The Zapatistas, the Montes Azules Comprehensive Biosphere Reserve (REBIMA) and the Lacando'n

"If they don't put these areas of great natural wealth into order, private enterprise won't invest in them."
Federal Environmental Protection Prosecutor's Office (PROFEPA)

"More than 110 communities, villages and rancheri'as of this Autonomous Municipality find themselves in danger of expulsion or relocation by various means, since all of them are located in the buffer zones, others within the Reserve, others in the Lacando'n Area"
Ricardo Flores Mago'n - Autonomous Municipality in Rebellion

Indigenous communities of Ricardo Flores Mago'n are not going to allow this expulsion (Feb 2002)
Long communique that goes into the history of the area and the history of the land disputes that have erupted here.
A shadow of death is being raised in the heart of our land, of our mother, of our selva
The Plan Puebla-Panama (PPP) is attempting to extend neoliberal policies and projects to the South and Southeast of Mexico and to all of Central America
Ricardo Flores Mago'n - This Autonomous Municipality continues existing and working - Mar '00
Ricardo Flores Mago'n - We are not going to permit relocation - Mar '00
Ricardo Flores Mago'n - Illegal Detentions, Threats and More Soldiers - July '99

Ricardo Flore Magon 'sowing the seeds of tomorrow' - a detail from the Taniperlas mural which was destroyed by the Mexican army in 1997. Taniperlas is the location of the Zapatista council for the autonomus municipility named after Magon.

Communities Affected and Threatened in the Autonomous Territory of Ricardo Flores Mago'n:

Total Dislocation inside the REBIMA

1. Laguna el Parai'so (Ocotal)
2. Laguna Suspiro (Semental or Yanki)
3. Nuevo San Pedro (Innominado or Suspiro)
4. 6 de Octubre (Ojos Azules)
5. Nuevo Guadalupe Tepeyac.
6. Nueva Cintalapa.

Ejidal Rights Directly Affected (provisions or extensions) by REBIMA:

1. San Antonio Escobar.
2. Plan de Ayutla.
3. Chamizal.
4. La Culebra.
5. Cintalapa.
6. Limonar.
7. Santa Rita.
8. Taniperla.
9. El Jardi'n.
10. Villa las Rosas.
11. Zapotal.

Ejidal Rights Affected by the Lacando'n Area:

1. Lacanja' Tseltal.
2. Santo Domingo.
3. Arroyo Granizo.
4. Plan de Guadalupe.
5. Ninos Heroes.

Communities Directly Affected by the REBIMA Buffer Zone:

1. Monte Li'bano.
2. Santa Elena.
3. Censo.
4. Taniperla.
5. Manuel Velasco Suarez.
6. San Jero'nimo.
7. Agua Azul.
8. Emiliano Zapata.
9. Perla de Acapulco.
10. El Zapotal.
11. San Caralampio.
12. San Jose'.
13. Calvario.
14. Nuevo Monte Li'bano.
15. Guadalupe San Luis.
16. Sibal.
17. San Francisco.
18. Infiernillo.
19. Zaragoza.
20. Lacando'n.

Communities Affected by the Forestry Protection Zone in Tulija' River:

1. San Jero'nimo Tulija'.
2. Rancheri'a Parai'so Tulija'.
3. Rancheri'a San Isidro.
4. Rancheri'a San Felipe.
5. Rancheri'a San Pedro.
6. Rancheri'a San Marcos.
7. Ri'o Jordan.
8. San Juan.
9. Jol Tulija'.

Total Number of Communities Affected: 49.

Articles

US, World and Transnational Agencies Want to Clear Indigenous Out of Montes Azules
Looks at who is behind the demand for the indigenous to be expelled
The Indigenous people of the Selva Lacandona
The indigenous who live in the expellable lands of the biosphere reserve say that they can care for the Selva, that they have the right to be here. Regardless, environmental conscience is almost as recent a thing for them as it is for governments and investors
Natural Resources and Strategic Interests Against the San Andre's Accords - June 2000

The Zapatistas, the Montes Azules Comprehensive Biosphere Reserve (REBIMA) and the Lacando'n

Communities Affected and Threatened in the Autonomous Territory of Ricardo Flores Mago'n:

To the Chiapas and the Zapatista rebellion page