STORY: Police in the southeastern Mexican state of Tabasco used tear gas in an attempt to disperse protesters blocking a highway on Thursday (May 29), demonstrating against failures in their electricity and drinking water supplies.

Armed with machetes, branches, and tires, residents of the indigenous Chontal community of Tamulte de las Sabanas occupied the highway, a major artery connecting the state capital Villahermosa with neighbouring states.

"We are unhappy with the bad government and with the Federal Electricity Commission," said protest leader Amador Salvador.

In addition to the restoration of services, local media reported that the protesters were demanding the creation of an electrical substation, which they said was promised to them by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

According to local media, the protest continued into Friday (May 30).

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: TAMULTE DE LAS SABANAS, TABASCO, MEXICO (MAY 29, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. PROTESTER HOLDING MACHETE WITH OTHER PROTESTERS, BLOCKING ROAD

2. VARIOUS OF POLICE USING TEAR GAS TO DISPERSE PROTESTERS

3. VARIOUS OF POLICE STANDING IN FRONT PROTESTERS

4. VARIOUS AERIAL SHOTS OF POLICE BLOCKING THE PATH OF PROTESTERS

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHONTAL INDIGENOUS LEADER, AMADOR SALVADOR, SAYING:

"There are many power outages in our area. First, there are many outages. Second, the Chilapa water treatment plant is not supplying us with water because it doesn't have enough energy, and it affects us because the entire area doesn't receive water, a vital and important liquid."

6. PROTESTERS BLOCKING ROAD

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHONTAL INDIGENOUS LEADER, AMADOR SALVADOR, SAYING:

"We are unhappy with the bad government and with the Federal Electricity Commission because they don't take us into consideration. We have had dialogues. The government of (Tabasco governor Javier May) May plays the fool, they pretend to be stupid (profanity in Spanish). They don't try to solve the problem."

8. PROTESTERS CARRYING LOG

9. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS BLOCKING HIGHWAY WITH BRANCHES AND TIRES