Mexican Government/Paramilitary Repression Continues to Escalate in Chiapas

Today the situation in Chiapas is more serious than it has been for many years. The attacks on the Zapatista autonomous communities are growing, and many experienced commentators warn that worse may be to come.

The Chiapas-based human rights and investigative body CAPISE has published a new study detailing the extremely alarming growth in military patrols and operations in Chiapas, particularly in the Lacandona Jungle and Northern zone. 'SEDENA: Winds of War' (Spanish only) analyses the new military offensive against the EZLN, the civilian zapatista authorities and the grass-roots zapatista base, the zapatista peoples project of free self-determination, and against the Mexican-wide project of the Other Campaign.

As we write there are warnings of a possible attack on the Zapatistas at the ecological reserve of Huitepec, near San Cristobal, Chiapas.

At this time we need to show that the Zapatistas are not alone please contact us, or your nearest solidarity group, to get involved. We are currently planning solidarity actions for this summer, and we need as many people involved as possible.

International solidarity is vital to try and stop an all out government attack on the Zapatista communities.

Send messages of protest to:

a) THE PRESIDENT OF MEXICO
Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa
Presidente de la República
Residencia Oficial de los Pinos Casa Miguel Alemán
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec, C.P. 11850, DISTRITO
FEDERAL, México
Telephone: +52 (55) 27891100 Fax: +52 (55) 52772376
E-Mail: felipe.calderon@presidencia.gob.mx

b) THE GOVERNOR OF CHIAPAS
Lic. Juan José Sabines Guerrero
Gobernador Constitucional del Estado de Chiapas
Palacio de Gobierno del Estado de Chiapas
Av. Central y Primera Oriente, Colonia Centro, C.P.29009
Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México
Email: secparticular@chiapas.gob.mx
Fax: +52 961 6188088 Telephone + 52 961 6188056

c) THE MEXICAN AMBASSADOR IN THE UK
Juan José Bremer de Martino
Ambassador of Mexico in the UK
Mexican Embassy
16 St. George Street
London
W1S 1FD
Tel: 020 7499 8586
Email - go to www.sre.gob.mx/reinounido/ and go to "Contacto", 2nd from bottom in menu in left hand column.

Or email the Ambassador via his assistants:

cmoye@sre.gob.mx and jlopezr@sre.gob.mx