We are not surrounded, we have fulfilled the order to retreat:
Zapatistas
Juan Antonio Zuniga M., correspondent, Montes Azules, Chiapas, March
13
The difficult conditions in the mountains appeared to have eliminated all vestige of fat from these bodies who, even to sit down, makes them tense and undulating, accompanied with eyes that watch the most minimal movement and penetrate the darkness of the mountain with such force, that the crickets interrupt their concert.
The first and second in command of the struggle of the EZLN speak in some part of the these mountains. They say that they are not surrounded, and that they have fulfilled the order to retreat, but the Mexican Army, they add, is opening paths and making incursions into the mountains, and each time it is more difficult to elude them. They pointed out that they have come within 300 meters of them.
With their faces covered they agreed to answer all types of questions, some times in Tzeltal which requires translation and other times in a Spanish that corresponds, rather than to the European Spanish, to the universal indigenous Spanish.
If the Mexican Army does not withdraw "the discussions will not be able to take place". They explained: "The dialogue can not take place with Bishop Tatic (Bishop Ruiz) because one issue is the weather now, as one can not get out, and also because of the PRI members who, when the EZLN members come out, the PRI members tell the Mexican Army and it follows them".
They affirmed that the retreat will be kept as long as it is possible to resist, because of the conditions of extreme hardship due to hunger, cold and illnesses. "But if we happen to come upon them" they stated, "just like that, we have to defend ourselves." Or perhaps better said, if "the order" is received. Also they affirmed that Rafael Sebastian Guillen is not Marcos.
--Do you want to explain to us what is the situation and if you have received some type of order or will you continue your retreat?
--Right now we are very tied up because of the question of the Mexican Army. More or less the dialogues could not be started because the soldiers are all over.
--The president of the ARIC-official, Javier Toledo Cordova, has stated that about 500 Zapatistas have surrendered from various communities. Is this true?
--Everything that Toledo Cordova says is totally false.
--It is said that the Mexican Army has the EZLN surrounded and that at any time they could come in to attack. Is it true that the Zapatista troops which are inside the circle can not be leaving or entering?
--The Mexican soldiers say that they have surrounded the EZ, but it is not true. It is pure lies. The Zapatista soldiers have retreated, and the Mexican soldiers go no further than where the road ends. So they are there, and they go in occasionally, but almost not every day.
--Bishop Samuel Ruiz has warned about the imminence of confrontations between the two armies. What is your opinion?
--They have come within 300 meters of confronting Zapatista soldiers.
--What is the condition of the morale among the EZLN members?
--All of the soldiers are ready. Not because the force is going away, but rather because they are gathering force because the time of confrontations is growing closer. We do not feel weak, but instead strong.
--Is there communication among the commanders of the EZLN and the CONAI?
--Dialogue can not be started; a meeting can not be held with Bishop Tactic becuase it isn't possible to get out, and because of the PRI members who tell the Mexican Army when EZLN members get out, and then they follow them.
--What has avoided the confrontations among the two armies, is there some order from the commanders since before the military incursion, or is it your own decision that you have made?
--When the Mexican soldiers came in, then subcomandante Marcos said to retreat, to retreat and not to confront, so that these problems could be negotiated.
--The EZLN is preparing to give a military response to the Mexican Army's advance?
--We are awaiting the order. We will be like this here in the mountains, if the soldiers leave. But if we happen to meet up with them, well we have no other choice but to defend ourselves.
--Is it true that the soldiers are seeing you, that they know where each person is?
--The Mexican Army is building roads, paths really, so that the tanks can get through, because the Mexican Army's strength is its tanks. If we become involved in a confrontation or if the soldiers get off the road, or if the order to attack comes, we are going to attack.
--What does the EZLN think of the fact that along with a struggle among armies there could be a civil war?
--The PRI members of the ARIC-PRI are annoyed with the EZLN, and also the civil society. When the Mexican soldiers come, the PRI members also follow them and they show them where our houses are. The PRI campesinos who followed the soldiers could cause confrontations among campesinos.
--Could we assume that if the Mexican Army stays where it is there will be war?
--If the Mexican Army stays on the road and does not get off of it to pursue us, that's fine. But it can not go further into the mountains nor go into the homes of the Zapatistas. But the Mexican Army continues opening paths and going further into the mountain, and if they continue doing these things, then we will be pissed.
--The advance of the Mexican Army responded to the announcement of the supposed identity of Subcomandante Marcos, who it is said is Rafael Sebastian Guillen. What do you all think?
--That's what the news said, but he isn't subcomandante Marcos. I think it is someone else.
--Under current conditions, how much longer can you stand it?
--Well right now we are waiting for, as the news says, that the dialogue is in 30 days and to see if in this time the Mexican Army leaves, and if it doesn't leave, well then there are many companeros who will not stand more. They will not tolerate any more because this is suffering. When the order comes out, then yes we will go to confront. We are waiting the order.
--Had the EZLN prepared for a situation like you are living now, or did the entry of the Mexican Army take you by surprise?
--When the Mexican Army arrived, we were not ready. We left just like that. We had nothing to eat, we are suffering greatly from hunger. We have lost connections among our families and the children are suffering from hunger too.
--What are you most afraid of, dying or living in these conditions?
--When we began this struggle, we came in determined to live for the motherland and die for liberty.