X-Sender: ab@bitwise.net
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 10:59:52 -0500
To: Andrew Boyd <ab@stw.org>
From: Andrew Boyd <ab@stw.org>
Subject: BOMBINGS IN CHIAPAS! STOP THE WAR!
>X-Sender: rosset@socrates.berkeley.edu
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>Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 14:45:32 -0800
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>From: pga@agp.org (by way of rosset@socrates.berkeley.edu (Peter Rosset))
>Subject: BOMBINGS IN CHIAPAS! STOP THE WAR!
>
> *please distribute this message NOW as widely as possible*
>
>*Summary*: Since the early morning of the 10th of June, hundreds of
>soldiers, policemen and paramilitaries have entered San Juan de la Libertad
>and other communities in Chiapas, to attack the support basis of the
>Zapatista army (EZLN). They have bombed the communities, massacred the
>population, burned the houses, arrested and tortured large groups of people,
>etc. The army shows intentions to extend its operations to other
>communities. This could be the last straw that would ignite an open war in
>Chiapas, in the anniversary of the student massacre done by the army in
>Mexico DF on the 10th of June 1971. Only a quick and effective intervention
>>from the international civil society (occupying Mexican embassies, writing
>protest letters, organising demonstrations, etc) can stop this criminal
>assault of the army, which is aimed at forcing the EZLN to defend the
>Zapatista communities, giving the army a pretext to launch a generalised
>military attack against all the Zapatistas.
>
>**************************************
>
>URGENT: STOP THE WAR!
>Mexico City, June 10, 1998
>
>To the committees, collectives, groups, political parties and social
>organizations in solidarity with the zapatista communities:
>To the national and international press:
>
>The serious events which occurred today, June 10, in the municipality of San
>Juan de la Libertad, demonstrate that the federal government has embarked,
>openly, on the road to war and repression.
>
>This event represents the attack of the greatest magnitude that the
>government has carried out against the indigenous communities in Chiapas
>since the Acteal massacre, and announces a new phase in the escalation of
>the war on the part of the government. It also represents the cynical
>response of the Mexican government to the Conai's decision to dissolve
>itself, at the same time it deepens its attacks against the zapatista bases
>of support, instead of seeking new paths to dialogue and to the installation
>of the mediators necessary for that.
>
>The police-military incursion which, seemingly, produced a confrontation of
>unknown dimensions, is an act of provocation which tries to force EZLN
>compañeros to defend the zapatista communities. In this way they hope to
>find a pretext for declaring that the EZLN has attacked the government, and
>to launch a military offensive against them.
>
>Because of this, we call on international civil society, on political and
>social organizations, on committees and collectives in solidarity with
>Chiapas, to realize that the incidents in San Juan de la Libertad are not
>just one more incident, but rather the spark that can burn down the country.
>
>The International Commission of the Zapatista Front of National Liberation
>
>
>(We include the communiques of the autonomous municipality of San Juan de la
>Libertad, and statements of NGOs in San Cristobal de las Casas.)
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>SAN JUAN DE LA LIBERTAD (previously, EL BOSQUE)
>CHIAPAS, June 10, 1998
>
>TO PUBLIC OPINION
>TO THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PRESS
>TO THE PEOPLE OF MEXICO
>TO ALL HUMAN RIGHTS' ORGANIZATIONS
>TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SOCIETY
>
>We, the representatives of the communities of the Municipality of San Juan
>de Libertad, denounce in front of public opinion, in front of the Nation and
>in front of the world, the wave of violence and oppression in which we are
>living in our municipality at this moment, ordered by the Government of
>Roberto Albores Guillén and Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León. As of yesterday
>and last night, hundreds of public security forces, federal and judicial
>soldiers, and even paramilitary groups, have entered into the municipal
>seat, and into several communities, to attack the support bases of the EZLN
>and the Autonomous Municipal Council.
>
>Since last night many public security forces and federal and judicial
>soldiers have entered the community of Unión Progreso, at this moment they
>have occupied the town and are destroying houses, all belongings and are
>persecuting the residents . . .
>
>In the community of Chabajebal, many public security forces and federal
>soldiers entered, firing weapons, and now there are several dead and wounded
>zapatista bases of support.
>
>At this moment , many soldiers and public security forces are mobilizing by
>land and air, to continue entering the communities and capture the EZLN
>bases of support.
>
>We are living at this moment in a situation of terror and persecution in our
>municipality, but there is also a great military threat to other
>municipalities in the highlands of Chiapas; what we are seeing here at this
>moment is going to make it difficult to avoid a clash or some confrontation
>with the zapatistas.
