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'.
DEMONSTRATORS BLOCKADE MEXICAN EMBASSY IN LONDON
Today Monday 10th December demonstrators blockaded both the Mexican Embassy and Mexican Consulate in London, in solidarity with the Zapatistas and in opposition to the attacks on their communities by the state and paramilitaries. The waiting police were caught by surprise at the Embassy in St Georges Street. Wearing the symbolic Zapatista red bandanas, demonstrators took over the doorway and draped a huge banner STOP THE REPRESSION right across the front entrance, maintaining this position for several minutes. Then police moved in and manhandled the protestors over to the other side of the road, where the noisy protest continued. Deafening whistle blasts were interspersed with chants of "Zapata vive, la lucha sigue" (Zapata lives, the struggle continues).
ZAPATISTAS UNDER ATTACK- SOLIDARITY NEEDED!
During July and August there have been at least four attacks on Zapatista communities, in four different areas of Chiapas.
ATTACK ONE – MONTES AZULES
In Montes Azules, in the Lacandona jungle, the communities of San Manuel (zapatista) and Buen Samaritano (non-affiliated) were violently evicted by Mexican state forces on 18th August . Urgent solidarity is needed for those arrested during the evictions, and for other communities now facing the threat of eviction.
ATTACK TWO – MORELIA ZONE
On 10th August two zapatistas belonging to Olga Isabel autonomous municipality were shot in the community of Balulumash by members of the organisation OPDDIC, and are seriously ill in intensive care.
ATTACK THREE – LACANDONA JUNGLE ZONE
The Zapatista community of “24th December”, in autonomous municipality San Pedro Michoacan in the Tojolobal Lacandona jungle zone, is menaced with eviction by members of the organisation “Union of Ejidos of the Jungle.”
ATTACK FOUR – NORTHERN ZONE
Anti zapatistas burnt down the home of a member of the Womens Group of the “Autonomous Municipality de la Paz” in the northern zone of Chiapas, on 2nd August.
'Other Campaign' update: 6th – 27th October 2007
Quite a bit of news recently…
The Encounter of the Indigenous Peoples of America took place earlier this month (audio report available here), focusing on the struggles of indigenous people in the area against capitalism (with the EZLN and the Mohawks among those attending). The final Declaration stated its rejection of capitalism, privatization of natural goods and war and the affirmation of indigenous peoples’ rights to self-determination.
Those who have heard of the widespread “anti-terror” arrests of activists in New Zealand may already be aware that two of those arrested are Zapatista activists from the Wellington area. The 17 people arrested have all been charged over possession of arms. More information here.
An interesting eye witness report from a Zapatista community on the celebrations linked to the inauguration of a new council can be found here.
Struggle continues in Oaxaca, with a forumbeing held examining indigenous rights and ways of retaining control of natural resources and stopping their privatization. The report also contains interesting information on how large scale wind farms have been pushed on a generally unwilling population.
'Other Campaign' update: 23rd September – 6th October 2007
Major news recently that the extra stage of the Other Campaign in Mexico is being suspended due to continuing repression of Zapatista communities. Recent incidents between the government and guerilla group the EPR have caused additional problems. Instead of the next stage of the Campaign, peaceful actions in defence of these communities are planned. The Encounter of the Indigenous Peoples of America will go ahead as planned.
Finally, a new Marcos story (about a non-conformist stone?!) has just been translated.
'Other Campaign' update: 8th – 22nd September 2007
Little news in the last fortnight, with reports from the North American Summit not being available at present. However, a communiqué has been issued by the EZLN, outlining their plans for the next stage of La Otra (mainly moving towards developing a “National Program of Struggle”) and the upcoming Encounter of the Indigenous Peoples of America.
Worryingly, preparations appear to be in progress for the eviction of the Zapatista community “24th December”, with local soldiers apparently complicit.
'Other Campaign' update: 26th August - 7th September 2007
Six indigenous families living in the Lacandon jungle have been unfairly evicted from their villages as a result of the long-running dispute over land in the area. Amnesty International have issued an urgent action appeal that we would urge you to read. Further information can be found here.
The Zapatista’s North American summit is just about to begin, mainly discussing capitalist conquest and its effect on the indigenous. A further invitation has been issued for the Encounter of the Indigenous Peoples of America, scheduled to be held from October 12th – 14th this year.
A short article on the ongoing migration of Mexicans to the USA can be found here .
'Other Campaign' update: 4th – 25th August 2007
The Second Encounter has now officially closed, having been marked in part by the involvement of various campesino organizations.
No sooner has the Second Encounter finished that there are plans for a Continental Encuentro of Indigenous Peoples for October 11-14, 2007 and for a North American Regional Conference from October 8-9, 2007. The latter will focus primarily on the “war of capitalist conquest and its effect on Indigenous Peoples”.
A fascinating report on the lack of governmental concern with the health of those in Chiapas has been published.
News from Oaxaca, where the recent state elections resulted in the PRI being the official victors but the real story being the very high levels of abstentionism. The struggle in Oaxaca, according to Nancy Davies, appears to be moving from the city to land and water issues.
'Other Campaign' update: 25th July – 3rd August 2007
News has mainly focused on the ‘Second Encounter between the Zapatistas and the People of the World’ which has been taking place in Chiapas. Discussions have taken place on health, education (stressing that the Zapatista Education ‘excludes western forms of evaluation which “promote fear and competition among students”’), autonomous control and events in Oaxaca. As John Ross suggests, the more grounded (literally!) nature of this second Encounter can be seen in the increased number of farming representatives present and the, perhaps welcome, decreased number of ‘celebrities’ compared with the previous version.
Detailed reports from the Encounter can be found here ( 1, 2, 3).
State elections are due in Oaxaca on August 5th, with Nancy Davies of Narco News suggesting that the future of the Plan Puebla Panama may be at stake.
'Other Campaign' update: 24th June – 13th July 2007
Things still quiet. Ho-hum. News primarily taken from the excellent Narco News as nothing new has been posted to the equally excellent Chiapas 95 for a good while.
Some news recently from Oaxaca. Protests against Ulises Ruiz continue, with Section 59 of the teachers union (which was designed precisely to split Section 22 which led the initial protests against Ruiz) now, ironically, joining the protests. Worrying reports in a local paper that the PRI is paying youngsters 300 pesos to fight against the protestors have also been aired.
Sheffield Anarchist Federation, meanwhile, are organizing a a day of music, food, booze and politics to raise much needed funds for the legal campaigns of two anarchists who have been subjected to repeated torture, beatings and intimidation by security forces and are remanded in custody with bail set at $20,000. Further information available here.
Changesin the plan for the 2nd Encounter of the Zapatista Peoples with the People of the World taking place later this month have just been announced.
Repression in Atenco
Background to the repression
On the 3rd May 2006 rural flower farmers took their flowers to sell at the market in Texcoco (near to Mexico City) but were violently attacked by police who accused them of not being a legitimate business. Several clashes with riot police ensued as residents from nearby San Salvador Atenco along with groups of students attempted to defend the flower sellers. Six police officers were taken hostage by the protestors and then released as a gesture of goodwill. Hundreds of demonstrators were injured and at least three police officers were severely beaten. The community of Atenco had previously gained fame when residents, led by the 'People's Front in Defense of the Land' (FPDT) defeated corrupt government plans to build an international airport on their land.
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
