End the Mexican Government's "We will expel the tourists"
campaign!
Join in resistance against the low-intensity war in Chiapas!
The Coordinating Committee of the National Commission for
Democracy in Mexico calls on its allied and affiliated
committees as well as other supporters of the Zapatistas and
the movement for democracy in Mexico to join in denouncing
the Mexican government's intensified campaign against
foreign tourists in Chiapas.
On February 9th, 1996 the anniversary of the Mexican
government's launching of its offensive to eliminate the
Zapatistas, NCDM is calling for letters to be delivered to
the Mexican consulates in the United States. The letters
are to protest the low-intensity war's efforts to isolate
the Zapatistas and to demand a written response from the
Consul for five questions regarding the government's
targeting of foreigners in Chiapas:
. When was a "State of Exception" or a "State of
Emergency" declared in Mexican Republic?
. When were individual guarantees suspended in the
conflict zone in Chiapas?
. In keeping with what law was the right to free transit
for foreigners restricted in the Highlands (Los Altos) and
the Lacandon jungle ?
. Where were the official notices published and/or posted
which defined the area in which foreigners could not travel?
. Do the threats, arrests and deportations which have
been carried out mean that the government of Ernesto Zedillo
no longer recognizes international treaties which protect
tourists in a lawful country and at times of peace?
In particular we are encouraging individuals or groups in
the following communities where there are Mexican consulates
but in which NCDM does not have affiliates or allied
committees to contact us or to participate in this action:
-Mobile, Alabama
-Nogales, Arizona
-Calexico and Fresno, California
-Denver, Colorado
-Miami and Tampa, Florida
-Atlanta, Georgia
-Honolulu, Hawaii
-New Orleans, Louisiana
-Detroit, Michigan
-St. Louis, Missouri
-Buffalo, New York
-Charlotte, North Carolina
-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In communities where there are no consulates, we recommend
that letters be delivered to the local office of your
Congressional representative or the State Department or
issued to the press. We also ask that a copy of any
response from the Mexican or US government be forwarded to
our National Office. A sample letter follows this alert.
Background
Since mid-December the Mexican government has been waging an
intensive campaign to harass, intimidate and expel European
and US visitors to Chiapas, as part of their low-intensity
war strategies to isolate the Zapatistas. Immigration
checkpoints have been set up at the entrances of each of the
four communities housing the centers of resistance, and many
foreign visitors attempting to visit the centers have been
issued summons to appear before immigration officials in San
Cristobal.
At least two US citizens have been told to leave the
country, and dozens of others from North America and Europe
have left in the face of similar threats. Several people
have reported being forced to sign documents that they did
not understand or whose contents they did not agree with,
and having immigration officials demand that they provide
names of other foreigners and Mexicans with whom they were
associated.
News reports also have reported that immigration officials
have searched hotels and inns in San Cristobal to locate
foreign observors who attended the National Indigenous
Forum, convened by the EZLN. In addition, at various travel
agencies and hotels in San Cristobal de las Casas a letter
has been posted to warn tourists about checkpoints
established in the municipalities of Ocosingo, Altamirano
and Las Margaritas.
All of these actions are being taken despite the fact that
the Mexican government has vehemently denied that there is
any such conflict zone, and despite such actions being in
violation of the Mexican Constitution.
Sample Letter
February 9, 1996
Mexican Consulate
Dear Sir:
We, the persons signing below, are very concerned about the
growing efforts by the Mexican government to intimidate
foreign visitors, especially those from the United States,
and to limit their travel and activities in Mexico,
particularly in Chiapas.
Repeated pronouncements by your government's leaders have
indicated that conditions in Mexico and Chiapas are peaceful
and stable. Yet press reports indicate that Mexican
National Security and Immigration agents are searching
hotels and inns in San Cristobal de las Casas to find and
deport foreigners who participated in the National
Indigenous Forum, which was co-sponsored by the Mexican
Congressional Commission on Harmony and Pacification in
Chiapas (COCOPA).
These reports are in addition to previous attacks and
harassment targeting U.S. citizens. On October 26, 1995
Cecilia Rodriguez, a coordinator with the National
Commission for Democracy in Mexico, was brutally attacked
and raped by armed men in Chiapas in a deliberate attempt to
silence her work on behalf of social justice. We also have
recently received news of the deportation of a young US
woman serving as an international human rights observer,
and that of Kerry Appel, a US journalist in Mexico.
Furthermore, several priests have been deported or refused
re-entry to Mexico in the past six months including Fathers
Laroye Riebe Star and Pablo Juan Nadolny, both of the United
States.
Given these situations, it is imperative that you as the
representative of the Mexican government in our community
provide a full explanation regarding current Mexican policy
vis a vis U.S. tourists in Mexico and Chiapas. At a minimum
the following questions need a full and public response:
. When was a "State of Exception" or a "State of
Emergency" declared in Mexican Republic?
. When were the individual guarantees suspended in the
conflict zone in Chiapas?
. In keeping with what law was the right to free transit
for foreigners restricted in the Highlands (Los Altos) and
the Lacandon jungle ?
. Where were the official notices published and/or posted
which defined the area in which foreigners could not travel?
. Do the threats, arrests and deportations which have
been carried out mean that the government of Ernesto Zedillo
no longer recognizes international treaties which protect
tourists in a lawful country and at times of peace?
These questions merit an immediate and thorough response
from you, and we ask that you answer in writing by no later
than February 16th.
Sincerely,