This letter was written by the Barcelona solidarity group with Chiapas and signed by more than 50 other European solidarity groups. Because of it and similar ones sent in a protest campaign the observers could remain in Mexico. The situation is still uncertain and most of them are staying in the Human Rights Centre Agustin Pro-Juarez under constant police pressure.
May 3 1997
To Civil Society, National and International. To the peoples and Governments of the World. To President Zedillo.12 people have been invited to leave Mexico by the National Migration Institute - the Mexican Government - because they responded to another invitation, a human one: to accompany the evicted people marching from the north of Chiapas to the state capital. The marchers lost their homes as a result of the dirty war the white guard paramilitaries and the security forces are fighting against those who resist.
The other "invitation" is a euphemism for 'expulsion', plain and simple. These twelve people used their right of observation in order to save lives and used their presence to prevent acts of violence being committed by those who pretend to keep order. The paradox of a lie come true: those who help the peace process are expelled by those responsible for the war, and all in the name of the law.
There have been many expulsions now, of people whose only objective was to work for peace with dignity and justice. Meanwhile the government hypocritically declares that human rights are not violated. The fact in Amnesty International's and American Watch Human Rights' reports on human rights in Mexico, give the lie to what the government says.
We understand this expulsion as a demonstration of weakness on the part of the government, and as an abuse in order to act with characteristic impunity.
Despite all this there are many people who use the human right to solidarity between brothers and sisters, against the bad government. The Mexican government wants to sign a preferential agreement with the European Union, which contains a human rights clause. We know that money counts for more than people's lives, but we know that the abuses are denounced by many in Europe who demand that their governments not sign the agreement until the Mexican government respects the San Andrés Agreements and the lives of all those who struggle for liberty, democracy and justice for all.
You, President Zedillo, we despise; we support the expelled who have done nothing but dignify humanity in the face of arrogance and money. We hope you are satisfied with the expulsions, camouflaged as an amiable invitation to leave the country, in due time and without needing any special visa to return in the future.
Keep your word.
Never again a world without us.