Communique from Las Abejas Chiapas


Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit


TRANSLATED BY LESLIE ANN LOPEZ FOR
NUEVO AMANECER PRESS
****************************************
SPANISH RELEASE BY: <comunica@laneta.apc.org>
Diocesan Office of Communication
Diocese of San Critobal de las Casas,Chiapas,Mexico
**********************************************


Sacred ground of the Acteal martyrs, Municipality of Chenalho, Chiapas.
April 22, 1999

AGAINST TORTURE, LIES, VIOLENCE, IMPUNITY AND DEATH

TO THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS OF OUR COUNTRY.
TO NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.
TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PRESS.
TO PUBLIC OPINION.

Today, April 22, 1999, 16 months since the massacre of our brothers who
were martyred at Acteal, we issue this statement to public opinion:  the
federal and state government has done nothing to work towards the arrest
of those allegedly responsible, the material and intellectual authors of
the massacre which took place December 2, 1997; nor the indemnification of
the belongings stolen by PRI-istas and cardenistas (of the PARM), nor in
the repair of the burned and destroyed houses.  Therefore, we continue to
denounce the lies of the Albores government.

1.  On various occasions, it has spoken of peace, of dialogue, of
reconciliation, and it broadcasts this via the media, but how could there
be peace and reconciliation while the indigenous communities of the state
of Chiapas continue to be the target of aggression, and morever new
municipal police or paramilitaries are formed in each municipality, who
will be trained by the Mexican Army, primarily in this municipality of
Chenalho?

2.  Governor Albores speaks of the law and of indigenous cultures, but he
does not follow the decision made by the people.  This is just to create
obstacles for peace, and he always acts contrarily, like Pilate did in the
time of the passion of Christ: they released Barabbas and crucified Jesus
just like they are doing with the Amnesty Law for the alleged murderers.
How many people are unjustly imprisoned while the participants in genocide
are free?

3.  Acteal will never be forgotten because it is the second death and
resurrection of Christ in the 45 martyrs who were fasting and praying to
ask for peace.

4.  For the federal and state government, peace is the dismantling of the
autonomous municipalities, like they did in Nicolas Ruiz, in Taniperla, in
San Andres; for them peace is the privatization of the right to work in
the country for indigenous and non-indigenous people at the national
level.

5.  We demand recognition of our rights and cultures as indigenous
and non-indigenous peoples of Mexico, because without justice, without
rights, without freedom, without human dignity, there can be no peace.

6.  THEREFORE, THE FULFILLMENT OF THE ACCORDS ON INDIGENOUS RIGHTS AND
CULTURE SIGNED AT SAN ANDRES SACAMCH'EN DE LOS POBRES MUST BE THE
FUNDAMENTAL BASE TOWARDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE.

Sincerely,
The voice of the "Las Abejas" Civil Society
of the displaced and Acetal survivors.


Diocesan Office of Communication

Calle 20 de Noviembre No. 1
San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico
(967) 87969
email: comunica@laneta.apc.org
Http://www.laneta.apc.org/curiasc
Our web page has been updated as of April 19, 1999, with messages of
solidarity with our bishop and our diocese and El Caminante No. 13

___________________________________________________
NUEVO AMANECER PRESS-N.A.P.To know about us visit:
http://www.nap.cuhm.mx/nap0.htm  (spanish)
 
=================================================================
  NY Transfer News Collective   *   A Service of Blythe Systems 
           Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us          
              339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012             
  http://www.blythe.org                  e-mail: nyt@blythe.org 
=================================================================
 
nytcamer-04.25.99-13:07:18-24389