What do the FZLN and the Centers of Resistance Mean to us in the U.S.?
by Cecilia Rodriguez
National Center for Democracy, Liberty and Justice
601 N. Cotton Street, #A10
El Paso, Texas 79902
(915) 532-8382 phone/fax
<moonlight@igc.apc.org>
INTRODUCTION
Because there is so much geographical and cultural
difference between us and the reality of the Zapatistas,
there are times when it is difficult to understand their
analysis and rationale. For this reason alone, it is
necessary and useful for us to visit the area, and build the
kind of relationships which will allow us to interpret
correctly the political direction which they are taking.
The Mexican people have stated clearly that they do not
want a war, and have organized successfully to avoid it.
For this reason the Zapatistas seek a political solution,
because in order to retain the trust of the people of Mexico
they must obey their direction. Recently the Zapatistas
took two very clear and public actions;
1. The Centers of Resistance- these are Zapatista villages,
typical of the community base which protected and helped the
EZLN grow during ten years of clandestine development.
These centers, named the "new Aguascalientes" have been
designated in order to respond to the need for a closer more
open relationship with civil society on a national and
international level. Hopefully, economic and social
projects can be developed from their like production
cooperatives, schools, cultural activities, etc. They also
serve to provide a focal point for humanitarian solidarity
efforts who wish to take money, food or supplies directly to
those civilians affected by the war. The inauguration of
these centers was met with suspicion and accusations on
behalf of the government. In its angry response to the
centers, the government reveals its disinterest in a
political solution--if civilians are not free to associate
with other civilians and peacefully resolve their problems,
then what alternative do they have? If the government
continues to impose its policy of isolation and harassment,
how can these communities work towards peace? For these
reasons, it is important to support the centers of
resistance, because they enable a political process, a
peaceful resolution to the conflict, and thwart the
government's militarization. It is important to support
these centers of resistance because it also thwarts the
government's policy of isolation, their recent use of
Mexican immigration to harass international visitors is
concrete proof that they are so weakened politically only
force is available to them in order to continue to
marginalize the EZLN.
2. The Fourth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle- this new
proposal comes on the heels of the results of the National
Plebiscite wherein the EZLN asked specifically if it should
become an independent peaceful political force. This
proposal is once again intended to gather up peaceful
civilian efforts to build a transitional government. The
EZLN does not believe that the existing system must first be
destroyed and then a new one constructed. The EZLN believes
that the organizational process of a transitional government
should begin now. And so the Zapatista Front of National
Liberation, which will organize local, regional, and
national committees of dialogue which will develop proposals
and plans of action for this transitional government will be
its civic arm. Once again, the EZLN takes the government at
its word, and it remains to be seen what kind of harassment
and repression will be meted out to those who become members
of the Front. If the government is serious about a political
solution, the FZLN will provide a transition point for
members of the EZLN, which has a different set of operating
principles from the CND and the MLN. If the government only
wants war, the EZLN will continue to be their military
option. The FZLN provides a way for civilians, who agree
with Zapatista principles, to work peacefully.
The Front is an organizing mechanism, public,
pluralistic, prohibited from any possibility of becoming an
official political party, designed to be a pressure point,
and specifically built from the thought and practice of the
EZLN. The Front must keep a political space open, and make
the public work of the EZLN something which can engage the
ordinary people of Mexico.
These two developments are historic. They represent an
advancement in the political program of the EZLN, which can
only be brought to fruition IF AND WHEN A WAR IS AVOIDED.
They represent the implementation of their proposal to a
transitional process to democracy. These developments have
been confusing to some, and there are those who believe the
EZLN has become entrapped in the government's negotiation
process. It is clear to us from both private and public
meetings, which the press has deliberately played down, that
this is not the case. The EZLN is struggling to find a way
to keep a political space open while at the same time,
maintaining their military character in response to
continued government deception.
Subcomandante Marcos has stated clearly and
specifically that the government is preparing a "war of
extermination", using the peace talks to buy time to prepare
a genocidal war intended to wipe out any remnant of
resistance to the government line. Therefore we cannot
interpret the EZLN's program as concessions to a
negotiations process, but as political challenges to an
imminent war. We must continue to prepare for the war, to
prepare the civilian resistance to that war, and the
rationale for peace.
It is for these reasons that we think it is important
to begin a Campaign for a Pledge of Resistance. In view of
this imminent war, we think it is irresponsible to do
anything else but attempt to build a large enough base to
provide a pressure point in favor of peace and against a
genocidal war. The EZLN has already inaugurated the
national possibilities for a transitional government. It is
our responsibility, as that international civic movement, to
secure peace.
CAMPAIGN FOR A PLEDGE OF RESISTANCE
The Campaign for Pledges of Resistance includes 2 basic
strategies:
. Raising funds to support the Centers of Resistance
. Preparing an Emergency Plan--Getting Pledges of
Resistance Signed
SUPPORT FOR CENTERS OF RESISTANCE-
Given that the EZLN has now officially inaugurated four
Centers of Resistance we recommend that each committee
commit time once given to other humanitarian aid or
solidarity efforts to support these Centers and take
delegations to visit as well as recruit humanitarian aid.
Reports of ongoing harassment of international supporters
continue to emerge, and Mexican immigration is establishing
migration checkpoints at the entry to each of the
communities--Oventic, La Garrucha, La Realidad, and Morelia.
Therefore we think it is important to develop a campaign to
support these centers, and perhaps recruit specific kinds of
humanitarian aid to be taken there.
The existence of the centers gives us a rationale for
continuing to highlight the need for humanitarian aid. There
is an excellent film about Oventic available through NCDM's
National Office which can be used to explain the centers,
and to illustrate the amount of militarization in the area.
PREPARATION OF EMERGENCY PLAN- PLEDGES OF RESISTANCE
Because the Mexican government continues to prepare itself
for a military attack that may occur at any moment, it is
important to make a long-term proposal, and a short-term
one, and work hard this year to accomplish them.
We suggest that each committee recruit a minimal of 1,000
people to sign a Pledge of Resistance. The Pledge consists
of the following:
"I am aware that the Mexican government is preparing a
military attack
on an area with a large and defenseless civilian
population. Given this
situation I pledge to participate in an emergency
response by doing the following:
-Pledge $25 to support an emergency response plan
-Participate in whatever action the local
committee may
have designed to respond to this possibility
-Participate in whatever national action may be
deemed
necessary by the national coordinating committee.
It may take us all year to acquire 1,000 pledges but it will
be a year well-spent. These 1,000 people should
minimally receive regular information from the local
committee, but should not be worn out by constant
activities. The local group should be responsible for
keeping the contact list current, and should organize a
phone tree capable of mobilizing this number should it be
necessary.