This is a service of the Guatemalan Education Action Project,
P.O. Box 2151, Los Angeles, CA 90051. GEAP publishes Guatemala Review
5 times per year. Subscriptions are $6.50.
We would note that U.S. State Department, the U.N., the URNG (National
Revolutionary Unity of Guatemala) and the EZLN have all reported
the non-involvement of the Guatemalan insurgency in the
armed confrontations in Chiapas.
(Sigue la versi"n en espa$ol)
MESSAGE FROM THE BISHOPS OF CHIAPAS IN RESPONSE TO THE EVENTS
OCCURRING IN SEVERAL MUNICIPALITIES OF CHIAPAS ON JANUARY 1, 1994
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Happy New Year for 1994. Though this hope continues to be
sincerely expressed, a shadow has been cast on the beginning of the
year for Chiapas and for the country, given the events occurring in
Chiapas, which have already been reported by the news media
nationally and even internationally.
On this day of January first, a day on which the World
Campaign for Peace is celebrated, along with the festival of Maria,
the mother of God, we indeed became aware in the early morning
hours that the Municipal Mayor's Office of the city of San
Crist"bal was taken by a group calling itself the "ZAPATISTA
NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY." Calling some parishes by telephone, we
discovered that similar actions had taken place in Las Margaritas,
Altamirano, and, later, in Ocosingo. According to the information
we were able to obtain through our telephone calls, there is a
political/military movement which made a declaration of war against
the Mexican Army. For us, this brings to mind a movement with
wider repercussions than those mentioned in the news media. So
far in this city there has not been a confrontation nor have there
been victims, but they have lamentably been reported by the dozen
in other municipalities, although we have not been able to
precisely determine their size or the circumstances surrounding
them.
Peasants and indigenous peoples of Chiapas, men, women and
young persons are participating in this movement. In a communique
they issued, they have asked for recognition that a state of war
exists, and for International Norms of warfare to be applied,
calling for the civilian population to be protected. Along with
that communique, they issued a call to the Mexican people,
containing long-standing demands which have not been fully
satisfied regarding health, agricultural backlogs, governmental
authoritarianism, security in social matters, the elimination of
poverty, as well as education, democracy, and justice.
As Christians, we have been invited to build the Kingdom of
God on the basis of Truth and Justice. Indeed, the Roman Catholic
Pontifice John Paul II reminded us in his recent message of
December 8 regarding the World Campaign for peace that, " . . .
poverty, and especially extreme poverty, which is a constant threat
to social stability and to the development of peoples and of peace,
is affecting many families today . . . No one can be at ease until
. . . an adequate solution has been found to . . . the problem of
poverty." (Mess. p. 10).
There are, as he says, "very grave situations . . . crying out
for bold solutions so that justice may prevail. The social
doctrine of the Church has constantly advocated that the wealth of
creation has been designated by God to satisfy and be of use to all
of God's children. Thus, no one should appropriate it or destroy
it irrationally, ignoring the higher demand of the common good."
(Speech in Izamal, August 11, 1993, No. 10).
It is necessary for the process of attaining legitimate
objectives to employ means that are also legitimate. We are
obligated to search for appropriate avenues until all possibilities
are exhausted. This presupposes a spirit of dialogue and a sincere
recognition of the fact that a delay of urgently needed solutions
or an undue application of force produces frustrations that can
lead to violent situations.
In issuing an opinion on the case in point, it appears to us
that anguish and suffering have led members of this movement to a
subjective assessment that they no longer have a viable peaceful
avenue open to them, considering all such avenues to be exhausted.
Nonetheless, we believe that despite the gravity of the
current situation, a mutual willingness to dialogue would still
open roads preventing more costly consequences than those we have
seen up to now. We do not accept the armed uprising, nor the
recourse to violence; but this should serve as a warning of the
dangers entailed in abandoning underprivileged groups.
We should all be able and willing to do everything to keep
ourselves from being swept up in the moment "by the temptation of
desperation and revenge, but rather be capable of channelling our
conduct towards pardon and reconciliation." (Message, p. 7).
We thus make a plea for Christian peace to be maintained in
the areas of conflict, and for the parties on both sides to respect
the civilian population, keeping them safe from harm; for our
contributions to be channelled constructively so as to solve the
needs of our times in keeping with the Gospel; and for it not to be
force, but rather the legitimacy of truth, that guides us on the
road to building the peace proclaimed in Bethlehem.
Chiapas, Mexico, January 1, 1994.
Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel
Bishop of Tapachula
Samuel Ru!z Garcia
Bishop of San Cristobal Las Casas
Felipe Aguirre Franco
Bishop of Tuxtla Gutierrez
MENSAJE DE LOS OBISPOS DE CHIAPAS A PROPOSITO DE LOS
ACONTECIMIENTOS QUE SUCEDIERON EN VARIOS MUNICIPIOS DE CHIAPAS EL
1o. DE ENERO DE 1994.
Queridos hermanas y hermanos:
Feliz ano nuevo 1994! Este deseo, que sigue siendo sincero, se
ensombrece este inicio del ano para Chiapas y para el Pais, con los
sucesos acontecidos en Chiapas y que los medios de comunicacion han
difundido ya a nivel nacional e inclusive internacional.
En efecto, nos percatamos en la madrugada de este dia primero, en
que se celebra, (junto a la fiesta de Maria la Madre de Dios), la
Jornada Mundial de la Paz, de que la Presidencia Municipal de la
Ciudad de San Cristobal fue tomada por el autodenominado "EJERCITO
ZAPATISTA DE LIBERACION NACIONAL". En comunicacion telefonica
lograda con algunas Parroquias, supimos que actos similares se
llevaron a efecto en Las Margaritas, Altamirano, y, posteriormente,
en Ocosingo. Segun lo que pudimos obtener como resultado de
nuestras comunicaciones, existe un movimiento pol!tico-militar que
hacia declaracion de guerra al Ejercito Mexicano. Lo cual hace
pensar en un movimiento con repercusiones mas amplias que las que
los medios de comunicacion mencionan. Si en esta ciudad no ha
habido hasta el momento enfrentamientos ni victimas,
lamentablemente se habla de algunas decenas en los otros
Municipios, cuyo monto y circunstancias no hemos podido precisar.
Participan en este movimiento, campesinos e indigenas de
Chiapas: hombres, mujeres y jovenes. En un comunicado emitido
solicitan el reconocimiento del estado de beligerancia y la
aplicacion de las Normas Internacionales para casos de guerra,
invocando la proteccion para la poblacion civil. A ello agregan un
pliego petitorio dirigido al pueblo de Mexico, conteniendo demandas
antiguas no totalmente satisfechas, en materia de salud, rezago
agrario, imposicion de autoridades, seguridad social, combate a la
pobreza, educacion, democracia, justicia.
Como cristianos, estamos invitados a construir el Reino de
Dios en la Justicia y en la Verdad. En efecto, el Romano Pontifice
Juan Pablo II en su reciente Mensaje del 8 de Diciembre con motivo
de la Jornada Mundial de la Paz, nos recuerda que ". . . la
pobreza, mas aan la miseria "que es una amenaza constante para la
estabilidad social, el desarrollo de los pueblos y la paz" afecta
hoy a muchas familias, . . . nadie puede sentirse tranquilo
mientras el problema de la pobreza . . . no haya encontrado una
solucion adecuada." (Mens. p. 10).
Hay, pues, "situaciones muy serias . . . que estan reclamando
soluciones audaces que hagan valer las razones de la justicia. La
doctrina social de la Iglesia ha sido constante en defender que los
bienes de la creacion han sido destinados por Dios para servir y
ser de utilidad de todos sus hijos. De ahi que nadie debe
apropiarselos o destruirlos irracionalmente olvidando las
exigencias superiores del bien comun. (Disc. en Isamal). Agosto
11 de 1993 No. 10).
La consecucion de objetivos legitimos, requiere el empleo de
medios tambien legitimos; nos exige buscar los caminos adecuados
hasta agotar todas las posibilidades. Esto supone un espiritu de
di logo y el reconocimiento sincero de que la dilacion en dar las
soluciones que son urgentes, o el empleo indebido de la fuerza
genera frustraciones que pueden conducir a situaciones violentas.
Emitiendo en el caso concreto un juicio, nos parece que la
angustia y el sufrimiento ha llevado a los miembros de este
movimiento, a una apreciacion subjetiva, de que no se tiene ya un
camino pacifico viable por juzgar que los han agotado todos.
Nosotros, sin embargo, pensamos que, a pesar de la grave
situacion del momento, la mutua disposicion al dialogo ofrece
todavia caminos que eviten consecuencias mas costosas, que las que
se han sufrido hasta ahora. No admitimos pues el levantamiento
armado ni el recurso a la violencia; pero debe servir como
advertencia de peligro que significa el abandono de los grupos
marginados.