>
>Because of all of this, we urgently request the intervention of human
>rights' organizations, national and international, and the presence of the
>International Red Cross, the Center for Human Rights Fray Bartolomé de Las
>Casas, and national and international civil society, to intervene in order
>to stop this war and persecution, unleashed and provoked by the Government
>of Chiapas, by Roberto Albores Guillén, and by the federal government of
>>Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León against the indigenous peoples of Chiapas, who
>are fighting for their rights and to defend their dignity as a people.
>
>We ask the media to come to these places we mentioned in order to bear
>witness and to speak the truth of these events.
>
>SINCERELY
>
>REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNITIES AND AUTONOMOUS MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF SAN
>JUAN DE LA LIBERTAD (previously, EL BOSQUE), CHIAPAS, MEXICO
>
>____________________________________________
>
>DENUNCIATION BY THE ZAPATISTA BASES OF SUPPORT OF THE AUTONOMOUS
>MUNICIPALITY OF SAN JUAN DE LA LIBERTAD
>
>June 10, 1998
>
>TO THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PRESS
>TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS' ORGANIZATIONS
>TO STATE, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION
>
>The support bases of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) are
>broadcasting through radio station XEWM, with headquarters in the city of
>San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, in order to transmit before public
>opinion the following terrible events that occurred on June 10, 1998, and
>which are the following:
>
>a) At 3 AM on the morning of June 10, 1998, forces from the State Public
>Security, State and Federal Judicial Police, together with PRI militants
>>from the municipal seat, took over the office of the President of the
>Autonomous Municipality of San Juan de la Libertad, all of those who were
>standing guard at that office were intimidated, beaten, tortured and then
>they were taken to the Cerro Hueco jail.
>
>b) At 4 AM on the morning of June 10, 1998, elements of State Public
>Security, State and Federal Judicial Police and federal soldiers attacked
>the community of Chabajeval, municipality of San Juan de la Libertad,
>massacring innocent families, and, in addition, helicopters were
>participating in the massacre from the air, dropping bombs in order to
>destroy the houses in that community.
>
>c) At 4:30 AM, on June 10 of this year, elements of State Public Security,
>State and Federal Judicial Police surrounded and attacked the community of
>Unión Progreso, municipality of San Juan de la Libertad, Chiapas; as of this
>moment there are deaths and many disappeared, and two helicopters were
>participating in this repression.
>
>d) At almost the same time on the morning of June 10 of this year, elements
>of State Public Security, State and Federal judicial police, attempted to
>enter the community of Obregón, municipality of San Juan de la Libertad,
>with the intention of attacking the community, but the people were able to
>block the road in a peaceful manner so that the repressors could not gain
>access. Upon seeing that they could not enter, the repressors warned that
>they would return to attack the community.
>
>THE SUPPORT BASES OF THE ZAPATISTA ARMY OF NATIONAL LIBERATION (EZLN), ON
>JUNE 10, 1998
>
>_____________________________________
>
>DECLARATION OF SOCIAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS OF SAN CRISTOBAL DE
>LAS CASAS, CHIAPAS
>
>CHIAPAS, June 10, 1998
>
>TO PUBLIC OPINION
>TO THE GENERAL PRESS
>TO CIVIL SOCIETY
>
>Today, June 10, 1998, we remember that only civil society, that is to say,
>we, can stop the Federal government's strategy of war and achieve profound
>changes in Chiapas and in the nation.
>
>We remember the young students who, on June 10, 1971, were assassinated in
>Mexico City by the paramilitary group "The Falcons," for the sole crime of
>defending their rights.
>
>Today we also remember the call made by the EZLN at the first National
>Democratic Convention for dialogue with civil society and to stop the
>incipient attacks of the Federal government against the indigenous
>communities of Chiapas.
>
>Today, June 10, 1998, the Federal and State governments are again carrying
>out a police and military operation against the mountain communities and the
>autonomous municipal center of San Juan de la Libertad.
>
>We call to all social and political organizations, and to civil society in
>general, so that we may stop this new wave of violence that the Federal and
>State governments are carrying out.
>
>SINCERELY
>
>BACOSAM
>CIAM
>ENLACE CIVIL, AC
>FOCA
>FZLN
>KINL ANTZETIK
>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Andrew Boyd
ab@stw.org
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
55. Lay claim to one fragment.
91. Label your tribe.
152. Name what names you.
341. Make the border your territory.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++