IN THE SPIRIT OF ZAPATA AND THE MASSACRED OF ACTEAL
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION APRIL 10TH
NO To The Extermination Of The Zapatistas!
We Demand An End To The Bloodshed!
PROTEST AT ALL MEXICAN CONSULATES AND
ACTIONS TO COMMEMORATE THOSE MURDERED
AT ACTEAL AND SINCE THEN
"Mexico fulfills the international criteria for GENOCIDE…"
International Commission of Human Rights Observers
Chiapas, Mexico
February 28, 1998
The word "genocide" has been used by a group of 200 human rights
observers
after listening and seeing the suffering which is occurring in Chiapas,
Mexico. The word implies the systematic destruction of an entire
people.
Yet the word remains unheard apparently.Is it unheard because it is
about
Mexico, that "tourist" site with the wonderful cuisine?
Is it unheard
because what is happening to indigenous people does not matter?
Is it the
silence of CNN or NBC that makes the matter mute? Is the blood
which flows
in Chiapas too much like the blood on movie and television screens,
and
therefore unreal?
Zedillo's government has sentenced an entire people to death because
they
dared say no to NAFTA and to globalization. Not only are indigenous
communities under siege, so are religious workers, human rights workers,
foreign observers, and humanitarian organizations. Zedillo's
government, is
at the present time, spending millions of pesos on an intense publicity
campaign. It spends money in order to twist the truth and give
itself a
legal rationale for war. Never before in history has the making
of a lie
been so well-documented.
The Zapatistas have done everything within their power to let us to
know
who they really are. We have been free now for four years to
organize what
we want, to act, to speak out. The conditions in Chiapas now
are worse than
they were in February 1995, when the second military mobilization occurred.
The fact does not indicate that all our efforts have failed.
Yes, Zedillo
presents his own version of a law on indigenous rights and culture.
But
this presidential initiative remains unprecedented in history and it
is a
demonstration of the extent of the Zapatistas' national influence,
regardless of the media's arguments to the contrary. The situation
of
indigenous people IS receiving national attention. It is causing
enormous
controversy within various institutions of the Mexican government.
In the
midst of it, strong voices must be heard that support a political solution.
This is the only thing which will tilt the outcome in favor of peace.
Only
in this way can the bloodshed cease.
No one, least of all the Zapatistas, expected this process to be short
and
easy, because what they hope to win is quite extraordinary. We must
mobilize
now--not because the war will be stopped by a singular action, but
because
we do not want unarmed women and children to continue to pay the highest
price.
We expect that:
1) The war in its existing dimensions will wear away at this movement
like
a cancer.
2) The Mexican government either through its Army or the paramilitaries
will make a surgical strike and attempt to kill the Zapatista leadership.
This systematic genocide will be carried out with our consent—because
TO
SAY AND DO NOTHING is to give our consent.
Just as the Mexican government has intensified military pressure
upon
indigenous communities so must civil society intensify political pressure
on
the Mexican government. In order to accomplish this the affiliated
committees of the NCDM will be carrying out a
national campaign which begins
on April 10th, the Anniversary of Zapata's death.
We call upon people to
organize mass actions on that day, at all Mexican Consulates, or other
appropriate targets if a Consulate is not accessible to you.
We also ask
that you phone, fax and email the White House
in order to let them know we will
not tolerate the elimination of the Zapatistas, nor the continued denial
of
Indigenous rights. (See below for contact information and other useful
addresses and numbers.)
Following the day of action, each NCDM committee will be organizing
numerous
activities throughout the rest of April and May. The
campaign will end on
May 10th, Mexican mother's day, in honor of the
women in Chiapas who,
together with their children, continue to fight
with dignity and courage.
The NCDM's call joins other calls from many civil organizations in
Mexico. For example, the National Indigenous Congress has acknowledged
the
clear decision by the Mexican government to embark upon the war and
will be
marching upon Mexico City from the four directions on the anniversary
of
Zapata's death, April 10th.Various other organizations will be organizing
mobilizations
during this time.
Important Contact numbers/addresses for International
Day Of Action:
President Clinton
Tel: (202) 456-1414
Fax: (202) 456-2883
Website: www.whitehouse.gov (form for emails on the site)
Thomas McLarty, Counselor to President and Special Advisor on Latin
America
Fax: (202) 225-3121
State Department
John Shattuck , Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Human
Rights and Labor
Fax: (202) 647-5283 or (202) 647-1458
email to Secretary of State: secretary@state.gov
For more information on the International Day of Action, the NCDM's
campaign
and the Zapatistas, please call: (800) 405-7770/(213)
254-9550 or email us
at moonlight@igc.apc.org.