Mister Zedillo,
It has been two years since 1994 when I wrote you a letter where I
welcomed you to the nightmare. Time has proven my reasoning correct and a
series of circumstances have "democratized" the nightmare until it has
become a reality for millions of Mexicans. The obstinacy of continuing an
absurd and criminal economic model, in addition to the closure of spaces
of political participation for all citizens, have not only left unresolved
the nightmare suffered by indigenous people but have also generalized
poverty, delinquency, and authoritarianism. Today there are more and more
poor Mexicans, and there are less but more rich Mexicans. Poor in
democracy and justice, the majority of Mexicans must choose between
desperation and hopelessness. But this is not why I am writing to you. I
am writing in order to respond to the message sent through the legislators
of the Commission for Concordance and Pacification which you sent today.
We know you will receive many criticisms for having sent us a personal
message. Many will tell you that, as head of the federal Executive
branch, there is no reason why you should personally communicate with an
organization of rebel citizens. We refrain from criticizing it, and we
also acknowledge it. We salute the fact that the message you sent was not
a threat or a message of war, but an acknowledgment of the transcendental
significance of the constitutional reforms implied in the resolution of
indigenous issues. We acknowledge your need to take it under advisement in
order to secure it. You have asked us to understand the nature of your
doubts and fears, and to understand your need for time in order to clarify
the ones and dissipate the others. Our indigenous leaders agree to wait
for that period in order that the results be better and firmer.
I am sure that you understand that we distrust this new delay in the peace
process. We do so not only because your delegates always accuse us of
drawing out the negotiations and delaying the implementation of
agreements. We do so above all, because we remember February 9th of 1995.
Days before, a message from you had arrived in the hands of the then
Secretary of the Interior, ratifying your will for peace. But it was the
prelude for the military and police offensive against us.
In response to our distrust, the legislators of Cocopa have insisted that
you are committed to avoiding any military or police offensive against us
and to continue on the path of dialogue. Is this so, Mister Zedillo? The
legislators say you cannot imagine federal soldiers persecuting and
killing indigenous people. Well then, that question should be asked of the
indigenous of northern Chiapas. If this is so, this protects 99% of the
EZLN and we understand that the other one per cent of us who are not
indigenous, including myself, should rinse out our ski-masks.
Another fear we harbor, unfounded surely, is that the time period will be
used in order to launch a media campaign against the agreements of San
Andres. Already the stupidity has occurred to someone to call the
constitutional reforms elaborated by the Cocopa tantamount to "balkanizing"
the sovereignty of the nation, that they grant "jurisdiction" to the
indigenous, etcetera. You have sufficient money to purchase in cash, and
not in small payments, intellect, voices and pens to lie to the Nation.
Will you do this, Mister Zedillo?
You are correct in pointing out that the constitutional reforms in
indigenous rights are fundamental ones and mark the future of this
nation. Go ahead, take it under advisement. Do not fear taking the
historic step which we all await and which will give great importance to
the peace process in Mexico.
I believe that now it is clear that your men deceive you. They
"disorient" you, as we say over here. During the entire process of the
dialogue and negotiation, you have not had a real vision of what was
happening. They have sought at all times to benefit themselves by
manipulating the conflict, drawing it out, throwing it into crisis,
deforming it. Yesterday they lied about the role of the Conai and today
they will attempt to slander the Cocopa. They do not care if the peace
process fails or if they provoke the beginning of the war. They are
betting they can take your place in that residence of Los Pinos. Today
they provoked a new crisis, which was harmful to the Cocopa, entity to
which you have given your trust , and they gained a new delay in the
arrival of peace. Mister Zedillo, who is to blame for this crisis and
these obstacles? What will you do so that these men are accountable?
We want to believe that your personal message, sent through the Cocopa, is
also a message that you are willing to take directly into your hands the
solution to the war in the Mexican southeast. If this is so, it would be
best. Your men do not want to resolve the conflict, they want to
"administer" it in their own benefit and this will not allow rapid and
firm advances.
In regards to the constitutional reforms presented by the Cocopa, I only
remind you that this initiative is based on that which your government and
our EZLN signed as agreements. They do not represent our position, but
they also do not represent that of the government. They synthesize
reforms which your representatives and ours signed as commitments. Upon
accepting Cocopa's initiative, we will honor our word. Will you do the
same, Mister Zedillo?
In regards to these constitutional reforms we have nothing more to add.
The negotiations table is mounted on top of the blood of our dead. Their
death won us the right to speak and to be listened to. Instead of saying
only our word, we summoned some of the best men and women of this country,
well-versed on the theme of "Indigenous Rights and Culture". Participants
included lucid thinkers, great indigenous leaders, renowned jurists,
writers, painters, musicians, poets, specialists in each of the topics, a
rainbow of thinking in all. I know that you are not familiar with the
results of so much knowledge and creativity, but you may review the
materials and learn that they very valuable.
The result was not a victor, but a fortune of creation, to which, and I
mention it in passing, the government representatives contributed little
or nothing. All the arguments are there and there is no point in
repeating them.
We have no more to give. In this process there is reason, history and
dignity. All we can add is more blood. We still have a great deal of life
to give. We are willing to give up the blood of thousands of men and women
so that the Mexican nation can understand that it cannot be
unconstitutional in regards to the debt it owes its indigenous people.
The nation must recognize them in its supreme law, and give them the
rightful place they deserve next to all other Mexicans.
Is more blood necessary, Mister Zedillo?
Vale. Health and may reason and history be the advisors and not arrogance
and ignorance.
>From the mountains of the Mexican Southeast
Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos
Translated by: Cecilia Rodriguez, National Center for Democracy, Liberty
and Justice, USA.