Posted on November 8, 2021

National Guard Accused of Undue Force; Migrants Respond With Vicious Attack

Mexico News Daily, November 5, 2021

Violence broke out between migrants and security forces Thursday when the National Guard detained about 30 migrants at the back of the 2,500-strong caravan which has been traveling north through Chiapas since October 23.

The move triggered a vicious attack against some 50 National Guardsmen equipped with riot gear. At least as many members of the migrants caravan armed themselves with sticks and stones and eventually began forcing the troops back along the highway.

At one point, one of the National Guard troops fell and was immediately fallen upon by at least a dozen people who launched a violent attack, kicking the man and throwing rocks at him from point-blank range as he lay unconscious on the roadway. One took up his shield and struck the man repeatedly with its edge.

But shortly after other migrants arrived, provided the Guardsman with protection and carried him away from the scene.

The migrants caravan had departed from Pijijiapan at 6 a.m. Thursday in the direction of Tonalá. In a short time, it became dispersed, with faster walkers racing ahead despite efforts by organizers that the convoy be led by slower walkers.

{snip} About 30 migrants were detained, the newspaper El Orbe reported.

The National Guard said in a statement later that “between 100 and 150 migrants … attacked [them] with sticks and stones” and five Guardsmen had been hospitalized with injuries.

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