From: eric@stewards.net (Eric Sommer)

Stewards Planetary House News - Chiapas Emergency

"Working together to care for one another and the Planet"

Website: http://www.stewards.net

E-mail: staff@stewards.net

New website to counter right-wing paramilitary political violence in Chiapas

Hi there,

The new Chiapas Solidarity website is at: http://www.stewards.net/chiapas

The purpose of this new site is:

1) To selectivly deseminate important information on paramilitary and other political violence in Chiapas, which has drastically escallated in the past month.

2) To support and build peaceful dialogue and protest aimed at ending this violence.

In addition, to serving as a selective information clearing house on current right-wing violence in Chiapas, the site seeks to stimulate, focus, and help to promote anti-Chiapas violence organizing here in British Columbia, Canada.

However, as matters unfold, this focus may broaden to include additional protest actions and organizing in other areas.

People activly working or wishing to work against Chiapas right-wing violence, or who have information regarding related organizing developments or developments in the Chiapas situation, are urged to get in touch with us.

People and organizations - especially those in the Vancouver, Canada area - wishing to work against this violence are urged to get in touch with us directly; you will find contact information at the Chiapas Solidarity website.

Background

The level of right-wing paramilitary violence has dramaticly escelated in the past month or so. Dozens of people have been raped and/or gunned down; hundreds or thousands of homes have been burned; and thousands have taken refuge in the mountains where they are starving and freezing. A few weeks ago, there was also a right-wing assassinaton attempt on two Bishops in the area. The attempt missed the bishops but killed people in their party; subsequently, the sister of one of the bishops was attacked with a hammer in the church office. There is good reason to believe that the local military and PRi civilian authorities are complicit in this violence.

The U.S. and Canadian media have so basiclly ignored this drastic escalation of violence.

This is a true emergency. We must act.