The Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity Group is one of many groups across the world 
which support the Zapatistas in their struggle. Our main purpose is to raise awareness of the Zapatista struggle and to give practical help wherever possible.
We aim to do this by organising talks, film showings, benefit gigs, street stalls and direct actions as well as publishing articles. We import Zapatista produce such as coffee, clothing and jewellery for sale with the money going directly back to the communities.
In Spring 2004 the Edinburgh-Chiapas Solidarity Group and the Glasgow Zapatista Solidarity Group twinned with the '16 de Febrero' Zapatista autonomous municipality. The municipality is in a poor, rural community which lacked access to basic medical care and education. We have raised funding that enabled the community to build a health clinic in their area and further help is now needed to purchase medical equipment and supplies.
The EdinChiapas group is part of the 'UK Zapatista Network'.
Indigenous Chiapans Insist They Are in Prison For Belonging to the EZLN
- When they gave their statements they said they were tortured by plainclothes police
- They oppose neo-liberal projects that try to turn their lands into a new Cancun
by Hermann Bellinghausen, La Jornada
Translated by Kristin Bricker
El Amate, Chiapas. May 6 - "I have been detained because I belong to the Zapatista Army of National Liberation" (EZLN), Miguel Vazquez Moreno declared today when he gave his testimony in the second criminal court in the State Center for Social Rehabilitation of Convicts (CERSS in its Spanish initials) number 14, El Amate, where none of the officials and employees, of course, are wearing face masks. Nor do they seem aware that there is a national and state health emergency.
In contrast to his first "statement" given under coercion in pre-charge detention, Vazquez Moreno is assisted by an interpreter who speaks his language, or at least a variation of his dialect (the interpreter the authorities have provided is from Cancuc, while the eight detained men from San Sebastian Bachajon speak the tzeltal dialect of Chilon). But, at least they understand each other, and that is enough.
From behind the railing he declares himself innocent of the charges against him, and requests that he be freed for lack of evidence to proceed with a trial. And he introduces himself in this manner: "I am from the ejido San Sebastian Bachajon and I belong to the support bases of the EZLN, an organization that defends its right to exercise autonomy and self-determination as indigenous peoples, its right to territory and natural resources."
Free the Atenco prisoners!
Twice within three days Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity Group took to the streets to demand freedom for the 12 political prisoners of Atenco, Mexico. The giant banner FREE THE ATENCO PRISONERS was carried in Edinburgh’s Mayday march on 2nd May, while on Monday 4th the banner plus an information stall were set up for three hours at the east end of Princes Street, the city’s main street.
Hundreds of leaflets were distributed on both occasions, and passers-by signed letters demanding the release of the Atenco prisoners, jailed for defending their community and land against the state. On the Monday the giant banner attached to the Duke of Wellington’s statue drew much notice! Information and letters were also distributed about the current torture and imprisonment of the Other Campaign supporters from Agua Azul, Chiapas.
Urgent appeal from Amnesty International - 11 men held without charge and tortured in Chiapas
MEXICO 11 men held without charge in a detention centre known as “Quinta Pitiquito”
Eleven men recently arrested in two separate police operations which took place in the towns of Tuxtla Gutiérrez
and Ocosingo, Chiapas state, are being held without charge in an informal detention facility. All men have
restricted access to legal counsel and their families. Relatives and local human rights organizations reported that
they have suffered torture and threats.
Campaign for Liberty and Justice in Atenco
A call-out has been made for international action to demand freedom for the 13 political prisoners of Atenco, during the period 3-5th May. Discussions are underway about what we could do in Britain – if you are interested please contact us urgently at Edinchiapas@yahoo.co.uk
Following is a statement from the National and International Campaign for Liberty and Justice for Atenco:
We call for national and international civil society to participate in the days of action, three years on from the events in Atenco. We invite you to carry out actions of civil and peaceful protest in your localities, neighborhoods and communities, in your schools and workplaces. And to mobilize on May 3-5 to conduct demonstrations for the freedom of the 13 political prisoners from Atenco.
Zapatistas' International Women’s Day Celebration
More photos here and here
Zapatistas Eradicate Alcoholism and Drug Addiction
Autonomous municipality Lucio Cabanas, Chiapas 6th March 2009
Indigenous Woman Falsely Accused of Kidnapping Gets 21-year Sentence
Mrs. Jacinta Francisco Marcial, an Otomí indigenous woman, was unjustly sentenced to 21 years of prison in Querétaro state penitentiary on December 19th, 2008. Together with Alberta Alcántara and Teresa Gonzalez, she is falsely accused of having kidnapped six agents of the Federal Investigation Agency (AFI for its initials in Spanish) on March 26, 2006 in the community of Santiago Mexquititlán, an indigenous community in the municipality of Amealco, Querétaro. The evidence presented does not support any finding of her involvement in such a crime; rather, her innocence is fully proven and should be recognized on appeal.
Upcoming Zapatista Fundraising Gig 12th March
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Rage (Against the Machine Tribute)
with support from Certain Death and Tickle
8pm Thursday 12th March 2009
Bannerman's (212 Cowgate, Edinburgh)
Entry £4
Playing in support of autonomous Zapatista health clinics and schools in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, including those in our twinned municipality '16 de Febrero'. Funds raised will also go to support the Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh.
Rage feature four members of popular local ska band Bombskare
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Harassment of Zapatista Communities
Originally Published in Spanish by La Jornada Tuesday, February 10, 2009
by Luis Hernández Navarro
In Chiapas, the harassment of Zapatista communities follows a precise route. As if they were in a relay race, campesino groups linked to the state government take turns in the different regions in trying to wear out the indigenous resistance. Throughout the length and breadth of the rebel territories, an army of initials, that speaks in the name of workers, regularly and systematically provokes the support bases who reject any dealings with the government.
There is no truce in this provocation. It is a case of not giving one moment of rest to those who have dared to construct autonomy without asking permission. One day they occupy their lands, another day they steal their coffee or their cattle, another day they break fences, the next they destroy the small fields on which they grow their coffee. They are waiting for the best moment to ambush the rebels, to brandish their machetes or shoot their slingshots.
Get Involved
We invite you to join our email list (sign up here) and to attend our regular organising meetings.
Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity Group,
c/o 17 West Montgomery Place
Edinburgh
EH7 5HA
Scotland
Email: edinchiapas@yahoo.co.uk
The EdinChiapas group is part of the 'UK Zapatista Network': ukzapatistas.wordpress.com
