May 25, 2000

Mexico, Chiapas News Summary, May 24

"...Excuse me, Madame civil society, from distracting you from your numerous activities and countless anxieties. I am only writing to tell that you we are here, that we continue to be ourselves, that resistance is still our flag and that we still believe in you. Whatever may happen, we shall continue to believe. Because hope, my lady of the all-encompassing face and vast name, is now an addiction for us..."
Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos
May 18, 1996.

A slow news week, whatever that means. One of confirmations and exacerbations.

** THE PFP COMETH **

More reports, now, of the deployment of the PFP throughout the state. Lurking in the Montes Azules, blanketing Polho', swaggering in plainclothes off helicopters in Tuxtla Gutie'rrez. The latter were the 'intelligence' specialists. One can picture their shades, their smirks, their total lack of irony.

** SWAN SONGS **

Since we are touching irony, that most lame of lame ducks, President Ernest Zedillo, paid a call on the state last week. His message: that his willingness to shovel buckets of federal dollars into the state PRI apparatus ("social benefit programs"), coupled with a return to the rule of law, had unleashed a mini-nirvana in the state of Chiapas. He brayed that conflicts, over land and such, now represented only isolated incidents.

We must assume that one of the many virtues that have now been resolutely thrown to the winds is even a semblance of rationality or congruence or attention to script. Given that, as one recalls, the very reason that the State Attorney General, Eduardo Montoya Lie'vano, gave for bringing in the PFP boys was that such incidents had become second nature. Campesinos had "lost their values," and were wantonly brawling over...land, in fact.

** BEYOND SHAME **

And, in one more dark footnote to the government's "White Book on Acteal," retired General Julio Cesar Santiago Diaz was given a pretend-sentence of 8 years for his role in the massacre. And his role was? He and a group of men (he was Chief of Public Security police in Chiapas at the time) were a few meters from where the bloodbath was occurring. And it occurred over the space of several hours. His response? To close off the road lest anyone interfere with the butchery.

** THE FOREST PRIMEVAL **

Back in the real world, indigenous from the 12 communities in the Selva Lacandona (those being threatened, blackmailed and strong-armed into being "relocated") held a Forum in Defense of Life, Land and Natural Resources. They noted that many of them had been there prior to the seventies, and they considered themselves to be - and behaved - as true guardians of the land. In contrast with the surreptitious loggers of precious woods, the biotech companies stealthily raping the Selva and the government which is hell-bent on enabling them. They called for laws on biodiversity which would respect Convention 169 of the ILO, for respect for their rights as citizens and for attention to their circumstances of neglect and poverty (given that they are not on the receiving end of those buckets of federal cash).

And what have you been doing?

Organizing inventive and heartfelt and meaningful and focused actions, especially on May 22.
Affectionately bombarding your congresspersons, senators, consulates, ad inf with relevant and readable materials.
Planning 'vacations' and election-observing and solidarity work in Chiapas. Writing cogent and passionate letters to your various editors.
Building rebel schools.
Dancing a flamenco (see below).
Putting your heart where your head is.

What comes next?

More of the above.
Collect. Get maps, material, song. Ask me, I'll send it to you. Move it even further.
Focus. There are myriad groups, collectives, fluid entities, out there.
Make contact.
Invent. Take them by surprise.

** MARCOS ON TRUE LOVE **

"...Accept, my lady, these three flowers. The other four will arrive when...if they arrive at all...

.P.S. I forgot to warn you, my lady, to not be deceived by officials, columnists and etceteras who infinitely echo the lie. Nothing is resolved, everything is shattered. And there are, essentially, two positions: theirs, that of war, counting on your continuing to remain indifferent; and ours, that of peace, counting on your dancing a flamenco, which will make everything tremble, exactly as love trembles, when it is true..."

Subcomandante insurgente Marcos
May 18, 1996

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