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From: MEXPAZ_analysis <analysis@uibero.uia.mx>
MEXPAZ: ANALYSIS - SPECIAL ISSUE
June 29, 1996
REVOLUTIONARY GROUP APPEARS IN GUERRERO
On Friday, June 28, during the anniversary ceremony of the 1995 Aguas
Blancas massacre, a group of 100 men and women carrying high-powered weapons
(including AK-47's) and dressed in military uniforms appeared, declaring
themselves the Popular Revolutionary army. The group commemorated the
deaths of fallen comrades with a simple offering and 17 volleys fired into
the air, one for each of the slaughtered campesinos. One youth read a short
speech in memory of the dead, followed by the proclamation the "Manifesto of
Aguas Blancas", an excerpt of which was translated into nahuatl, the
language of the ancient Aztecs. Translations of the offering and a portion
of the Manifesto follow:
"Comrades, men and women, present with us: we are combat soldiers of the
Popular Revolutionary Army here to rend homage to our comrades who fell last
June 28 in the massacre which occurred in this place. We bring a simple
offering, made with plants from the countryside, this countryside which saw
our hard-working comrades pass by day after day, with these plants which saw
them pass by on their way to begin the struggle for their demand for
justice, democracy and liberty. These simple plants were witnesses of the
cowardly murder committed here in this place, which we remember today."
The Manifesto of Aguas Blancas proposes five points:
1. For overthrowing the antipopular, antidemocratic, demagogic and
illegitimate government, which is at the service of national and foreign
capital and the forces which sustain it, and for establishing a new
government, essentially distinct from that which now holds power.
2. For restoring popular sovereignty and the fundamental rights of man. We
shall achieve this objective with the participation of the people and the
establishing of a popular democratic republic, exercising the people's
legitimate right to alter or modify its form of government.
3. For solving the immediate demands and necessities of the people,
carrying out the economic, political and social changes required.
4. For establishing just relations with the international community.
5. For punishing those guilty of political oppression, repression,
corruption, misery, hunger and crimes against humanity committed against the
people.
The state of Guerrero has a recent history of guerrilla violence, when
teachers lead by Lucio Caban'as rose up in protest of poverty in the 1970's.
The state is one of the poorest in the Republic, with low literacy rates,
poor agricultural production, food shortages and lack of public services
such as electricity and running water.
Reaction to the armed group's appearance were varied. The Party of the
Democratic Revolution distanced itself from the event, while the government
announced military and penal consequences against Popular Revolutionary Army
members.
Yesterday's events in Aguas Blancas complicate an already violent national
panorama --as demonstrated by the cases of Chiapas and Tabasco-- and could
threaten peace talks in Chiapas. The appearance of the revolutionary group
could signal the possibility of generalized violence in the country.
At present, information is unavailable. The origin, number and armaments of
the rebels are unknown. Fronteras Comunes will publish this information as
events develop.
David Crow
Javier Medina
Fronteras Comunes
e-mail: frontcomunes@laneta.apc.org