Chiapas amnesty?
Who should judge whom?
Rosario Ibarra de Piedra, President of the National Democratic Convention (CND) gave the following speech at a demonstration in Zocalo on 15 February 1995
THE PRI GOVERNMENT HAS brought the nation to the edge of civil war. If war has not broken out, with all that war would mean in terms of suffering, it is, once again, thanks to the prudence and wisdom of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN). By withdrawing into the depths of the Lacandona forest, away from the civilian population, the EZLN saved the nation from the bloodbath which the system wanted to impose, on Clinton's orders. Even this did not save the population from bombardments and massacres organised by the government, and hidden behind a disinformation campaign. But imagine how bad things would have been if the Zapatistas had not acted as they did. And yet, the EZLN was not short of justifications for a military response to President Zedillo's offensive. Faced with the failure of their maneuvers, and the general condemnation of their actions by the majority of Mexicans and by many people abroad, Zedillo and his strategists are forced to adapt their position. The resignation of the puppet governor of Chiapas state. Robelo Rincon, or the suspension of military aggression show that the regime is conscious of its need for a better image. But their essential goal remains the same: to get rid of the EZLN, especially Marcos, and to strike heavily at all those sections of civil society which are no longer prepared to submit to this political system. So, rather than calming the situation of confrontation, the appeal recently launched by Rincon is nothing less than an exhortation for the lynching of Amado AvendaEo (the popular candidate for Chiapas governor), bishop Samuel Ruiz (see page XXX) and all the Council of the rebellion. Rincon's appeal was well understood by the landowners and their thugs - with their considerable arsenal of weaponry. Threats are multiplying, as the landowners prepare to take back what they have always claimed for themselves- the land which is the heritage of the Indians. And as for the amnesty offered by the government, it is a policy of extermination disguised in a lamb's skin! From the beginning of the conflict the Zapatistas have said that they did not take arms so that they could be amnestied one day. Amnesty is nothing less than a capitulation. The regime knows that the Zapatistas cannot accept the amnesty: which is precisely why they have proposed it. What Zedillo really expects from the amnesty proposal is twofold: firstly, that the military encirclement of the Lacandona forest will starve the Zapatistas into accepting the capitulation/amnesty; or secondly that the amnesty offer will weaken support for the Zapatistas in civil society, weaken civil society itself, and allow the regime to make another frontal attack when they judge the moment to be ripe. But yet again, Zedill's strategists are wrong! First of all, they have still not realised what stuff the Zapatistas are made of. Despite months of evidence to the contrary, Zedillo still thinks he is faced with people shaped by the Mexican regime's system of domination, and ready to bend at the slightest threat. And secondly, Zedillo has underestimated the maturity of society, which has learned from the blows, deceptions and surprises of the regime, and which today occupies a public space which it will not abandon just because the regime offers another new illusion. The farce will soon be crowned by asking our parliamentarians to approve the 'amnesty. What on earth are we asking to be pardoned for? And who is supposed to pardon us? The PRI, with its crimes and assassinations? the PAN (National Action Party - right wing opposition) which has thrown away its proud tradition to prop up its 'rival? No!. We call on the PRD and PT deputies (Revolutionary Democratic Party and Workers' Party - left wing opposition in parliament) to vote against this amnesty designed as a new tactic in the war, and to do the impossible to prevent the vote from taking place! It is civil society which should impose a solution to the current crisis, based on the following points: * The army should leave Chiapas, and stop acting as the armed servants of the landlords against the Indians. This is the only way to stop the massacres already under way and prevent the still greater massacres being prepared. * Recognise that the majority of the people of Chiapas have chosen Amado AvadaEo as governor. Without this, how can we talk about peace? * Reaffirm the mediation role played by Bishop Samuel Ruiz and the National Mediation Commission (CONAI). Stop the lynching campaign against the mediators! * Stop state terrorism (the only real terrorism in Mexico today). Stop condemning books, records and posters as subversive propaganda as if they were grenades and rifles. We demand the immediate and unconditional liberation of existing and new political prisoners, and the cancellation of the arrest warrants issued recently. We demand the punishment of the torturers, and in particular the suppression of the super secretariat of repression created under president Salinas de Gortari and directed by Arsinio Farell Cubillas. * There is one more logical, demand to crown all of this: the government should recognise the EZLN. They are not faced with terrorists or delinquents, but with the best elements of the Mexican people. The EZLN is a political organisation which took up arms to Create a new political system, in a climate of intolerance created by the state. The Zapatistas took arms in order to make arms redundant. Not just their own arms, but all arms. Maybe the Zedillo government will have the sense to abandon its current policy in this conflict. We hope so! In any case, the National Democratic Convention (CND) calls on the Mexican people to build a wide social movement to force Zedillo to resign, We can no longer be content to live at the mercy of an oligarchy which defines public policy in terms of its own narrow partial interests. We must put an end to the system of domination in this country, based on fraud, corporatism, corruption and illegitimate power. Enough of the neo-liberal policies which have plunged the majority of Mexicans into misery! Enough of the neo-liberalism which has concentrated in the hands of 24 families the essential wealth of the entire nation! Enough of a system which has put the earth on sale instead of the fruits of the earth, and which is preparing to fritter away our oil riches! * Zedillo, resign! * Viva the EZLN! you are not alone! * Zedillo means war, we want peace! * Troops out of Chiapas! * Viva Mexico! *
15 International Viewpoint #264 MARCH 1995