News: January - July 2004
Archived news from 2004
Next Meeting
The next meeting for the Edinburgh Chiapas Group will be on Tuesday the 20th of July, at 7:30pm at the Autonomous Centre, 17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh EH7 5HA.
(28th June 2004) Next Meeting
The next organising meeting for the Edinburgh Chiapas solidarity group will be on Tuesday the 6th of June, at 7:30 at the Autonomous Centre, 17 West Montgomery Place, EH7 5HA. One of the things to discuss will be the sale of a large amount of merchandise, mostly produced in our twinned Zapatista municipality, to raise funds for a health clinic there.
(10th June 2004) Next Meeting
The next organising meeting is on Tuesday the 22nd of June at the Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh, 17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh EH7 5HA. All are welcome..
(10th June 2004) Zapatista organiser murdered in Zona Norte
Zapatista organiser murdered in Zona Norte, Chiapas
On Monday, 7th of June 2004, the Zapatista Eduardo Vázquez Álvaro was murdered in bright daylight in the middle of the city centre of Chilón.
On Monday, 7th of june 2004, the Zapatist Eduardo Vázquez Álvaro was murdered in bright daylight in the middle of the city centre of Chilón. The 50 year old indigenous activist was imprisoned for several years in the prison Cerro Hueco and as such member of the zapatista prisoner organisation "The voice of Cerro Hueco".
At liberty since 2001, he lived again in Chilón (near Palenque). Last Monday the indigneous Chol Eduardo was attacked by five men with two cars. They shot him three times, in the skull, the chest and the abdomen, injured him with a machete when he was lying on the ground and drove the cars over the liveless body of Eduardo.
On Tuesday a demonstration took place in Chilón by hundreds of Zapatistas and sympathisers, who accused the local great land owners of being the manipulators of the murder of Eduardo. A caravan of police and military units, which wanted to patrol the village, had to withdraw under the hail of stones by the demonstrators, reported by Expreso Chiapas.
The brutal murder of Eduardo unfortunately shows once more that in Chiapas the great land owners and their pistoleros can still commit their crimes in broad daylight.
(24th May 2004) Next Meeting
The next group meeting is on Tuesday June the 8th at 7:30pm at the Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh, 17 West Montgomery Place, EH7 5HA. Anyone interested in Chiapas, or willing to help out, is always welcome.
(24th May 2004) Glasgow Zapatista Solidarity Group
Glasgow now has an active Zapatista solidarity group - anyone from the west coast can get in touch with them at glasgowzapatistas@yahoo.co.uk to find out more.
(7th May 2004) Reports from Chiapas
One of our members is in our twinned Zapatista municipality, the "16th of February" and has sent back a report of his welcome by the villagers, and the conditions there.
Read on...
(7th May 2004) Next Group Meeting
The Next group meeting will be on Tuesday the 18th of May, at 7:30pm at ACE, 17 West Montgomery Place, EH7 5HA. Anyone interested in the work of the group, or in Chiapas, is welcome.
(30th April 2004) Fundraising Social Night
The Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity group is holding another fundraising social event This time it will be held at Nicol Edwards bar, in Niddry Street (off the Royal mile)
It will take place on Wednesday 12th May from 9pm till Late - entry will be free, but donations are always welcome.
All profits will go towards supporting our twinned Zapatista community, the "16 de Febrero", There will be videos, music, food, raffle, a stall, drinks and more.
(30th April 2004) Next Group Meeting
The Next organising meeting will be on Tuesday the 4th of May, at 7:30, at ACE, 17 West Montgomery Place, EH7 5HA. Everyone interested is welcome!
(30th April 2004) Zinacantan refugees return
An impressive convoy of around 50 vehicles escorted 102 families of zapatista refugees back to their homes in Zinacantan on Sunday 25th April. The families had been forced to flee for their lives after the armed attack on the zapatista demonstration near Zinacantan, Chiapas on 10th April.
(22nd April 2004) Next Group Meeting
The next group meeting is next Tuesday, the 27th of April, at 7:30pm.
Among the topics to discuss will include a proposal by our twinned Zapatista municipality, the 16th of February, to sell Zapatista produce to help build a health clinic, and a possible upcoming social event.
(22nd April 2004) More on the Zinacantan ambush
The "Corazón Céntrico de los Zapatistas Delante del Mundo" Good Government Junta has denounced the PRD-sponsored attack on the Zapatista marchers at Zinacantan in two recent communiques. As well as this, Enlace Civil has called for donations to help feed the 125 families displaced from the area in the wake of the attacks.
