Zapatista Army of National Liberation, Mexico
May 20, 1995
To: native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us
Hills of Huamuchil, Municipality of Cajeme, Sonora, Mexico
From: Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos
CCRI-CG of the EZLN, Chiapas, Mexico
Brothers: By orders of my companeros of the Clandestine
Revolutionary Indigenous Army of the Zapatista Army of National
Liberation, I write to you on the occasion of the celebration of
your second National Assembly on May 27-28, 1995 in the
courageous lands of Sonora.
In the second meeting for Dialogue in San Andres Sacamachen de
los Padres, Chiapas, between the EZLN and the supreme government,
some brothers invited us to participate and to send Zapatista
delegates to the National Indigenous Assembly during which time
the Initiative for the Right to Create Autonomous Multi-Ethnic
Regions in Mexico will be discussed.
Unfortunately, because of the military blockade and policy of
persecution against us, it is impossible for Zapatista delegates
to attend. However we take the opportunity through this letter
to make some comments regarding the "Decree Initiative" that will
be discussed, and to send a Zapatista greeting to the
participants in this Second National Indigenous Assembly.
FIRST.- In the chapter called "Exposition of Motives" for the
"Initiative by Decree for the Creation of Multi-Ethnic Autonomous
Regions", on page 3, it is stated that: "In particular the
indigenous peoples have been kept iniquitously excluded, in
various ways, from the political planning of the country, which
has prevented them from exercising the fundamental right to
protect their interests and manage their issues within the limits
of just laws. " This is true, but it is not only true for the
Indian peoples. There is no social group in Mexico, other than
the handful of ruling rich who usurp the political will. The
struggle of the Mexican indigenous has its particular
characteristics and its own demands, but they will only be
resolved if the great national problems, those that affect the
great majorities of Mexico, and which are the lack of democracy,
liberty and justice, are solved.
SECOND.- We think that in the part called "Exposition of
Motives" a fundamental reference is missing: the strategy of
annihilating the indigenous which is implied in the neoliberal
policy of the Mexican government. The national project of the
technocrats who govern Mexico does not try to "include" the
indigenous, but rather it wants to MAKE THEM DISAPPEAR, to
annihilate them as a social group, as a culture, as a collective
way of living. The struggle of the indigenous in the past, the
indigenous struggle is for the present... and for a future. For
this reason the struggle of the indigenous should be part of the
national struggle for democracy, liberty and justice.
THIRD.- The proposals which reform and add to the 4th, 73rd,
115th, and 116th articles of the Political Constitution of the
Mexican United States seem to be fine in general. However we
think that they should consider two fundamental questions:
a).- They should be written into the project for a New Political
Constitution.
b).- They should be put to a referendum or plebescite among the
indigenous peoples and communities throughout the country. The
opinion of those people most directly affected is the most
important.
This is our thoughts, brothers. We hope that our opinion is of
some use to you, and that you have success in your assembly.
Vale. Health and that the indigenous force and thinking be a
power that unites.
>From the mountains of Southeastern Mexico.
Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos
Mexico, May 1995
(translated by Cindy Arnold, National Center for Democracy, Justice and Liberty,
an affiliate of the National Commission for Democracy in Mexico, USA)