November 1, 2025Bulletin of Latin American Research0 citations

‘ Yesterday There, Here Today, Tomorrow… Who Knows ’: Guatemalan Refugees and Land Conflicts in La Trinitaria, Chiapas, 1981–1999

Key Points

Land conflicts emerged in Chiapas over shared resources, impacting coexistence between refugees and locals.
Refugee camps established by the Catholic Church led to struggles for land and water access in La Trinitaria.
Archival sources and interviews with affected parties highlight tensions from 1981-1999.
This analysis underscores the need for better resource management in refugee host communities.

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the early 1980s, thousands of Guatemalans crossed the southern border of Mexico in search of refuge fleeing the massacres perpetrated by the army of their country. As they reached the border municipalities of Chiapas, they created more than a hundred refugee camps there. This article analyses the case of the camps that were built on properties purchased by the Catholic Church in the municipality of La Trinitaria, relying on archival sources and interviews, it reconstructs the tensions that occurred between the refugees and the local population as these two sectors shared land, water and firewood.

Ask AI

Helpful

Bookmark

View Full Paper