The departmental authorities of Sololá expressed concern about security in Santiago Atitlán, due to reports about the presence of armed groups, after the acts of violence recorded last Wednesday, when Mayor Francisco Coché Pablo was detained and attacked, and a building was set on fire.
The departmental governor, Edgar Tuy, reported that a report is being prepared that will be transferred to the Executive and the Ministry of the Interior so that they can determine the actions that will allow them to regain control of the situation and restore security conditions in the municipality.
“There is concern about the presence of armed people in Santiago Atitlán. This report will be sent to the Executive so that the corresponding measures can be evaluated,” said the official at a press conference.
Tuy explained that for several months the Departmental Government has promoted spaces for dialogue between the mayor and the Municipal Council; However, an agreement has not been reached to resolve the conflict.
He added that, due to municipal autonomy, the departmental authorities have maintained a position of respect towards the internal decisions of the municipality.
Riots after meeting
The commissioner of the National Civil Police (PNC) in Sololá, Albino Lajuj López, indicated that the agents were deployed to maintain order during an extraordinary meeting between municipal authorities and community representatives at the Chuk Muk Ecomuseum.
According to the police chief, the meeting concluded without agreements, so a technical dialogue table coordinated by the Departmental Government and other State institutions was activated.
“No results were obtained in relation to that technical table,” he stated.
Subsequently, groups of people threw stones, sticks and other objects at the building where municipal authorities and institutional representatives remained, so special forces agents evacuated the mayor, members of the Municipal Council and other people who remained in the place.
Lajuj López reported that four PNC agents were injured during the riots, in addition to that a police unit was set on fire and one agent was stripped of his firearm.
He added that during the early hours of this Thursday, July 2, three people injured by a firearm projectile were admitted to the Sololá Departmental Hospital. During the last hours the death of Pedro Ixbalán Reanda44 years old, who remained hospitalized in said care center after being injured by a firearm projectile during the riots.
The police chief indicated that the mayor remains under medical care and under police protection.
As a preventive measure, the PNC temporarily withdrew its agents from Santiago Atitlán while the conditions to reestablish the police presence in the municipality are evaluated.
Violence after the retention of the mayor
The events occurred on Wednesday night, when Mayor Francisco Coché Pablo returned to Santiago Atitlán after judicial resolutions related to the holding of sessions of the Municipal Council.
During the day, there were disturbances at the Chuk Muk Ecomuseum, a building that was later set on fire.
Information collected at the scene indicates that the mayor, his lawyer and other people remained inside the building.
Car Pablo was evacuated by lake to Panajachel, where lifeguards took him to a care center due to injuries suffered during the riots.
In addition, at least three civilians were injured by gunshots and were taken to the Sololá Departmental Hospital. Preliminarily, it was also reported that several people who accompanied the mayor suffered physical attacks.
Political conflict
The conflict in Santiago Atitlán began on September 15, 2025, when a community assembly requested the resignation of the mayor due to alleged irregularities.
Subsequently, the population took over the municipality and delivered more than seven thousand signatures in support of that petition.
On February 12, the Supreme Court of Justice granted a provisional protection that annulled the agreement of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal through which the first councilor had been appointed, by displacement, as mayor. The resolution confirmed Francisco Coché Pablo in office and ordered that he continue in office.
The judicial decision generated new demonstrations and blockades rejecting the ruling.
The Minister of the Interior, Marco Antonio Villeda, stated this Thursday that the situation in Santiago Atitlán responds mainly to a political and social conflict rather than a security problem.
He explained that during the riots it was necessary to use tear gas to disperse the crowd and evacuate the mayor, who was attacked during his exit and remains hospitalized in stable condition.
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