In a tragic incident, the mayor of San Mateo Piñas, Lilia Gema García Soto, was shot and killed by gunmen who stormed the village hall. Witnesses reported that four armed assailants arrived on motorcycles, launching an attack during a meeting with local official Eli García Ramírez. The violent assault also left two municipal police officers injured.
Authorities are investigating the possible motivations behind this heinous act, as local officials in Mexico frequently face threats from criminal organizations demanding compliance. García Soto marks the second mayor killed in Oaxaca this year; back in May, Santiago Amoltepec’s mayor was ambushed and murdered alongside two others.
The governor of Oaxaca has vocally condemned this attack, asserting that justice will prevail, while security forces initiate a search for the four suspects who fled the scene. Federal agents have been dispatched to assist in their capture.
The alarming trend of violence against local politicians and electoral candidates has surged in recent years, particularly escalating ahead of significant elections. While most attacks occur in smaller towns under the influence of organized crime, recent events have also seen violence reach urban centers, exemplified by the recent murders of two senior aides to the Mexico City mayor.
This cycle of violence poses a continuous threat to local governance and public safety in Mexico.
Source: www.bbc.com
