102 lines
5.0 KiB
Plaintext
102 lines
5.0 KiB
Plaintext
REPORT FROM THE CONFLICT ZONE IN CHIAPAS, MEXICO
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January 20, 1993
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I just returned from San Cristobal de las Casas in the State of Chiapas,
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Mexico. I was invited by the Coordinadora del Pueblo Maya en Lucha por su
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Liberacion-COLPUMALI. This is an grassroots Indian organization
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representing Tojolabal as well as Zeltal and Zotsil peoples.
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We visited conflict areas and new refugee camps in a caravan organized by
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the NGO Coordinating Comittee of San Cristobal de las Casas--a coalition of
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Human Rights and Humanitarian organizations. So far, over 3,000 Maya are
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refugees in the 13 towns serving as refugee camps. Major centers are Las
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Margaritas, Comitan, La Floresta and Velustiano Carranza. The refugees
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were terrorized into fleeing by cross-fire between the Mexican armed forces
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and Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) guerillas.
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We also visited several Fincas--giant ranches ranging from 500-4,000
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hectares owned by wealthy whites and mestizos. Indigenous people are
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employed there--living in near-slavery conditions. They typically earn two
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to three dollars a day.
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People we interviewed in the refugee camps are very scared and hungry. Some
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are sick. The camps lack food and warm clothing. The Maya refugees are
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accustomed to warm weather but the camps where they are staying are very
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cold. Most families have between five and eight children.
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The refugees expressed concern about the future. Many people joined the
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Zapatistas, and the communities have become divided between those who
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support the Zapatistas and those who don't. Refugees often denounced that
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the Mexican army has been kidnapping, torturing and intimidating indians.
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The army has established a telephone line where people can call to identify
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Zapatistas from their communties. Such tactics are being used to carry out
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a "witch hunt" in the communities. Everyone in the camps is frightened.
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Roger Maldonado, spokesman for the Coordinating comittee of NGOS's in San
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Cristobal reports that over 200 people are being held in the jail inTuxtla
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Guiterrez--the state capital. The authorities are not allowing anyone to
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visit them and are moving prisoners constantly from one jail to another.
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He says that many communites have been bombarded and neither media nor
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human rights groups are allowed to visit the areas.
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The Zapatistas have taken cover in the Lacondan rainforest. Although
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temporarily halted, the Mexican airforce was heavily bombing several areas.
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Each bomb destroys about 150 square feet of forest where it falls. For this
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bombing, the Mexican airforce is using helicopters and other weapons
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provided by the US army for the purpose of combatting drug traffickers.
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The airforce has been using these helicopters to kidnapp Indigenous people.
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The military then threatens villagers that they will throw people from the
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helicopters.
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Mr Maldonado stated that over 300 death certificates have been issued in
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Ocosingo, at the conflict's center. This contradicts the government's
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official estimate of 100 deaths from the conflict.
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On January 13th, the EZLN issued two comuniques accepting the government's
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cease fire offer. Negotiations between the EZLN and the government may
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start in the next few days.
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Indigenous people and campesinos are actively responding to the conflict
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and are organizing themselves. From January 11-14th over 500 Indigenous
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people and other campesinos representing 138 grassroots organizations from
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the state of Chiapas met to make a peace proposal demanding respect for
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human rights, a solution to land ownership conflicts, and an end to violent
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intimidation by wealthy landowners, politicians and police.
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On January 21-22nd, these representatives will meet again to form the
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coordinating body of indigenous people for the state of Chiapas. They have
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invited the Continental Indigenous Commission (CONIC) to participate as a
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witness and provide support for the process. Representatives from
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indigenous organizations in North, Central and South America will be
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travelling to San Cristobal to support the struggle of indigenous people in
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the state of Chiapas.
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What you can do:
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Write or call Mexican president Carlos Salinas de Gortari to express your
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concern over the situation in Chiapas. Demand that the military allow
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prisoners to be visited and that the conflict areas be opened to visits by
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human rights workers, also that the army stop tactics aimed at terrorizing
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and dividing Indigenous communities. Ask that the Mexican government grant
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the Chiapan Indigenous organization's just demands.
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Carlos Salinas de Gortari, President Presidencia de la Republica Palacio
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Nacional Colonia Centro
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06067 Mexico, DF Mexico Telephone: 525-515-0528 (542-8070) Fax:
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525-271-1764
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To send humanitarian aid, contact: Coordinacion de los Orgnismos
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No-gubermentales de San Cristobal de las Casas por la Paz. San Cristobal
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de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.
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Tel/fax: 967-80697
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To support the struggle of indigenous people in Chiapas, please contact:
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Coordinadora Indigena de Estado de Chaipas c/o COLPUMALI phone:
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52-967-85460 (81515) fax: 52-967-80055
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Nilo Cayuqueo Director, South and Meso American Indian Information Center
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(SAIIC)
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