Read the communiques
(17th April 2004) Attack on a Zapatista March in Zinacantan
Gunmen attacked a peaceful Zapatista march in the highland town of Zinacantan, on Saturday 10th of April, wounding 29 marchers, 3 seriously. The march, to commemorate the death of Emiliano Zapata, was ambushed as the marchers tried to bring water to Zapatista supporters in the community who had been blockaded by supporters of the 'left-wing' PRD. One marcher, Manuel Gomez Hernandez, is in critical condition with a machete wound to the head. 125 zapatista families have fled the area, fearing more paramilitary attacks.
(10th April 2004) Next group meeting
The next group meeting is on Tuesday the 20th of April, at the usual time and place - 7:30pm at ACE, 17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh. Of course, anyone interested in the work of the group is welcome.
(26th March 2004) News from Chiapas
The "Good Government Junta" of "The Way of the Future" has denounced paramilitary patrols and a military government build-up around Ocosingo. These have coincided with a propaganda campaign in the mainstream Mexican press asserting that the Zapatistas have been setting up police patrols and checkpoints in the area.
Full Report, translated from La Jornada.
(26th March 2004) Next group meeting
The next Chiapas group meeting will be on Tuesday the 6th of April at the Autonomous Centre, 17 West Montgomery Place, at 7:30pm. All interested in helping organise our activities, or who just want to find out more, are welcome.
(26th March 2004) Social Event - aftermath
Many thanks to all who attended the Social evening at the CWU on the 17th of March. The event was a complete success with about a hundred or so people attending, and raised well over £200 for our twinned autonomous municipality, the "16th of February". At the request of the community, we have spent £47 of this money on stationery and school supplies, and these, along with the remainder of the money, will be taken to the community directly by one of our members.
(13th March 2004) Next group meeting
The next group meeting will be held on the 23rd of March at 7:30pm at ACE, 17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh.
All interested are welcome.
The group is beginning to import Zapatista fair trade coffee from the Mutvitz Collective in Chiapas, but currently needs some help in managing the distribution. If you think you can help, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the group, either by attending the meetings, or by email.
(5th March 2004) Zapatista social evening, 17th March
Come along, bring your friends and good vibes
FREE ENTRY (but donations are very welcome)
Wednesday 17th March 7:30p.m till Midnight CWU (Posties Club), 15 Brunswick Street (between London Rd and LeithWalk) Edinburgh
Members of our Group are travelling to Chiapas, Mexico later this month and will be taking the money raised directly to the Zapatista 16th of February autonomous municipality in the highlands (los altos) of Chiapas. Here the indigenous Tzotzil people are creating their own autonomous schools, health service and grass-roots democracy.
(5th March 2004) Next Meeting, Thursday 11th March
The next meeting is on the 11
th
of March at ACE, 17 West Montgomery Place.
Three members of our group are shortly leaving Edinburgh to go to Chiapas so we need you to give a hand to keep activity going at this important time.
(5th March 2004) News from Chiapas
MONTES AZULES - EVICTION THREATS CONTINUE
Miguel Ángel García Aguirre, President of the NGO "Maderas del Pueblo del Sureste", has denounced the increase in military activity in the southern part of Montes Azules. This involves more patrols and check-points by the Mexican Army. He states that the community of San Isidro is now under pressure and threat of eviction. Report from the Mexican press and the Zapatista solidarity group in Barcelona.
The CGT workers' union in the Spanish state has denounced the threats of imminent eviction against the zapatista indigenous communities in Montes Azules and announces that it will do everything possible to stop such occurences.
Info for above news from Collectiu de Solidaritat amb la Rebellio Zapatista, de la Cera, 1 bis08001, Barcelona
tel: 34-93-4422101 y 3290643
fax: 34-93-3290858
email: ellokal@pangea.org
web: http://www.pangea.org/ellokal/chaiapas
check out Chiapas Indymedia
(20th Feb 2004) Event: Women and the Zapatistas
7:30p.m Wednesday 25th February
Communication Workers Union club, 15 Brunswick Street (between London Rd and Leith Walk) Edinburgh
First hand experiences of a woman working six years in Chiapas with the indigenous women's co-operatives.
