/* Written 8:38 PM May 7, 1995 by evera in igc:reg.mexico */
/* ---------- "US Chiapas Peace Brigades/ Camps" ---------- */
US CHIAPAS PEACE BRIGADES
The National Commission for Democracy in Mexico calls
for international observers to participate in the
building of Peace Camps in Chiapas.
TO: Committees on Chiapas and for Democracy in Mexico,
and all organizations and honest individuals in the United
States working for peace with justice and dignity in Chiapas:
INTRODUCTION
As you may know, much of the situation in Chiapas is not
being reported in the U.S. media. There are no headlines of
people starving and dying because of the military presence
of the Mexican Federal Troops throughout the Indigenous
communities. There are no constant reports of how 20,000
to 30,000 indigenous people, unarmed men, women and children,
are surviving or dying because of illnesses and hunger in the
mountains of the Lacandona Jungle, where they have taken
refuge from Zedillo's military offensive. There are no headlines
on this dirty war aimed at genocide against the indigenous
people who have opted to allow a peaceful transition to
democracy and are suffering the military attack to silence
their voices clamoring for democracy, liberty and justice.
We cannot allow our brothers and sisters in the Lacandona
Jungle to be decimated by the Mexican Federal Troops and by
the media silence. We have to increase our level of organizing
in the United States and we have to increase and make our
presence as observers in Chiapas more permanent to be
effective in opossing this war.
Therefore we are calling for the participation of people from the
US in the peace camps in Chiapas.
REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION
I. 10 days minimum stay in the local community (this does not
include travel to and from the community)
II. You have make arrangements for, and pay your expenses for,
travel to and San Cristobal de las Casas. In addition you must
pay for your transportation to and from the community (1,500-
1,600 pesos). Third you must pay about 150 pesos for food and
water.
III. You can stay up to 30 days in the community. There are
usually 5-7 people in each camp.
IV. You must provide 20 days notice to Fray Bartolome de las
Casas Human Rights Center of your intended arrival.
V. Delegations or groups going to the communities should be
multi-disciplinary such as Doctors, teachers, people to work with
children, technicians, artists, musicians, men and women.
VI. Must participate in an orientation on how to work in the
communities
1. Must have patience
2. Must be in good health
RECRUITING, SELECTION, AND ACCREDITATION
Local committees are responsible for screening
applicants for the brigade and sending an approval letter
of selected brigade members to the Fray Bartolome Human Rights
Organization in San Cristobal de las Casas which will appoint
location and duties of the observers. All of the members of the
brigade do not have meet up with one another before arriving in
San Cristobal nor do they all have to go at the same time to San
Cristobal. Flexibility allows more individual needs to be met in
terms of scheduling, nevertheless committees are encouraged to
try to organize people into small groups for safety and support
purposes.
TRAINING AND PREPARATION
As part of the preparation of brigade members, each
applicant will be required to talk (at least by phone)
to another experienced committee member or to one of the
coordinators of this project to assure as much information
is passed on to applicants on:
-what to expect
-how to prepare,
-gear to take to live in the jungle
-readings to do
-how to behave in Chiapas
-how to do publicity work in Mexico,
-how to get media coverage once back in the U.S.
-how to increase the participation of local committee
members on the brigade.
Some of this information will include media contacts and other
important contacts in Mexico City and Chiapas.
The applicant needs to be ready with knowledge of how to manage
the environment in Chiapas, media and human rights contacts, and
the situation in Chiapas to be able to address the issues in
Mexico and the United States.
The applicant also needs to read the F. Bartolome HRO booklet
"Campamentos Civiles por la Paz" for observers (translated
and added at the end of this proposal.)
COORDINATION IN THE US
The project coordinators will provide coordination, so that each
brigade member will have the same information. At the same time
they will facilitate the contacts so brigade members can know
about each other's presence in Chiapas, increasing support they
can give to each other. Some members of the brigade may be asked
to assume coordinating positions paricularly in San Cristobal,
where new people may need to be welcomed and guided.
Individuals and committees are encouraged to participate and
communicate any interests and questions to the project
coordinators:
Eduardo Vera <evera@igc.apc.org>
(512) 454-8097
Carmina Teran <afscilemp@igc.apc.org>
(713) 926-2786 phone
(713) 926-2879 fax
Above all, we ask you to make this commitment to peace and
participate as soon as you can or start planning your next trip
to Chiapas with us. Democracy cannot wait.
For further information look for Peace Camp Guidelines
listed in the net also