International Solidarity Statement

With many Europeans getting well organized into a caravan, here comes a statement initiated out of Los Angeles with signatories from throughout the USA and Australia, as well as Spain. If you would like to add yourself to the statement, you can do so in the comments section of this post.

Today's the fourth (and final?) session of the "Enter the Intergalactic" class I've been facilitating at the Brecht Forum here in NYC. Amongst other things, attendees will be receiving a mix CD of zapatista and zapatista-inspired music as a parting gift! I've already posted the agendas for sessions 1 and 2, those for sessions 3 and 4 will come in the weeks ahead...

International Statement in Solidarity with the Zapatistas

To the people of Mexico:
To the EZLN:
To the Other Campaign:
To the International Community:
To the media:

As members of diverse collectives and organizations in different corners of the World, we wish to express our outrage and complete repudiation of the renewed military invasion of Zapatista communities on June 4th 2008.

Numerous reports from the International Civil Commission of Human Rights Observation (CCIODH), the Centre for Political Analysis and Socio-Economic Investigations (CAPISE) and Fray Bartolomé de las Casas Human Rights Center have raised concerns regarding the continued and increasing hostility from the Mexican Government towards the Zapatistas. In these investigations it is clear that this dirty war relies upon a system that involves paramilitary organizations, institutions such as the Agrarian Reform Secretary (SRA) and both Federal (PAN) and State (PRD) Governments, as well as the military occupation surrounding Zapatista territory since 1994.

The Mexican Army’s decision to invade La Garrucha, Rancho Alegre (known as Chapuyil), Hermenegildo Galeana and San Alejandro represents more than the violation of the Dialogue, Conciliation and Peace in Chiapas Law (1995), the Mexican Constitution (Article 29), the American Human Rights Declaration (Articles 21 and 29b) and the International Civil and Political Rights Convention (Articles 14 and 27). It also represents a change in the strategy against the Zapatistas. In view of this, we are extremely concerned for the physical and physiological integrity of our indigenous Zapatista brothers and sisters. The Mexican Government is attacking the right of indigenous peoples to freely organize by attempting to use the outrageous accusation that the Zapatistas cultivate marijuana. As the Mexican State looks for mechanisms to legitimize open warfare, it is clear that its real objective is the destruction of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN).

We are certain that the Zapatista demands are made peacefully, that these demands are being organized in conjunction with other indigenous peoples, cities and states across the Mexican Republic following the release of the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle, which calls for peaceful civic organization called the Other Campaign. The continued aggression towards Zapatista communities and especially this recent invasion by the Mexican Army demonstrate that that the Mexican Government is unwilling and incapable of resolving popular demands and is reliant on repressive tactics to attempt to extinguish those voices that demand the most basic of rights.

We demand that the Mexican Government, represented by the President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, immediately withdraw the National Armed Forces strategically deployed in the conflict zone in Chiapas.

We demand that the Chiapas State Government, represented by Juan Sabines Guerrero, stop all acts of aggression and threats by State Police to Zapatista communities.

If the Mexican Government continues to attack Zapatista communities we, the undersigned, will do everything we can to act in solidarity with the Zapatistas and in rejection of the violent and repressive Mexican State.

Partial list of endorsers

Collectives and individuals from La Otra Los Angeles
(Mujeres de Maiz, Danza Mexica Mictlanxiucoatl, Olmeca, ARMA, Los Poets del Norte, Teocintli, Rodrigo Estrada Garcia, East Side Café, detodos-paratodos.blogspot.com, Don Newton, Oscar Navarro) - USA

El Kilombo – Durham, North Carolina, USA

Rare Purpose Collective – Florida, USA

El Colectivo Zapatista de Valencia “El Caragol” – Valencia, Spain

CGT-Comisión Chiapas - Spain

Mutiny Collective – Sydney, Australia

Electronic Disturbance Theater – San Diego, USA

XISPA CON TITA COLECTIVO Chicana Radio Network

Collectives and Individuals from La Otra San Diego
(California Coalition Against Poverty, Colectivo Zapatista San Diego, Colectivo Zapatista Tzajalek 32, San Diego Indymedia, dj lotu5 y otr@s) - USA

Local to Global Justice - Tempe, USA

Mexico-Australia Solidarity Network (MASN) - Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne, Australia

Latin American Solidarity Network (LASNET) – Australia

Solidarity Without Borders - New York City, USA

zapagringo.com - New York City, USA

Nottinghamshire Zapatista Solidarity Campaign - UK

Accion Zapatista de Humboldt - USA