Todos debemos estar dispuestos a poner todo nuestro empeno
para no dejarnos llevar en estos momentos "por la tentacion de la
desesperacion y la venganza, sino ser capaces de encauzar nuestros
comportamientos hacia el perdon y la reconciliacion". (Mens. p.
7).
Los exhortamos pues, a que, en los lugares de conflicto, se
mantenga una tranquilidad cristiana y se respete, de una y otra
parte, la seguridad de la poblacion civil; que ubiquemos
constructiva y evangelicamente nuestro aporte ante las necesidades
coyunturales que se nos presenten. Que no sea la fuerza, sino la
autenticidad de la verdad, la que nos guia en los caminos de la
construccion de la paz que en Belen fuera anunciada.
Chiapas, Mex., a 1o. de Enero de 1994.
Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel
Ob. de Tapachula
Samuel Ru!z Garc!a
Ob. de San Cristobal
Las Casas
Felipe Aguirre Franco
Ob. de Tuxtla Gutierrez
This is a service of the Guatemalan Education Action Project,
P.O. Box 2151, Los Angeles, CA 90051. GEAP publishes Guatemala Review
5 times per year. Subscriptions are $6.50.
We would note that U.S. State Department, the U.N., the URNG (National
Revolutionary Unity of Guatemala) and the EZLN have all reported
the non-involvement of the Guatemalan insurgency in the
armed confrontations in Chiapas.
(Sigue la versi"n en espa$ol)
Office of Rigoberta Menchu
Nobel Peace Prize Winner for 1992
PRESS STATEMENT
IN RESPONSE TO THE VIOLENT EVENTS IN CHIAPAS, MEXICO
As 1994 begins, Mexican society has been shaken by an acute crisis marked
by violence, in which many lives have been lost. The conflict demands
bold solutions, reached strictly within the confines of respect for human
and civil rights, as the message of the Bishops of Chiapas underscores.
In this context, and in my role as a Nobel Peace Prize winner, I believe that:
1) Given the grave occurrences taking place in Chiapas, the parties involved
in the conflict which has broken out should make no delay in seeking a
peaceful, political solution, preventing greater devastation to Chiapas's
society. Thus, it is of utmost importance to take advantage of the
willingness to engage in dialogue expressed by the parties involved.
Along these lines, the proposal of the Bishops of Chiapas is a
good basis of understanding.
2) It is necessary that at the core of a search for a peaceful solution,
priority be given to age-old economic, social, political and cultural
problems of Chiapas's society, and particularly of the indigenous
communities, in the negotiating concerns and actions of the parties.
3) Likewise, I reiterate my concern over how the work of indigenous,
peasant, and popular organizations of Chiapas could be affected,
along with that of Christian Base Communities and the Catholic Church.
4) In such a situation, I find it of the utmost importance that the safety
of Guatemalan refugees living in camps be ensured, as well as that of those
who have worked in solidarity with them during their stay in Mexican territory.
All efforts should be made in order to ensure the continuity of a free and
peaceful return to Guatemala by the refugees who have declared their desire
to do so. Furthermore, I would urge for all Guatemalans living as residents,
exiles, migrant agricultural workers and domestic employees in that state of
the Mexican Republic to be protected.
Finally, allow me to declare my hope that there is still time to prevent
greater bloodshed among brothers, through a regime with greater social justice.
Mexico City, January 3, 1994
IInd PRESS STATEMENT
Given the developments in the state of Chiapas, in my role as Nobel
Peace Prize Winner, may I state the following:
- Addressing the general public, I wish to insist that a peaceful,
political solution to the conflict in Chiapas must be reached. I reaffirm
dialogue as a choice vehicle for reaching an understanding between the parties.
- As my own life experience has taught me, it is of the utmost urgency for
there to be an end to the bombings in the areas of conflict, whether or not
they are occupied by those up in arms, in that, as in any war, such combat
action directly and mostly affects the lives and security of the civilian
population, who are already suffering on account of a deterioration in
economic and social conditions.
- Likewise, I believe that priority must be given to respecting human
rights, and that furthermore, a truce should be offered so the civilian
population may be attended to and the wounded may be evacuated.
Humanitarian treatment must be guaranteed to prisoners and to the news media.
- Indigenous people make up the majority of the inhabitants of the State
of Chiapas. For economic and social reasons, it is a fact that they have
been the sector most impacted. Now more than ever, with historical reality
as our framework, we are compelled to be aware of the need to respect them
as Indigenous Peoples.
