Women End 14-Day Protest in Chetumal After Prosecutor Agrees to Review Cases

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Women in Chetumal ended a 14-day encampment outside the State Prosecutor’s Office on Monday after meeting with the agency’s chief, Raciel López Salazar, who agreed to follow up on stalled investigation files.

The meeting began at 6 a.m. and lasted more than three hours. During the working session, protesters presented 15 investigation files to the prosecutor for review.

Wendy, one of the participants, said the files were only briefly reviewed at this first stage, but the goal is to conduct a deeper analysis to determine where the cases are stuck and why they have not advanced. “We are not asking for favors,” she said. “We want our cases to be processed according to due process so we can access justice.”

Another protester, Arely, said the group agreed to send the files to the relevant authorities, including the Superior Court of Justice of the State, to verify the status of cases stalled in the first and second instance.

The decision to lift the encampment also allowed for the partial reopening of Adolfo López Mateos Avenue, which had been blocked during the protest.

The women, organized under the collective Colectivo Xtabay, said they had to resort to extreme measures to be heard. They noted that the prosecutor’s commitments came after an instruction from Governor Mara Lezama.

The group also responded to comments by government secretary María Cristina Torres Gómez, who had attributed the delay in investigations to defense lawyers rather than institutions. Wendy said the official spoke from ignorance. “Let her not forget that her position is political,” the activist said. “She is there today, but may not be tomorrow.”

The protest began two weeks ago outside the State Prosecutor’s Office. A day later, protesters set up a partial blockade on Adolfo López Mateos Avenue. After an initial lack of response, they intensified pressure with a blockade on Insurgentes Avenue at the entrance to the city, which led to Monday’s dialogue.

According to Colectivo Xtabay, the group provides advice and support to about 350 women who allege irregularities, corruption, delays in justice, and obstacles in the investigation of their cases.