Although the problems of religious intolerance in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas have lessened in recent years, persecution of evangelical Christians still exists in small communities, according to Christian lawyer Abdias Tovilla.
Tovilla points to the town of San Isidro Chejilte, Teopisco municipality, where leaders determined to rid the town of evangelicals by requesting a change in the legal administration of their property. At present, each family owns land, but last July, the town majority voted to change private property to communally-owned land, or ejidos, so that everyone's property comes under the jurisdiction of the town. When the legal status of land changes, leaders have vowed to expel the 34 evangelicals of the Lily of the Valley Pentecostal Church, pastored by Marcelo Cruz Castellanos.
In another case, the town leaders of El Retiro, Oxchuc municipality, have forbidden the growing congregation of Heaven's Gate Church of Prophecy from constructing any type of building to use as a church. The church includes 50 heads of families plus their wives and children. According to Pastor Jorge Santis Gómez, town leaders also prohibit open preaching of the gospel.
On a positive note, government agencies assisted approximately 90 evangelical Indian refugees to return to their homes in the town of 20 de Noviembre in Las Margaritas municipality. Two years ago, the Indians were expelled from the town for political reasons. While living as refugees, they converted to Christianity. Although the government gave them some help, their situation became desperate. Recently, the government helped smooth the way for them to return to their homes, and town leaders shook hands with their leader, José Lino Alvarez Méndez, in a signal of peace. However, many of their houses and properties were damaged and their problems continue, but now they have an opportunity to farm and provide something for themselves.
In Los Pozos, Huixtlan municipality, local authorities have threatened evangelicals with expulsion, according to Notimex, a secular news agency. On Thursday, March 3, evangelicals Pedro Gomez Mendez y Emilio Pech Aguilar told the news agency that they were warned, "If you want to stay in this town, you're going to leave your religion and we'll be friends. If not, we are going to tear down your house again and throw out everything and you are leaving town."
