9 thousand indigenous people belonging to the EZLN and the FZLN marched this morning demanding that "COCOPA does not allow itself to be intimidated and that it demands the fulfilment of the San Andre's accords", and for "a halt to the harassment" by police and military to the communities.
"We were expecting that this 1997 was going to be a year of dialogue and of peace. Now we realize that we were being deceived." said one of the indigenous speakers during the gathering at the end of the march with which they opened up the regional mobilisations of the National Congress in support of the constitutional reform on rights and indigenous culture based on the San Andre's accords between the federal government and the EZLN.
Members of the FZLN tried to take over the radio in San Cristobal. Since they were not able to do so, they wrote their demands on the walls.
Twelve full blocks in the centre of San Cristobal, filled with Indians, overflowing with them. There were moments in which they were so many, that they would have to stop. A voice coming from a truck would advice: "Don't stand on the sidewalk companeros, the sidewalk is not for us, but for those who only want to look." Even so, once they arrived at the town square of this Coleto (native San Cristobal people) city, the about 9 thousand indigenous from the Altos (highlands) of Chiapas who demanded the fulfilment of the San Andres' accords, were already on the sidewalk.
It is the largest genuine (Mero) Zapatista march since the beginning of the conflict 3 years ago. Meaning, the most numerous public appearance of the bases of support of the EZLN.
"Those with ski masks young man, are Zapatistas", a Coleto (from San Cristobal) business man said to his friend as the march passed by them. Later he added: "And they are "un chingo" (expression to denote thousands and thousands ) so many of them. Each time there are more".
The man did not seem terrorised, but rather, getting used to the idea.
The march was peaceful, ordered, even calm (and calmness is not an attribute frequently seen in protest marches). With a few exceptions, the "Coleto" businesses kept their doors open, something they did not do other times.
Accompanying the Zapatistas were some independent Organizations who support their demands: La Arriera Nocturna, of Chilo'n; Las Abejas, of Chenalho'; Tres nudos, of Oxchuc; and Vashakmen, of the Altos amongst others.
For that variety, other demands were added, particularly, that of electricity, that has been disconnected in many indigenous communities for lack of payment to the Federal Commission of Electricity.
The coming out in public of the Zapatista civilians has been received with the power of other bones. Now the case is that the Paca planted her in law at the house of Raul Salinas;
When Commander Ramona came out in public, those same bones belonged to congressman Munoz Rocha and it was the PGR (attorney general's office) who was harvesting them. If back then it was an eschatological metaphor, and directed, now it may be coincidence, but those stinking bones are once again the news with which the powers that be, oppose civilian Zapatistas. With the help of the media. It is clear.
The streets of Jovel echoed today at noon some powerful phrases: "Federal Army, out of all of the state of Chiapas", "long live universal democracy".
With between 700-800 people per block (amount that does not sound way off), the multitude occupies 12 blocks, all the way to the municipal market and returns to the cathedral's atrium. In the crowd I recognise my friend Sextino. He is dressed as usual, with his white manta shorts and his distinguished self. Even though he is wearing a paliacate (handkerchief) to cover his face, his eagle eyes and his fine salt and pepper hair are impossible to confuse. He is a serious man, quiet, but around him at that moment the people are shouting long lives (Viva) to commander Tacho, David, Ramona and Sextino raises his fist. Many are wearing tennis shoes or boots; the women, plastic sandals.
Sextino wears huaraches, it's because he comes from a village that is very traditional, very far and very peasant, from the rebel municipality of San Juan de la Libertad, (Saint John of Freedom. "Genuine Zapatista" (Mero Zapatista) , as he says.
It has been long since I last saw him. He hasn't come to the last sessions at San Andre's, were he would take his place in the security cordon. Later, when the protesters were in the plaza and the rally was about to start, Sextino took his handkerchief off his face and so I went to greet him.
He is happy about the sign on the stage. He reads it to me out loud, before he reaches to shake my hand: "We do not have to ask permission to be free", and he smiles. He has an unsettling sense of humour and he keeps up a resemblance to Omar Shariff, without the moustache. He is alone. Meaning, his companeros placed themselves elsewhere. That is how he is.
Unlike other Zapatista marches, this time the communities from the north did not come, they are usually large, but Public Security did not allow them to leave towards San Cristo'bal. As it is known, in the north are of Chiapas, yes, there is war. No one from any of the jungle Canadas came either, due to the military encirclement that does not let them loose.
Meaning, the largest genuine Zapatista march takes place without the presence of 3 of the 4 municipalities were the (redivivo) former president Salinas de Gortari placed the conflict, in the absence of all of the Choles municipalities and some Tzotzils from the north, where it is recognized there are wide bases of support of the EZLN . The contingents are only from the Altos (highlands), particularly, from the Tzotzil area. And even then, according to the Coleto observers, each time they are more. In any case, each time there are more who dare to defy in Jovel, with or without ski masks, so that the cameras of the Presidency of the Republic, who in this occasion troubled themselves filming practically all the protesters, may film. Even Sextino makes a joke: "Did you see how they took our pictures? We are in pictures!", and again I think of Omar Shariff.
At least half the marchers did not stay for the rally. So, while the speakers take the microphone, the Tzotzils who came from far away start returning, so that they may find transportation and that it won't get too late.
Before about 4 thousand people, an indigenous speaker reads a 14 points document, that says amongst other things: "support the proposal from COCOPA on constitutional reforms and rejects the one from the government", "the immediate departure of the Mexican Army, Public Security and other police from our communities", the " taking down of the ambush by the Mexican Army between Guadalupe Tepeyac and Nueva Providencia against the Zapatistas, where subcomander Marcos was seen for the last time on January 11".
Another point they make: "the abuse of the ignorance and need of the people who are still militants of the PRI", and "who are bought with food, so that they become "ears".
The speaker started his speech by saying: "Mr. Ernesto Zedillo does not love us and does not respect us. We expected that this 1997 was going to be a year of dialogue and of peace. Now we realize that we had been deceived". And he ended briefly: "we will not surrender".
The next indigenous speaker, on the same note, said: "No matter what happens, we will know how to defend with honour our demand." He warns: "if anything happens to subcomander Marcos, the people will rise up". The vivas followed his remarks. Someone brought up to the podium a sign that read: "Stop the climate of terror in San Cristobal", while representatives of the Civilian Committees of Dialogue of the FZLN of Comitan, Las Margaritas, Villas las Rosas and San Cristobal take turns at the microphone. They came to accompany the march of the indigenous.
Some women from Oxchuc hold a banner with a the picture of a military tank and says: "This dialogue, we do not understand", while another young woman reads denunciations from Sabanilla and Pantelho'.
To conclude, those gathered dedicate a moment of silence to "those fallen on January 1". The voice of a candy salesman who does not seem to realize what is happening underscores the impressive silence that is heard in the heart of Jovel.
Translation: La Jornada February 2,1997. In San Cristo'bal, 9 thousand genuine (meros) Zapatistas call COCOPA to "not allow itself to be intimidated". Herman Bellinghausen, correspondent, San Cri'stobal de las Casas, Chis., February1* Translation by: Susana Saravia-Ugarte* NUEVO AMANECER PRESS- NAP A PRESS DEDICATED TO HUMAN RIGHTS e-mail:amanecer@cyberspace.com NAP is an effort by civil society Mexico and USA Registered as a non profit corporation in the USA As a press service, we seek to serve human rights organizations with translations and distribution of human right alerts, news and reports. As a press, we also seek to inform and educate the public on issues of human rights. Our team works on a volunteer basis. Our expenses are covered by donations. *************************************************