The South&Mesoamerican Indian Information Ctr.
P.O. Box 28703, Oakland, CA 94612
From: Nilo Cayuqueo, SAIIC's Director
To : Solidarity and Action for Chiapas, Mexico
Brothers and Sisters:
I just returned from San Cristobal de las Casas, in the State of Chiapas,
Mexico. I was invited by the Coordinadora del Pueblo Maya en Lucha por su
Liberacion-COLPUMALI. This is a grassroots Indigenous organization
representing Tojolobal as well as Tzeltal and Tzoltzil peoples.
Along with COLPUMALI, I visited conflict areas and new refugee camps in a
caravan organized by the NGO Coordinating Committee of San Cristobal de Las
Casas--a coalition of Human Rights and Humanitarian Organizations. So far,
over 3,000 Maya are refugees in the thirteen towns serving as refugee camps.
Major centers are: Las Margaritas, Comitan, La Floresta and Venustiano
Carranza. The refugees fleed as they were terrorized by cross-fire between the
Mexican armed forces and Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN)
guerillas.
We also visited several "fincas"--giant ranches ranging from 500-4.000
hectares owned by wealthy white and mestizos. Indigenous peoples are
employed there, however, living in near-slavery conditions. The typically
earn between two and three US.dollars per/day.
People we interviewed in the refugee camps are scared and hungry. Some are
sick. The camps lack food and warm clothing. Although, the Maya are
accostumed to warm weather, the camps where they are staying are very cold.
Most families have between five and eight children.
The refugees expresed concern about the future. Many people joined Zapatista
insurgents, and the communities have become divided between those who support
the insurgents, and those who do not. Refugees often denounced that the
Mexican Army has been kidnapping, torturing and intimidating Indigenous
Peoples. The army has established a "free" telephone line where people can
call to identify Zapatistas from their communities. Such tactics are being
used to carry out a "witch hunt" in the communities. Everyone in the camps
is frightened.
Roger Maldonado, spokesman for the Coordinating Committee of NGO's in
San Cristobal reports that over 200 people are being held in the jail in
Tuxtla Gutierrez, the state capital. The authorities are not allowing anyone
to visit them, and are moving--instead--prisioners from one jail to another.
He says that many communities have been bombarded and neither media nor
human rights groups are allowed to visit areas.
The Zapatistas have taken cover in the Lacandon rainforest. Although
temporarily halted, the Mexican air force was heavily bombing
several areas. Each bomb can destroy about 150 square feet of forest
where it falls. For this bombing, the Mexican air force is using
helicopters and other weapons provided by the US army for the
purpose of combating drug trafficking. The airforce has been using
these helicopters to kidnapp Indigenous people. The military then
threatens the villagers by telling them that they will be thrown from
the helicopters.
Mr. Maldonado stated that over 300 death certificates have been
issued in Ocosingo, at the conflict's center. This contradicts the
government's official estimate of 100 death from the conflict.
On January 13th, the EZLN issued two communiques accepting the
government's cease fire offer. Negotiations between the EZLN and the
government may start in the next few days.
Indigenous Peoples and Campesinos are actively responding to the
conflict and are organizing themselves. From January 11-14th over
500 Indigenous peoples and other campesinos representing 138
grassroots organizations from the State of Chiapas met to make a
peace proposal demanding respect for Human Rights, a solution to
land ownership/tenure problems, and an end to violent intimidation
by wealthy landowners, politicians and police.
On January 21-22nd, these representatives will meet again to form
the Coordinating Body of Indigenous People for the State of Chiapas.
They have invited the Continental Indigenous Commission (CONIC), to
participate as witness and provide support for the process.
Representatives from Indigenous Organizations in North, Central and
South America will be travelling to San Cristobal to support the
struggle of Indigenbous people in the State of Chiapas.
What you can do:
Write or call Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari to express
your concern over the situation in Chiapas. Demand that the military
allow prisioners to be visited and that the conflict areas be opened
to visits by Human Rights workers, also that the army stop tactics
aimed at terrorizing and dividing Indigenous communities. Ask that
the Mexican government grant the Chiapan Indigenous organization's
just demands.
Carlos Salinas de Gortari, President
Presidencia de la Republica
Palacio Nacional Colonia Centro
06067 Mexico, DF
Mexico
phone: 525-515-0528 (542-8070) FAX 525-271-1764
To Send Humanitarian Aid, contact
Coordinacion de los Organismos No-Gubernamentales de San Cristobal
de Las Casas por la Paz.
tel/fax 967-80697
To support the struggle of Indigenous People in Chiapas, please
contact: Coordinadora Indigena del Estado de Chiapas
c/o COLPUMALI
phone 52-967-85460 (81515)
FAX 52-967-80055
Sincerely,
Nilo Cayuqueo, Director, SAIIC
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