Title: CCRI-CG Communique, Oct. 20, Re: Indigenous Rights Dialogue
La Jornada October 20, 1995
Zapatista Communique: Important, Government advisors and invited delegates
acknowledge the oppression of indigenous people
In their first evaluation of the progress of the dialogues in the five work
groups established to advance the dialogue with the government delegation,
the Zapatista Army for National Liberation (EZLN) stated that it was
"notable" that many of the government advisors and guests acknowledged "the
situation of oppression"of the indigenous people.
In a statement that integrates the points of view of the four members of the
Indigenous Revolutionary Clandestine Committee (CCRI), the EZLN stressed
that there were "general commonalties" regarding the acceptance in principle
of: indigenous rights; the recognition of the national and not regional
character of their problems; the importance that the parties gave to
forthcoming political reforms; and the criticisms of an economic model in
which "we, women and indigenous people, are excluded."
The EZLN reiterated their rejection of the Free Trade Agreement, demanded
the reform of Article 27 of the Constitution and warned that, without true
access to the media, the talks will be an empty gesture, and not a "true
social alternative" which must be created, produced, and diffused in a
pluralistic manner.
Following is the text in its entirety:
Communique of the Indigenous Revolutionary Clandestine Committee--General
Command of the EZLN
San Andres Sacamch'en de Los Pobres, October 19, 1995
To the people of Mexico:
To the people and governments of the world:
To the national and international press:
Brothers and Sisters:
This delegation of the Zapatista Army for National Liberation, present in
the various work groups, announces the following advances and important
points of the day.
It was notable that many of the government advisers and guests agreed with
the point of view of the guests and advisors of the EZLN regarding the
situation of oppression and injustice that the indigenous people suffer,
and on the causes and possible solutions. They were also in agreement on the
national character of the problems and the need for profound changes in the
nation and the State, including constitutional changes and reforms.
Group 1: Community and Autonomy: Indigenous Rights. The dynamic of today's
discussions was very intense. First, the discussion initiated yesterday was
concluded. Then after a recess to organize what followed, discussions began
on particular points of the autonomy and rights of indigenous people. Today
the EZLN's proposals were more numerous and more systematized, bringing
about consensus amongst the majority of those present. For the same
reason, a summary of agreements was able to be drawn up between the two
parties that outlines the indigenous demand for autonomy, the recognition
that the problem is national and not regional in nature, and the pursuit of
a new social order without discrimination or oppression. Recognition of the
need for a profound political reform also was discussed, as well as channels
of communication between the government and the governed; the initiation of
a process of constitutional reforms and changes; and the need to replace not
only the Party-State system as well as the direction of the current
political economy, and in particular, the increasing marginalization of the
indigenous communities and the Indian peoples, which was recognized by the
majority of the people present in the group.
Having achieved this consensus means only that the parties of the government
are capable of acknowledging these subjects and stating them in a document.
Hopefully this positive attitude will help lead to a path of peace with
justice and dignity. Hopefully these words will become reality in the near
future.
Group 2: Guarantees of Justice for the Indigenous. Throughout the day the
dialogues between the federal government's delegation and that of the EZLN
continued. presenting concrete situations of the indigenous groups both
from Chiapas, as well as other regions of the country, in which they brought
up certain abuses of the rights of indigenous people by the authorities, as
well as proposals and mechanisms of solution.
The participants noted two major areas of problems:
1. Jurisdiction and proper forms for the administration of justice in the
interior of indigenous communities and peoples
2. The procurement of justice in the connection of relationships between
indigenous and non-indigenous societies
Group 3: Political Participation and Representation of the Indigenous
People. The EZLN guests and advisors proposed some fundamental ideas: they
spoke about autonomy and that it is a primary demand of the Indian peoples,
without which the political participation and representation of indigenous
people has no real possibility of advancement.
Among other ideas, they also spoke of the need to link the autonomy of the
indigenous territories to the land-based life and production of the Indian
people and to the need to reorganize all levels of political representation
of the indigenous by means of constitutional reforms such as Articles 4,
115, and 27.
Lastly, they insisted on the idea of redoing the municipalities or
redistricting with respect to the uses and customs of the land, and the
development of mechanisms for political representation and participation of
indigenous people who are migrants or who don't reside in a defined
territory.
It is important to mention that this afternoon there were significant
statements by government delegates who clearly identified with the positions
put forth by the EZLN participants.
