[asia-apec 468] Re: Fwd: Re: Action Alert (fwd)

[Gatt Watchdog]

>From ch_aa at hotmail.com  Wed Jun 17 10:08:51 1998
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From: "Aziz Choudry" <ch_aa at hotmail.com>
To: shniad at sfu.ca, cw.smith at auckland.ac.nz, pma at xtra.co.nz
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Subject: Fwd: Re: Action Alert (fwd)
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Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 15:34:28 PDT



>
>BOMBING IN CHIAPAS - STOP THE WAR
>
>Since 3 a.m. on 10th June, hundreds of security servicemen, federal
>soldiers, police and paramilitary groups have poured into San Juan de 
la
>Libertad and other communities to attack the EZLN=92s supporters.  
Since th=
>en
>there have been aerial bombardments, massacres, homes burned, mass
>detentions, torture and similar atrocities.  The army seems to intend 
to
>extend its operations to other communities.  This could be the final 
spark
>for open war in Chiapas, on the day of the anniversary of the massacre 
of
>students by the army in Mexico on 10th June 1971.  The only thing that 
can
>stop this criminal offensive of the army (which aims to force the EZLN 
to
>come out and defend the zapatista communities, and so give a pretext 
for
>declaring that the EZLN has attacked the government so they can launch 
a
>military offensive against it) is a speedy and effective intervention 
by
>international civil society: occupation of Mexican embassies, letters 
of
>protest, demonstrations etc. =20
>
>URGENT: HALT THE WAR!
>
>To all committees, groups, political parties and organisations that act 
in
>solidarity with the zapatista communities
>To the nationals and international press:
>
>The serious events that took place today, 10th June in the town of San 
Juan
>de la Libertad show that the federal government has openly opted for 
war
>and repression.  This represents the most concerted attack by the
>government against the indigenous communities of Chiapas since the 
massacre
>of Acteal and announces a new phase in the escalation of the war by the
>government.  It is also the cynical response to the decision by CONAI 
to
>dissolve itself, since it deepens the aggression against the zapatista
>supporters instead of looking for new routes into dialogue or to set up 
the
>necessary mediation for it.
>
>The police and military invasion is an act of provocation, which hopes 
to
>force the EZLN comrades to defend the zapatista communities, and seems 
to
>have caused a confrontation, the size of which we do not yet know.  
They
>hope thus to get a pretext to declare that the EZLN has attacked the
>government so they can launch a military offensive against it.
>
>We call on international civil society, on political and social
>organisations, on those working in solidarity with Chiapas, to 
understand
>that what is happening in San Juan de la Libertad is not just another
>incident but could be the spark that could set fire to the country.
>
>We call on you to organise all and any type of action to demonstrate 
your
>opposition to this offensive and call for peace in Chiapas and Mexico. 
=20
>
>International commission of the FZLN.
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
>---
>-----------------
>SAN JUAN DE LA LIBERTAD (ANTES EL BOSQUE)
>
>Chiapas 10th June 1998
>
>TO PUBLIC OPINION
>TO THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PRESS
>TO THE PEOPLE OF MEXICO
>TO ALL HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS
>TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SOCIETY
>
>We, the representatives of the communities of the town of San Juan de 
la
>Libertad, wish to denounce to public opinion, the nation and the world 
the
>wave of violence and persecution that we are currently suffering in our
>town, ordered by the government of Roberto Albores Guillen and Ernesto
>Zedillo Ponce de Leon.  Since yesterday and last nigh, hundreds of 
security
>service personnel, federal soldiers, police and paramilitary groups 
have
>netered the town centre and various communities to attack areas which
>support the EZLN and the Autonomous Town Council.
>
>Many security service people, federal soldiers and police entered the
>community of Union Progreso last night and have now occupied the town 
and
>are destroying homes and belongings and persecuting the residents=85
>In the community of Chabajebal, many security services and federal 
soldiers
>entered firing guns and various people from these areas, which support 
the
>zapatistas have been killed and wounded.
>These soldiers and security forces are moving in by air and land, and
>intend to to enter more communities and capture more areas that have
>supported the EZLN.  Our town is now terrorised and persecuted, but 
also
>other towns in the heights of Chiapas are getting lots of threats from 
the
>military.  All this makes it difficult to avoid some clash or 
confrontation
>with the zapatistas. =20
>
>For all these reasons,we are urgently requesting the intervention of
>international and national human rights organisations, and the presence 
of
>the International Red Cross, to intervene and stop this war and the
>persecution now unleashed and provoked by the government of Chiapas,=20
>Roberto Albores Guillen and the federal government of Ernesto Zedillo 
Ponce
>de Leon, against the indigenous peoples of Chiapas who are fighting for
>their rights and to defend their dignity as a people. =20
>
>We also ask the media to come to the areas mentioned to bear witness 
and
>tell the truth about the events. =20
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
>---
>-------------------------
>FROM THE ZAPATISTA SUPPORT GROUPS IN THE AUTONOMOUS TOWN OF SAN JUAN DE 
LA
>LIBERTAD
>
>10 June 1998
>
>This is the text of a report to radio XEWM in San Cristobal de las 
Casas.
>
>a)  at about 3 a.m., forces from the security services, the state 
police
>and the federal army together with supporters of the PRI took over the 
seat
>of the presidency of the autonomous town of San Juan.  All those 
guarding
>it were intimidated, beaten and tortured and then taken to the prison 
of
>Cerro Hueco. =20
>b)  at about 4 a.m. forces from the security services, the state and
>federal police and the federal army attacked the community of 
Chabajeval,
>part of S Juan de la Libertad, killing innocent families.  Helicopters 
also
>participated in the massacre, dropping bombs to destroy the homes 
within
>the community.
>c)  at about 4:30 a.m. forces from the security services and  the state 
and
>federal police laid seige to and attacked the community of Union 
Progreso
>in S Juan. Some people were killed and many have disappeared: two
>helicopters also participated in this repression. =20
>d)  at almost the same time in the morning, forces from the security
>services and  the state and federal police tried to enter the community 
of
>Obregon in S Juan, to attack the community, but the residents put up a
>peaceful blockade of the highway so that the repressive forces could 
not
>enter.  When they realised they could not get in, they said they would 
be
>returning to attack the community later. =20
>
>Also attached is a statement from the social organisations and NGOs of 
San
>Cristobal including BACOSAN, CIAM, ENLACE CIVIL A.C., FOCA, FZLN and 
KINAL
>ANTZETIK  to remember the anniversary of the student massacre, and the
>EZLN=92s call for dialogue with civil society to hold back the 
government=
>=92s
>attack on indigenous communities. =20
>"only civil society, that is to say, ourselves, can hold back the war
>strategy of the federal government and achieve deep changes in Ciapas 
and
>the country as a whole"
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
>---
>----------------------------
>
>Reynaldo Mariqueo
>Secretario General
>Mapuche International Link
>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>
>Mapuche International Link
>6 Lodge Street, Bristol BS1 5LR,
>England.
>E-mail: Mapulink at aol.com
>Page: http://members.aol.com/mapulink
>
>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>             =20
>
>
>To have your name removed from this list send a message to:
>Mailto:dharry at niec.net
>
>


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