One of the most important facets of the struggle in Chiapas is the way the indigenous women have organised to gain more control over their lives. This is a rare chance to hear about the reality of the communities in resistance and the self-organisation of the indigenous people from someone who has been deeply involved in this struggle for many years.
Followed by a talk on the latest achievements of the KIPTIK Water Project by one of its members. Kiptik works with the Zapatista autonomous municipalities to build vital drinking water systems in the Zapatista villages. It is also involved in several other projects, from the free Zapatista radio station to health care.
We only had the opportunity to arrange this meeting at short notice when we learnt that the speakers were able to travel to Scotland, but we hope you will take the opportunity to attend. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.
Please help publicise the meeting by telling your friends
(15th Feb 2004) Next meeting, and news of twinning
The next meeting is on 16 Feb7.30PM AT ACE, 17 West Montgomery Place, EH17 5HA
Tel 0131 557 6242
We are now twinned with the Zapatista Autonomous Municipality "16th of February", so what better date to meet.....
Things to discuss:
-Solidarity activity with communities in Montes Azules facing eviction. At our last meeting we explored some ideas, at this meeting we intend to decide what to do. This is extremely urgent and YOUR participation is important to make sure solidarity actions do happen.. Groups and individuals elsewhere please let us know your plans and activity too.
-Fundraising for our twinned autonomous municipality "16 de Febrero". Someone from our Group is leaving for Chiapas in mid-March and will be able to take donations in cash and supplies for the autonomous schools etc. Please give what you can. All money-raising schemes considered!
- Importing and distributing Zapatista coffee.
(15th Feb 2004) News of Group Activity
The showings of Trading Freedom and Voice of the Voiceless were very successful. Around 120 packed the Edinburgh event and around 60-70 attended the Glasgow showing. Many letters were signed and sent to the Mexican Embassy and to President Fox, protesting at the eviction of Nuevo San Rafael in Montes Azules.
A Glasgow solidarity group has now been re-launched, get in touch for details.
(15th Feb 2004) More contact addresses to oppose the Montes Azules evictions
Please note - the Mexican Ambassador in London is in the process of changing, so in the meantime best to write to "The Ambassador" at address below
The Ambassador
Mexican Embassy
42 Hertford Street, Mayfair
W1J7JR, London, UK
Tel(s). 020 7499 8586
Fax 020 7495 4035
Web: www.embamex.co.uk
E mail: mexuk@easynet.co.uk
A reminder of President Fox's details.
VICENTE FOX, PRESIDENT OF MEXICO
Lic. Vicente Fox Quesada
Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Residencia Oficial de Los Pinos
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec
C.P. 11850, México D.F, MEXICO
FAX: 011 52 55 522 4117 OR 516 9357 OR 515 1794
vicente@fox2000.org.mx or radio@presidencia.gob.mx or presidencia@gob.mx
or go to www.gob.mex and from there to interactivo to send a message
EUROPEAN UNION ADDRESSES
Here are some European Union addresses that might be worthwhile using, so as to protest at European Union involvement in Plan Puebla Panama and the Free Trade Agreement. And also to inform about recent events in the Monte Azules.
This is a joint Euro/Mexican conference of last year.
Email address of Euro/ Mexican delegation
DELEGATION-MEXICO@cec.eu.int
These are addresses of different Euro institutions
European Parliament: civis@europarl.eu.int
Council of the EU public: info@consilium.eu.int
Presidency: webmaster@eu2004.ie
European Commission Commission mailboxes
Court of Justice info@curia.eu.int
European Court of Auditors: euraud@eca.eu.int
European Ombudsman euro: ombudsman@europarl.eu.int
Draft of letter sent to some of the above
Dear ............
I am writing to protest European Union silence regarding the recent military violence of the Mexican government against the indigeous people of Chiapas.
According to recent reports Mexican armed forces have attacked the Chol indigenous community of Nuevo San Rafael, burning down 23 homes and violently evicting the inhabitants. The attack, reported variously as happening on either 19 or 22 January, took place in the remote Montes Azules jungle area of Chiapas. The fate of the inhabitants of Nuevo San Rafael is unknown, as the army is preventing reporters and human rights observers from entering the area. Local indigenous Chol, Josué Jiménez Cruz, has been arrested, and is apparently being held in the town of Ocosingo.
In nearby Nuevo San Inisdro indigenous Tzotzil villagers now fear an imminent eviction attempt against their village.
