Pastors for Peace Human Rights Observer delegation to Chiapas
February 4-11, 1996
On February 9, 1995 Mexican president Ernesto Zedillo issued
warrants for the arrest of Subcommandante Marcos of the EZLN and
other alleged Zapatista leaders. He ordered the Mexican Federal
Army to occupy indigenous communities in the state of Chiapas.
The presence of soldiers in rural Chiapas caused thousands of
indigenous people to flee to the uninhabitable jungle. For the
people of Chiapas the actions of the Mexican army were no less
than a declaration of war, not only against the Zapatistas but
against the civilian population as well.
Chiapas remains under siege. The attacks on the civilian
population continue. Pastors for Peace was part of the first human
rights delegation to Chiapas since the February 9 occupation, the
International Human Rights Commission (IHRC). On February 14, 1995
this delegation was the first civilian observer delegation to
cross military blockades and visit communities in the conflict
zones.
The IHRC estimated that this occupation caused at least 20,000
internally displaced refugees. They documented two cases of
torture perpetrated against civilians, dozens of cases of houses
ransacked by the military, and the assassination of a civilian by
the federal army. On February 19, 1995 the Cathedral of San
Cristobal was violently attacked by a right-wing mob in an attempt
to discredit Bishop Samuel Ruiz.
You can make a difference in the struggle for justice in Chiapas
by joining the IFCO/Pastors for Peace Human Rights Delegation.
In the year following the army's offensive against indigenous
communities in Chiapas, Pastors for Peace has organized three
humanitarian aid caravans and eight human rights observer
delegations in support of the indigneous struggle for land,
liberty and democracy. Pastors for Peace projects have helped
increase international presence in Chiapas and international
awareness of the army's actions in the zone of conflict.
The February Delegation to Chiapas will directly support the
people of Chiapas by visiting indigneous communities and
documenting human rights abuses. In addition, delegates will
learn first hand about this historic struggle.
Contact Pastors for Peace for an application and more information.