- Finally, I would call upon the Guatemalan refugees to maintain serenity and
calmness, and to continue their plans for a return, with the conviction that
I will be at their side as we had foreseen in the movement for a return
during this year of 1994.
Mexico City, January 6, 1994 Oficina de Rigoberta Mench#
Premio Nobel de la Paz 1992
COMUNICADO DE PRENSA ANTE LOS HECHOS
VIOLENTOS EN CHIAPAS, MEXICO
Al inicio del ano 1994, la sociedad mexicana se ha visto sacudida
por una aguda crisis signada por la violencia. Muchas vidas se han
perdido en un conflicto que demanda soluciones audaces, dentro del
m s irrestricto respeto de los derechos humanos y ciudadanos, como
lo subraya el mensaje de los Obispos de Chiapas. En ese contexto,
en mi calidad de Premio Nobel de la Paz, considero que:
1) Ante los graves acontecimientos que tienen lugar en
Chiapas, las partes involucradas en el conflicto que ha estallado
deben buscar sin mayores contratiempos una solucion politica y
pacifica, que permita evitar mayores desgarraduras en la sociedad
chiapaneca. Al efecto, se debe aprovechar la disposicion expresada
por las partes involucradas para recurrir al dialogo. En tal direccion,
la propuesta de los Obispos de Chiapas constituye una buena base
de entendimiento.
2) Es necesario que en el centro de la busqueda de una solucion
pacifica, los ancestrales problemas econ"micos, sociales, pol!ticos y
culturales de la sociedad chiapaneca -particularmente de las comunidades
indigenasD tengan un lugar prioritario en la preocupaci"n y accion
negociadora de las partes.
3) De igual manera, reitero mi preocupacion por la forma como
pudieran verse afectadas las labores de las organizaciones indigenas,
campesinas y populares de Chiapas, de las comunidades cristianas de base y
de la Iglesia Catolica.
4) En tal situacion, me parece de suma importancia que se garantice
la integridad de los refugiados guatemaltecos asentados en campamentos, asi
como de quienes de manera solidaria han trabajado con ellos durante su estadia
en territorio mexicano. Se deben hacer todos los esfuerzos a fin de garantizar
la continuidad del libre y pacifico retorno a Guatemala de los refugiados que
asi lo han manifestado.
Asimismo, abogo por la seguridad de todos los guatemaltecos residentes,
exiliados y trabajadores migratorios agricolas y empleadas domesticas,
en ese estado de la Republica Mexicana.
Por ultimo, quiero manifestar mi esperanza de que aun estemos a
tiempo para evitar un mayor derramamiento de sangre entre hermanos en el
marco de un regimen de mayor justicia social.
Mexico, D.F., 3 de enero de 1994.
II COMUNICADO DE PRENSA
Ante la evolucion de los acontecimientos en el estado de Chiapas, y en
mi calidad de Premio Nobel de la Paz, expreso lo siguiente:
D Quiero insistir ante la opinion publica que el conflicto en Chiapas debe
de lograr una solucion politica y pacifica. Reafirmo el dialogo como
un instrumento privilegiado para un entendimiento entre las partes.
D Como mi propia experiencia de vida me ha ensenado, es de suma urgencia
el cese de los bombardeos de las areas en conflicto, ocupadas o no por los
alzados, pues su accion belica, Dcomo en cualquier guerraD afecta directa y
mayortariamente la vida y la seguridad de la poblacion civil, que ya sufre
por el deterioro de las condiciones economicas y sociales.
D Asimismo, considero que se debe de dar prioridad al respeto de los derechos
humanos, ofrecindose ademas una tregua para la atencion de la poblacion civil
desplazada y la evacuacion de los heridos. Se debe garantizar el trato
humanitario a los prisioneros y el trabajo de los medios de comunicacion
social.
D Los indigenas constituyen la mayoria de los habitantes del Estado de Chiapas
y por razones economicas y sociales es un hecho que han sido el sector mas
afectado. Ahora, mas que nunca, en un marco de realidad historica, es
indispensable cobrar conciencia de la necesidad de respetar su condicion de
Pueblos Indigenas.
D Finalmente, hago un llamado a los refugiados guatemaltecos para que
mantengan la serenidad y la calma, y que continuen con sus planes de retorno,
con la conviccion de que yo estare a su lado como lo habiamos previsto en el
proceso de movimientos de retorno para este ano de 1994.
Mexico, D.F., a 6 de enero de 1994