Congressmen retained by tzotzil indians in Chiapas are released

Eduardo Ramírez Aguilar and Carlos Penagos Vargas, retained by members of an indigenous community in Chiapas, were released after Miguel Sántiz Álvarez was sworn in as mayor of Chenalhó.

The tzotzil indians demanded the resignation of Rosa Pérez as mayor of Chenalhó.

The legislators of the Green Party were taken from a meeting at a church and taken to the town of Chenalhó, where Ramírez, chairman of the local congress, was dressed as a woman, the punishment given to men who do not keep their word.

The Tzotzil group accused Pérez of corruption, abuse of power, diverting resources for personal enrichment and failing to complete community construction projects. Pérez, the second female mayor to be forced out of office in Chiapas recently, has accused her detractors of not "tolerating that a woman would govern in a traditionalist town where by practice and custom men are usually in command."

After being retained for 19 hours they were released and taken to Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the state's capital.

(With information from AP)