New Solidarity Project:Estacion Libre, Jan 9

Date: Fri, 09 Jan 1998 20:10:18 PST

Estacion Libre
Pichucalco #15
San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas
Mexico CP. 29220
phone: 52-967-8-0537
e-mail: estacionlibre@hotmail.com

"We are a product of 500 years of struggle: first against slavery, then during the War of Independence against Spain led by insurgents, then to avoid being absorbed by North American imperialism....... They don't care that we have nothing, absolutely nothing, not even a roof over our heads, no land, no work, no health care, no food nor education. Nor are we able to freely and democratically elect our political representatives, nor is there independence from foreigners, nor is there peace nor justice for ourselves and our children"
-- EZLN Declaration of War

January 9, 1998

Sisters and Brothers,

We are writing to you about Estacion Libre, a new solidarity organization that is forming in Chiapas, Mexico. In August 1997, the "Encuentro Cultural Chican@ Indigena Por La Humanidad Y Contra El Neoliberalismo" took place in Oventic, Chiapas. Out of the Encuentro, a group of people came together sparked by the need expressed during the organizing process of this conference to create an organization for people of color interested in working in solidarity with the Zapatista communities.

The EZLN has called on all people to "struggle for democracy, liberty and justice for all Mexicans". They see their struggle as global and encourage everyone to take a stand against the neo-liberal imperialist system. But, they also know that their base is the indigenous communities of Chiapas. In the Fourth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle (January 1996), Subcomandante Marcos stated that their rebellion which "has a dark face and an indigenous language was not born today. It was spoke before with other languages and in other lands. This rebellion against injustice spoke in many mountains and many histories." We believe that if the EZLN existed in a US context, they would be talking about the indigenous struggle and in broader terms of people of color. Although a strong international presence already exists in Chiapas, we perceive an absence of people of color here in the solidarity movement.

The international solidarity movement is white dominated. This replicates the same dynamics of imperialism and institutional racism we are committed to fighting. White people cannot represent the struggles of people of color taking place in our homelands. It is our belief the only way to begin to destroy a system that has always been based on the exploitation and exclusion from power of peoples of Indigenous, African, Latino, and Asian descent is by developing links between peoples of color world-wide.. This is not to say that all people don't have a place in the international solidarity movement, it is just that a key element is missing.

Estacion Libre is an attempt to create an alternative organization that can contribute to changing the "face" of international solidarity work in Mexico. The goal of Estacion Libre is strengthening the connections between communities of color (in the U.S.) with each other and the Zapatista movement. We believe that a key to changing the world lies in the raising of consciousness concerning the true effects of transnationalism and neoliberalism. Fundamental to the goal of raising consciousness is the need for the free exhange of information/ideas/strategies of oppressed peoples in this so-called global community. Estacion Libre is a group of people who are dedicated to bringing people of color activists to work in solidarity with the Zapatistas and to communicate and work with each other in the context of the Zapatista struggle. We are focussing our work on the following:

1. Accessibility: Central to our objectives is the establishment of a permanent base of contact, the Estacion Libre. A house would serve as a central location for our organizing. As well, it will help to keep costs low for those coming form areas outside of Chiapas and Mexico. We would like to be able to provide free housing and food for those who plan to work in the area.

2. Orientation: We envision having people stay in the house for a week prior to leaving to work in communities. This time in the house will be used to familiarize people with the general situation and recent events in Chiapas and to prepare them for what they will encounter in the communities.

3. Hands-on-work: Some participants who come to share time in the Estacion Libre will be involved in community projects in Zapatista communities that support their vision of self-determination and autonomy. These would be projects, such as potable water projects, mural projects, and bread-oven construction. This is to ensure that we will be involved in accomplishing something concrete which will have a positive impact on the communities. It also provides participants with a vital hands-on educational experience.

4. Information: The exchange of information is a vital part of our vision. We are planning several on-going information projects.

A. An electronic magazine to be placed on the internet. Updated periodically, we hope to keep people informed about the constantly changing state of events.

B. The translation of material (videos and books) to and from English and Spanish. Since we can t rely on the resources of mainstream media to do this for us, we have to do it for ourselves.

C. During their time in the house, (as part of the process of orientation and upon their return from communities), we will be holding meeting/discussion groups to help us form a more refined analysis

5. Strengthening the solidarity movement in the U.S: Participants will continue with their commitment to the Zapatista movement through their ongoing involvement in organizing their own communities.

6. Through the completion of this process that we have outlined we envision people becoming inspired with their own future project ideas. We hope to facilitate the process of carrying out these project ideas.

Our first large project is to bring down a people-of-color work brigade from the United States during the summer of 1998. The brigade will be 15 to 20 people who will be working on already existing projects in various Zapatista communities for approximately one month. Brigade work will include orientations sessions before hand and summing-up sessions at the end, including planning for future joint work and projects.

We are looking for input from anybody who is interested in this kind of work. Please send us your comments and also forward this letter to other interested people.

"If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. . .But if you have come because your liberation is bound with mine, then let us work together."
--Aboriginal Woman

In solidarity,

Estacion Libre

Miguel Melel
Karl Kumoguro
Christopher Day
Jessica Parsons

Contact info:

In Mexico: estacionlibre@hotmail.com

In USA: suek@igc.apc

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