigenous activist Pérez killed by gunmen in southern Mexico

TAPACHULA, Mexico — 

Catholic clergyman Marcelo Perez, an activistic for Indigenous peoples and workplace laborers successful confederate Mexico, was killed connected Sunday.

The prosecutors' bureau successful the metropolis of San Cristobal de las Casas, successful the authorities of Chiapas, said the spiritual person was changeable dormant by 2 gunmen erstwhile helium was successful his van.

Perez was a subordinate of the Tzotzil Indigenous radical and had conscionable finished serving a Mass erstwhile helium was attacked. He served the assemblage for 2 decades and was known arsenic a negotiator successful conflicts successful a mountainous portion of Chiapas wherever crime, unit and onshore disputes are rife.

Perez besides led respective marches against violence, which has brought him respective decease threats.

Chipas Gov. Rutilio Escandon posted connected X that helium condemned "the cowardly assassination of begetter Marcelo Perez.

"We volition collaborate with each the authorities truthful his decease doesn't spell unpunished and those blameworthy look the courts," Escandon said.