With highway blockades, marches and demonstrations in front of the military camp set up in the Nuevo Israel population center, some 300 representatives from six indigenous villages demanded the withdrawal of the Mexican Army from the area, the dismantling of the military camp and cancellation of the checkpoint that is impeding freedom of movement by the residents.
The demonstrators, members of the Aric-Independent and the Regional Organization of Autonomous Coffee Growers of Ocosingo, blocked the road leading from San Cristo'bal to Palenque for an hour. They also protested for several minutes with placards in front of the military camp located at the Petulto'n detour.
With shouts of "Mexican Army out!" and "Chiapas, Chiapas is not a barracks, get out of it, Army," women, children and men demanded the withdrawal of the soldiers, that the new camp not be set up, respect for indigenous rights and the carrying out of the San Andre's Accords.
Indigenous from the Nuevo Israel population center, Candelaria, Bulva. Campet, second section, Nuevo Ranchito and San Jose' Obrero, of the municipality of Ocosingo, shouted in front of the soldiers, who were writing down the slogans, and the names of the indigenous they knew, in their notebooks. They were also photographing most of the leaders and journalists.
"The Mexican Army is violating individual rights by setting up a checkpoint on the road that leads to the village of Nuevo Israel, and where they are arrogantly searching [the people]. They are even using dogs to inspect bags and packs, and they're making people take off their shoes, this is an act of provocation, of harassment and intimidation," noted the indigenous in a document read in front of the new camp facilities.
Meanwhile, the leaders of the Aric-Independent and ORCAO, Mario Herna'ndez and Nicola's Lo'pez Go'mez respectively, said federal and state governments were increasing the use of force in the State. "This has become widespread against the indigenous peoples," they denounced.
Speaking for their organizations, they demanded that the Mexican Army immediately withdraw the soldiers who were building a new camp in the municipality of Ocosingo and end all the checkpoints "that are humiliating and attacking the residents of Chiapas," they added.
The setting up of a new military camp was preceded by the arrival of members of the Mexican Army and the State Public Security Police in the Nuevo Israel population center. They interrogated its residents and asked them where the boundaries were of the federal property which adjoins the village.
On February 21 the soldiers began setting up the new camp, accompanied by members of the Federal Judicial Police and State Public Security Police.
"At this point, the situation is clear, since, three days after it was set up, the camp began functioning as a military checkpoint. And they are not respecting the freedom of movement of six communities: Nuevo Israel, Benito Jua'rez ejido, Candelaria ejido, Campet, second section, Ixtapa, Miramar and San Vicente Jatate'.
"The lives of all those communities have been put in the hands of the soldiers, who are searching and interrogating campesinos in the region," explained the Fray Pedro Lorenzo de la Nada Human Rights Center.
According to that organization, the property on which the new military camp was set up had been occupied since 1991. In October of 1993, there was an incursion into communities in the region. In 1994, the camp was withdrawn, and it has now been set up once again.
Meanwhile, the zapatista Primero de Enero Autonomous Municipality denounced that soldiers, personnel and state and municipal government officials had gone in to several communities in order to construct a new road between the Gracias a Dios junction and Sibaca', in the municipality of Ocosingo.
The representative of the rebel autonomous council, Moise's Sa'nchez, said the soldiers wanted to build a new road inside communities inhabited by Zapatista Army of National Liberation sympathizers, and the road would cross the Autonomous Municipalities of 1st de Mayo and Ernesto Che Guevara. He confirmed that, since February 21, overflights by helicopters had been reinstated over the area. The aircraft are taking photographs of the main towns of the Autonomous Municipality, and they are tracking each one of the outlying areas. The representative of the 1st de Mayo Autonomous Municipality said that Zapatista Army of National Liberation sympathizers are opposed to the building of the road, and they will not allow the Mexican Army to set up more camps in the area.
There are three zapatista Autonomous Municipalities where the state and federal governments, supported by PRI municipal officials, are attempting to build roads, in order to penetrate EZLN villages where the Mexican Army does not have a presence.
Originally published in Spanish by La Jornada _____________________ Translated by irlandesa La Jornada Sunday, February 27, 2000.