Manuel Sántiz Cruz, an indigenous Tseltal and president of the San Juan Evangelista Human Rights Committee, president of the team of promoters of the Parish and servant of the diocese of San Cristóbal, was arbitrarily detained and criminalised on 29 May.

At around 07:00 hours, Santiz Cruz, Agustín Pérez Domínguez and Juan Velasco Aguilar (also Tseltal), were detained by the Municipal Police and the National Guard (GN) without an arrest warrant and without clarifying what the charges were. The three were transferred to San Cristóbal de Las Casas and placed at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Office of Indigenous Justice until 10:00 a.m. the following morning, without access to translators or lawyers.

On 31 May, Manuel was released and immediately re-arrested by the Office of the Prosecutor for Indigenous Justice for the crime of "aggravated homicide".

The San Juan Evangelista Human Rights Committee promotes actions in defence of the territory against the construction of the San Cristóbal de Las Casas - Palenque road section, which will connect the region to the Tren Maya megaproject. They also oppose the presence of the GN in the municipality, as well as the sale of alcohol and drugs.

Related cases: Agustín Pérez Velasco, Martín Pérez Domínguez, Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas Human Rights Centre (Frayba) and SweFOR