Group 4: Situation, Rights and Culture of Indigenous Women. We, indigenous
women and indigenous people, are excluded under this neoliberal economic
model. Accordingly, we must change this country's political and economic
system so that we women have rights to the land: to use the natural
resources which have been profitable for others -- foreigners, and the rich
of this country.
We demand the right to participate in the formulation of laws and we demand
the right to name our governing officials, as well as to govern. We
indigenous women have the right of self-determination and of self-management.
We seek autonomy for our Indian peoples.
We reject the North American Free Trade Agreement because it has deepened
the conditions of profound inequalities and exploitation; because it has
facilitated the process of our country being handed over: our petroleum, our
water, our electricity are being handed over, and we are being displaced
from our lands.
We demand the reform of Article 27 of our Constitution and fulfillment of
Covenant 169 of the OIT which the government signed. We want to recover our
land, which is the center of our culture. We want our archaeological areas
and ceremonial centers returned to us.
We fight so that discrimination against our Indian peoples will cease. We
are here because we want to construct a new Mexico.
Group 5: Access to the Media. The EZLN has repeatedly urged the government
delegation to a frank and open dialogue, in which it was not present as a
speaker, but as a receptor of the demands that the work group would put
forth. This has been proposed within the framework of the demand for the
right to information. The existing censorship by the government of the
indigenous communications media was denounced, as well as the arbitrariness
of the government, like in the dismissal of communication workers during the
exercise of their right to free expression.
The guests of both delegations protested that the government is afraid that
we indigenous people will communicate amongst ourselves, and for this
reason they censor us. There does not exist true access of the indigenous
to communications media. It is proposed that the granting of permits before
the RTC for the broadcast of our ideas and culture be annulled.
The government maintains their stance of considering the dialogue in terms
of demands and petitions solely for the state of Chiapas, even that goes
against the regulations of the dialogue which permit the possibility of
broaching national issues.
Also, both parties proposed the need to revise the communication media, not
as an item of consumption managed by the centers of political and commercial
power, but as a social alternative that should be produced, generated and
diffused in a pluralistic and equal way to the national society, giving
priority to the forms and cultural contents of the indigenous people.
That is all.
Democracy, liberty and justice!
Communique from the Indigenous Revolutionary Clandestine Committee--General
Command of the EZLN
Mexico, October 1995
---------------------------------
Communique from the Indigenous Revolutionary Clandestine
Committee--General Command of The EZLN
Indigenous Revolutionary Clandestine Committee--General
Command of the EZLN
Mexico, October 1995
To the people of Mexico:
To the people and governments of the world:
To the national and international press:
Brothers and Sisters:
With this communique we make known the list of delegates of the Group of
Advisors for Peace with Justice and Dignity, pertaining to the Dialogue #1:
"Indigenous Rights and Culture"
1.. Miguel Tejero, CEPCO, Oaxaca. 2. Teresa Sierra, CIESAS, Me'xico. 3.
Jesu's Michel. 4. Josefina Aranda. 5. Martina Pe'rez Sara. 6. Beno e
Keijzer. 7. Carola Carbajal. 8. Rosa Rojas (La Jornada). 9. Carlos Mendoza,
Canal 6 de Julio. 10. Benjami'n Berlanga, Centro de Estudios Superiores de
Desarrollo Rural, Capolitic, Puebla. 11. Jose' Manuel Pintado. 12. Juan
Crisanto Gutie'rrez Maudome'. 13. Guillermo Montejforie. 14. Francisco
Cabrera Huerta. 15. Juan Francisco Urrusti. 16. Luis Lupone. 17. Cruz
Meji'a (Radio Educacio'n). 18. Colectivo Perfil Urbano. 19. La Neta,
Alfredo Dunayevich y David Arriaga. 20. Rau'l Benet. 21. Margarita Nolasco.
22. Salomo'n Nahmaad. 23. Leticia Reyna. 24. Vi'ctor Flores Olea. 25.
Sebastia'n Entzi'n, presunto zapatista preso. 26. Pablo Herna'ndez
Herna'ndez, Pinotepa Nacional. 27. Antonio Rami'rez Cha'vez, 28. Consuelo
Sa'nchez, 29. Araceli Burguete.
We hope that these people will accept the position of advisors to the EZLN
and will participate in the process of dialogue for a just and dignified
peace. We ask that they register as soon as possible with the Conai-Cocopa.
Democracy! Liberty! Justice!
> From the mountains of southeast Mexico Indigenous Revolutionary
Clandestine Committee-- General Command of the Zapatista Army for National
Liberation
Mexico, October 1995
(Translated by Tamara Ford)