Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity Group

As members of the Alianza Magonista Zapatista (AMZ) we want to denounce, on the strongest terms, that:

Today, 17th of June, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, a heavily armed group of policemen, belonging to the state police of Oaxaca, together with some others from the police force which are laying siege to the Santiago Xanica village, assaulted the house of our indigenous comrade Cesar Luis Dias in order to arrest him, even if there was no warrant and regardless of his three little kids being present in the house at that time.

Cesar is a member of the Comitte for the Defense of Indigenous Rights of Santiago Xanica (CODEDI), a delegate of APPO, and a founder member of AMZ (which is part of La Otra campaign), as well as a member of the Coordination of Oaxacan Magonist People against Liberalism (COMPA). We want to highlight that this is the same police force which on 15th January 2005, just a month after the beginning of Ulises Ruiz Ortiz's (URO) period in government, arrested three other members of the same organisations: Abraham Garcia Vazquez, Juventino and Noel Garcia Cruz. The three of them have been in prison for more than two years now, despite not having been judged at all and the deeds they have been acussed of not having been proven in any way. We held Sergio Garcia Cruz, the mayor imposed by URO, to be responsible for this repression, as he is the person in charge of informing URO of the activities of our comrades and of their participation in the different campaigns. We demand the Calderon government to withdraw from Oaxaca and the resignation of URO.

Freedom for all the political prisoners in Mexico. There can be no democracy without freedom.

Yours in solidarity

An interesting report can be found of Marcos’ recent meeting at Tijuana with US LA Otra adherents here, with the belief that Mexico may be on the brink of exploding restated and the importance of circulating struggles reinforced. The ‘seven points of affinity’ noted in the article are particularly worth noting.

Marcos has also recently made the news (well, La Jornada at least) for recent statements not only confirming his view of Mexico but criticizing Calderon and his unleashing of the army. “Nothing of what was the spinal column of the national state remains standing” says the Sub.

Late news has also arrived of the march, attended by about 3,000 people, earlier in May in commemoration of the victims of state brutality at Atenco.

Meanwhile, Fray Bartoleme De Las Casas (a human rights organizations) has formally reported on the Mexican government’s direct involvement in the recent attack on the community Viejo Velasco Sua'rez

Not much news in the last fortnight or so at all. However, a proposal has been made for “An International Day of Action Against Repression and for the Liberation of All Political Prisoners in Mexico” for the 26th June. The day will focus on liberty and justice for all political prisoners in Mexico and an end to the harassment of those participating in the Other Campaign.

The US Member of Congress for the Bronx has written a letter to Condoleeza Rice asking her to ensure that the investigation into Brad Will’s death is carried out properly. It also questions the role of the Mexican government in paramilitary activity and police brutality – albeit assuming that the Rice and Calderon have any interest in stopping this state of affairs.

Finally, more ’relocations’ are taking place in Montes Azules courtesy of the Mexican and local Chiapas governments. The six areas being evicted have, as a result, renounced their traditional links with the PRD governor of Chiapas.

The most important recent news is the release of a communique stating that the results of the first section of the Other Campaign will soon be available, feeding into the “draft of what will come to be the plan for a national struggle” and stating that the claims of many that there would not be support in the North of Mexico for the Campaign and that there would not be support post-election have been proved false. The ongoing repression against social movements, including La Otra, are denounced.

Marcos recently visited the Mexico-US Border twice, firstly giving support to the Cucapa Peace Camp and secondly to announce Yaqui as the site for the upcoming Intercontinental Indigenous Gathering. The Zapatistas have recently joined a number of organizations supporting the 23 people arrested in March during Bush’s visit to Mexico on the heinous charges of damaging not only a door panel but also a potted plant.