I would like to protest this violent and blatant state-terrorist activity against the indigenous people of the above targeted areas. It is clear that the oppression is being driven by governmental and multinational ambitions to press on with Plan Puebla Panama, which will lead to a war of low intensity with the aim of ethnically cleansing the Resource-rich Monte Azules of near a thousand communities.
The European Union is a prime invester of Plan Puebla Panama and therefor will take some significant responsibility for any massacres and atrocities that the Mexican government will commit against the people of Chiapas.
Yours Faithfully
............
These are the websites of the Euro delegation to Mexico. They also has email addreses of all Euro member country embassies in Mexico, plus joint Euro/ Mexican institutions and bodies.
http://www.delmex.cec.eu.int/en/contacts/#Member%20States%20in%20Mexico
http://www.delmex.cec.eu.int/en/contacts/#Useful%20Sites
This is the address of Pascal Lamy Euro Commissioner for Trade. He is one of the main supporters of the Free Trade agreement.
Postal address 200, rue de la Loi B - 1049 Brussels Belgium
web address allows you to put forward a question to the Euro Parliament
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
It could be worth contacting
and
to encourage them to take up the injustice of the Montes Azules situation.
SCOTTISH MEPs
Below is a list of the Scottish Members of the European Parliament. We have been advised that it is best to contact all of them about this issue.
martin@martinmep.com
ihudghton@europarl.eu.int
sstenvenson@europarl.eu.int
ssteve@aol.com
bmillermep@aol.com
nmaccormick@europarl.eu.int
nmaccmeps@snp.sol.co.uk
purvisco@aol.com
jpurvis@europarl.eu.int
eattwooll@europarl.eu.int
info@scotlibdem.fsnet.co.uk
cstihler@europarl.eu.int
cstihler@cstihlermep.freeserve.co.uk
Below is a sample letter which has been sent to the above
Dear ______
I am writing with concern regarding Mexican military actions against the indigenous people who live in the Monte Azules regions.
Mexican armed forces have attacked the community of Nuevo San Rafael, burning down 23 homes and violently evicting the Chol indigenous inhabitants. The attack, reported variously as happening on either 19 or 22 January, took place in the remote Montes Azules jungle area of Chiapas.
Resource-rich Montes Azules has long been coveted by multinationals. As the governments and multinationals press forward with the Plan Puebla Panama and Free Trade Area of the Americas, the "war of low intensity" against the thousand-plus autonomous communities erupts into blatant repression. The Secretary of Government of Chiapas, Rubén Velázquez López, promises more evictions, declaring that land invasions will no longer be tolerated.
The fate of the inhabitants of Nuevo San Rafael is unknown, as the army is preventing reporters and human rights observers from entering the area. Local indigenous Chol, Josué Jiménez Cruz, has been arrested, and is apparently imprisoned.
According to the testimonies obtained by The Human Rights Centre Bartolome de las Casas, 23 houses of the community were burned and at the moment 40 Marine and Police officers remain in Nuevo San Rafael. The inhabitants of this community, also known as Ignacio Allende, are indigenous Choles, refugees who had to flee from Calvario, municipality of Sabanilla in the north of Chiapas, two years ago. The Human Rights Centre "wholeheartedly condemns the way in which the communities are being held incommunicado" and the "violation of the right to travel freely in the Montes Azules region" by the state authorities and the Marines.
The Chiapas State forces have also evicted hundreds of peasants in the OPEZ organisation from 2 occupied estates in Suchiate, near the border with Guatemala. The Mexican daily La Jornada reports on 25 January: "The high season for the eviction of campesinos has begun. The government of Chiapas has resolved to persecute land invasions, even those going back as far as 11 years, as happened yesterday in the estates Los Cerros and Los Cerritos in Suchiate, near the border with Guatemala. The lands were returned to their legal owners, that is the real estate company Las Cruces and the private persons Guadalupe Barrios, Arturo Barrios and Roberto Ocampo."
"The (Chiapas)Secretary of Government, Rubén Velázquez López, the author of this escalation, declared yesterday that "this government will allow no more invasions", but he pointed out, "it will excel in guaranteeing that human rights are respected" during the evictions."
In Montes Azules 110 villages and settlements are threatened with eviction. The Mexican government cites conservation concerns in the Biosphere Reserve.
