Peace and Environment News* September 1998
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Peace and Environment News * September 1998 |
by Gerry Pascal
Last February, an international group of representatives, including myself, went to the state of Chiapas in Mexico to hear testimony from residents who were denouncing the human rights situation in the zone. Paramilitary groups are emerging as appendages to the political parties in power and there are attempts on the part of the federal state government to expel or harass foreigners who they fear will expose these problems.
The International Civil Observation Commission for Human Rights in Chiapas consists of representatives from groups working in the area of international solidarity, human rights, peace and social justice. The objectives of the Commission are to help minimize the violence and abuse of human rights perpetrated against native people, to stimulate international awareness and to gather information so that they will be able to put pressure on governments to do something to change the situation in Chiapas.
When we got to Chiapas, we had to go by bus to get to the communities where the testimonials were to take place. While traveling, we had to undergo a check from the national immigration police. A white civilian truck blocked our passage while 200 visas were "verified" one by one, a procedure which took more than two hours. From our point of view it was obvious harassment.
Of the 200 participants, 40 of us went to the Zapatista community called Colonia Misopa Chinal, in the Zona Norte. Zapatistas appeared to testify for the Commission, black knitted coverings over their faces except for the eyes to protect their identity. They spoke of constant harassment from the paramilitary, the army and state police; beatings; thefts of crops, animals and personal belongings; burning of homes; forced expulsions from their communities and killings.
Later, a smaller group left the main group in order to walk to a neighbouring community to attempt to talk to members of Justicia y Paz, one of the paramilitary groups. The Commission had wanted to hear all sides before writing their report. The group refused to speak to us but on the way back we were approached by three young men who wanted to speak. They told stories similar to the ones reported earlier and denounced Justicia y Paz. Later that same day one of these young men, José Tila Lopez Garcia, was killed by people identified as belonging to Justicia y Paz.
The next day a delegation from the Commission went to the community to meet with the family and attend the funeral. When they got there, their passage was blocked by about 200 local people representing extreme right wing groups, including Justicia y Paz.
During our stay in Chiapas we weren't able to observe a strong military presence in the communities except for a few small army posts alongside the road. The people told us that during the presence of the Commission the army "disappeared." From our consultations with solidarity and human rights groups in Mexico and those who have done a deeper analysis, it is estimated that about 72,000 troops are in the conflict zones in Chiapas.
One figure reveals that one third of the Mexican army is stationed in the state. The Ambassador of Mexico to Canada however states that the number of troops is closer to 5000.
The report from the Commission was presented to the European Parliament at the end of March.
Gerry Pascal works at the Centre de ressources sur la non-violence in Montreal.
Converted August 7, 1999 - Lg
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