The army had moved in to dismantle the autonomous municipality of San Juan de Libertad,it was the 3rd autonomous municipality be raized to the ground in as any months. Only this time they went in shooting.
At this stage reports about deaths were sketchy. We were to find out later, that eight Zapatistas supporters had been executed. Three were shot on the spot, a further five were taken injured. Four days later eight bodies were returned to the communities. They had been so badly mutilated their families were unable to identify them. Twenty people are still missing.
A cheer went up as news filtered through that a helicopter had been forced to land. A bullet had lodged in its fuel tank. On the village TV, the government was broadcasting images of thousands of heavily armed solders and police storming the picturesque villages of El Bosque, Union Progreso and Chavajeval. What they didn't show was the army's arrival at Obregon where the community had blocked their entrance on the road. The army had turned round and left but not before saying they'd be back. The propaganda war is in full swing here in Mexico. 'Lies' spat Juan as the TV presenter read the governments justification of the operation.
Diez de Abril was on red alert. The army has entered this community twice this year, stealing food, burning houses, firing tear gas at women and children, destroying crops, arresting inhabitants. The jail in the state capital is full of Zapatista supporters. Some who have been arrested haven't made it as far as the jail. Disappearances are rising, summary execution is becoming a popular solution to the problem of overcrowding.
Each time the army destroys Diez de Abril, the community rebuilds it. Only two years old. Diez de Abril is one of hundreds of villages built on land previously owned by ranchers. Four years after their uprising to demand land, liberty and freedom, more than a thousand Zapatista communities have organised themselves into 32 autonomous municipalities. Their existence is testimony to these peoples ability to turn their dreams into reality. On their doorstep are 70,000 highly armed federal soldiers and countless armed pariamilitaries
The International Peace Observers home at Diez de Abril is one of the old ranches which also houses the health centre and resource centres. It is positioned at the entrance to the community. From here you can see the whole village. That night I sat, with my rutsac packed ready to move to a pre-arranged location. If anything happen I need to document it from a vantage point where I could see but not be seen. I watched the women, men and children file out of the meeting place. The anger and rage were on the surface tonight but their heads were held high. I don't know exactly what had been discussed at that long and tense meeting but it had ended with everyone deciding to split into three groups for communal work projects the next day.
'Where do you want to work,' Miguel asked me. In my naivete I had thought everyone had gone collectively mad. The army was about to razor the place to the ground and everyone was talking about fixing the two village bridges and building the stone church. Later I realised that this spirit, was the reason the government and federal arny were running scared.
The next day I went with the community to help rebuild the rope bridge that spanned one of the many rivers flowing through Diez de Abril. The tension from the night before didn't show as the teams of people spoke and joked in Tzetal. But there are some words that don't exist in their native language. Freedom and liberty are two of them. As the younger people stood on the precarious walkways passing planks of wood to each other, some of the older men vigorously shock the ropes. Screams and laughter followed. I heard the Spanish words for training and EZLN. A sudden reminder that although its not what they want, here in the Zapatista communities they are preparing for war.
With their cry of Ya Basta (enough is enough) the Zapatistas have inspired millions of us around the world to link together in the fight aganist global capitalism. Now the Zapatistas urgently need our solidarity. To stand by and allow them to fail would be a failure for all of us. So...
-Peace Observers are urgently needed on the ground in Chiapas.If you can speak Spanish and are interested in going to Mexico, get in touch with <chiapaslink@acephale.org>
-Ideas for actions can be left on the above email. If any actions are called please support them. Watch this space.
-Write to the Zapatista Prisoners in Cerro Hueco Carcel, Tuxla, Chiapas, Mexico. There are literally hundreds of them languishing here on false charges. Letters might not get through to the prisoners but the governer of the jail will get the general idea that the world is watching him. All foreigners have now been banned from visiting political prisoners. Address letters(Get them translated into Spanish) to the Detenidos de Taniperla, Tierra y Libertad, Nicolas Ruiz, San Juan de Libertad.
-Start a solidarity group. Videos, reports and possibily speakers are available if your desperate.
-Get onto the <barrenador@acephale.org> mailing list to be kept up to date.
Footnote:
Less than two weeks after the massacre in Chiapas the British
government approved export licences for small arms, machine guns and
accessories to be sent to Mexico. There is a Department of Trade and
Industry building in most cities!