NEEDS -- Petition

Once we hiked back down into Pohlo, Luciano, a leader of the displaced and survivors, handed us a petition (translated by author) prepared in late January for the ICRC (International Red Cross Committee) and other "aid" organizations.

"1- Since December 1997, more than 7000 men, women, children and elderly have been gathered here in the community of Pohlo, displaced by the dirty war (guerra sucia) being carried out by the Mexican government. ... Thousands of people live in plastic "houses" that do not protect them from the rain and cold; many do not even have this type of shelter. We need construction materials, such as roofing, wood and nails.

"There is a food shortage. We survive on tortillas and food that NGOs provide us, but it is not sufficient for so many people. What we most need are: corn, beans, salt, sugar, coffee, soap, etc. The paramilitary groups [that carried out the massacre, and other acts of repression throughout the region] and State security forces stole our possessions: corn, beans, coffee, and all of our animals.

"Since we were ... forcibly displaced from our communities, 15 children, 8 women and 10 men have died due to diarrhea, respiratory diseases, tuberculosis, parasites and ulcers, all of which have been complicated by malnutrition. ... Presently, there are more than 200 children and adults in need of medical attention. ... We also lack clothing and blankets, ... .

"2- We are constantly being persecuted by State and Federal security forces. Day and night, they terrorize us with their tanks, planes and helicopters. The Mexican Army is occupying our communities. ... The Army has converted some of our village schools into barracks. "The Mexican government persecutes us ... because we are part of the support base for the EZLN (Zapatista Army for National Liberation), and because we are struggling for land, work, housing, education, health, democracy, liberty and justice. ...

"3- Now that we are refugees, the government ... offers us assistance. But we do not trust them. We ... will receive any assistance they send via civil society NGOs. The civil society can check over the goods and, if they are in good condition, send them on to us. ...

"We have told the government we will not receive anything directly from them because they are the responsible for the massacres that we have suffered, and because they persecute us, they discriminate against us, and they kill us. ...

"4- We invite the ICRC to come and see for yourselves what is really happening here in Chenalho, and other regions of Chiapas. ... We do not ask that you support our struggle. Rather, we ask that you send humanitarian assistance to our people who are dying."

This conflict will not end soon. Chenalho is but one region in Chiapas where the heretofore marginalized and oppressed indigenous people are organizing and working for their rights. Across Chiapas (and elsewhere in Mexico), the dominant and privileged sectors of society are lashing back.

On January 12, Guadalupe Mendez, a 38 year old indigenous woman, was shot to death in Ocosingo, when State security forces opened fire on a legal demonstration. On January 28, two leaders of AEDPCH (Democratic State Assembly of the People of Chiapas) were killed. Three days later their offices --in Tuxtla Gutierrez-- were ransacked. Gustavo Zarate, the new leader, explained that the "thieves" took information concerning all the communities where AEDPCH has affiliates, and all the names of affiliated individuals.

Since the Acteal massacre, the strategy of the Army, and other security forces, has been similar to its strategy after peace negotiations broke down in 1996: extend military presence throughout Chiapas, and carry out "low intensity" acts of repression aimed at weakening and dividing all groups that appear to agree with the "Zapatista Uprising". Today, there are approximately 30,000 Mexican soldiers in Chiapas.

Acteal was a massacre waiting to happen. There is little doubt that it was planned in advance, and that State and municipal authorities had knowledge that it was going happen. Paz y Justicia, the paramilitary group responsible for the massacre, had received training and weapons from State officials. Numerous members of Paz y Justicia are members of the State ruling PRI party.

It has taken this massacre to remind Mexicans and the international community that since January 1, 1994, little or nothing has been done to remedy the underlying causes of discrimination, poverty, political corruption and impunity.

And yet, as I witnessed in Pohlo, the "government's strategy to militarily strangle the communities, is backfiring because the survivors and displaced of Chenalho are showing huge resistance, especially the women and children." (Juan Banuelos, El Proceso, February 1, 1998, p.21)

Please make financial contributions for the short-term, humanitarian needs of the displaced and survivors, or for the longer-term community human rights work across Chiapas.

<Back

1 Intro
2 Context
3 Pohlo
4 Needs