The real reason is the economic and strategic interests of transnational corporations and the USA and Mexican governments - the Plan Puebla Panama aims to "develop" southern Mexico and Central America, exploiting natural resources like biodiversity and hydro-electricity and driving peasants off their land into sweatshops.
Meanwhile in the north of Chiapas the committees has denounced a state of siege from the military , the situation remains tense at Morelia and further north in the state of Morelos repression continues against the community of Tlanepantla, where the people declared themselves autonomous.
Could you pass on my concerns about this situation to the appropriate commissioners.
Could you bring up this issue at the European Parliament?
Yours Faithfully
(8th Feb 2004) Next meeting
The next meeting is on Tuesday 10
th
of February, at 7:30 at the Autonomous Centre, 17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh (Tel 557 6242). All welcome!
(8th Feb 2004) Contact the Mexican government
Anyone wishing to protest the recent attacks on Zapatista communities in Montes Azules described below is encouraged to get in touch the Mexican government directly at one of the following addresses:
Mrs Alma Rosa Moreno, Ambassador
Mexican Embassy in London,
42 Hertford Street,
London W1J 7JR
Tel: 0207 499 8586
Email: mexuk@easynet.co.uk
Website: http://www.embamex.co.uk
Email addresses of Presidente Vincente Fox
vicente@fox2000.org.mx
radio@presidencia.gob.mx
presidencia@gob.mx
Be polite, but insistent!
(28th Jan 2004) News from Chiapas
Mexican armed forces have attacked the Zapatista community of Nuevo San Rafael, burning down 23 homes and violently evicting the Chol indigenous inhabitants. The attack, reported variously as happening on either 19 or 22 January, took place in the remote Montes Azules jungle area of Chiapas.
(20th Jan 2004) Next organising meetings
These will be at 7.30pm tues 20th Jan and 7.30pm tues 3rd Feb, both at ACE, 17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh
All interested very welcome. These meetings are important, especially for organising the public showing of the "Trading Freedom" film which will hopefully take place the weekend of 7/8 Feb.
There are several other projects underway, including plans to import Zapatista coffee on a larger scale, and the distribution of the Kiptik water project calendars.
(20th Jan 2004) Public showing of film "Trading Freedom" in Edinburgh
Trading Freedom is a recently made film about the struggle against the Free Trade Area of the Americas. It includes footage from Chiapas, Quebec and other parts of the Americas.
The Free Trade Area of the Americas is a development from the North American Free Trade Agreement, whose inauguration on 1st January 1994 was marked by the Zapatistas launching their insurrection.
The film will be shown in Edinburgh on Sunday 8th February, in the Forest Cafe. The film's director has said he should be able to attend, and he will be speaking about the film and the related issues.
We are also looking for people who would like to put on showings elsewhere in Scotland - contact us if interested.
More info on Trading Freedom can be found at http://www.indymedia.org.uk - click on Zapatistas under TOPICS on the left hand column and scroll down central column.
We also hope to show the new short Kiptik video Voice of the Voiceless. If you would like to help organise these events but cannot make the meeting on 20th jan, do get in touch. We need people to help distro flyers and posters and generally do publicity.
(20th Jan 2004) News from Chiapas
Zapatistas mobilise to defend the Caracol of Morelia
Last month, December 2003, hundreds of PRI supporters threatened to burn down the Zapatista centre of Morelia. This mob was headed and encouraged by a local mayor, and a senator.
But 1,000 Zapatistas gathered to defend Morelia, one of the five new Zapatista Caracols, and base for the Zapatista regional "Committee of Good Government". After a stand-off the PRI-istas (supporters of the Institutional Revolutionary Party)backed down and dispersed, though the threat to the Caracol remains.
The Zapatistas have declared: "We are prepared to face up to anyone, whoever they might be, to defend our Caracol - to the death if necessary."
(7th Jan 2004) Next organising meeting
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 13th January at 7.30pm at the Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh, 17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh (tel 557 6242).
please note the day of the meeting - the coming tuesday 13th (there was some confusion about the date in previous notifications, for which apologies)
Among the things to discuss are plans to organise a showing of a new film about the struggle against the Free Trade Area of the Americas, jointly with Indymedia Scotland.
Also one of our group is leaving for a spell in Chiapas in the near future, so we really need more folk to get involved in helping out, even taking on small responsibilities all help.
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
Or click here for our Facebook page
The EdinChiapas group is part of the 'UK Zapatista Network': ukzapatistas.wordpress.com
