Atenco

We recently visited San Salvador Atenco and the leaders and members of the Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra (FPDT). A very humbling experience indeed. Here are some photos and a history of the FPDT's struggle.
Recientemente visitamos San Salvador Atenco y a los líderes y miembros del Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra. Fue realmente un honor para nosotros compartir con ellos. Algunas fotos y un texto sobre la lucha del FPDT.

Many of our delegations have heard the testimony of Martha Perez also from the People’s Front describe how San Salvador Atenco was once a tranquil rural community just outside of Mexico City where campesinos farmed the land that had been won through the sacrifice of their grandparents who fought in the Mexican Revolution. She explains how that peace was shattered one morning in 2001 when the community awoke to find announcements posted in the village declaring the federal government’s expropriation of their lands in order to construct a new international airport. This was at the beginning of the administration of Vicente Fox and was to be his prize project to further integrate Mexico into the global economy. The community had never been consulted as to their desire or how they might “fit” into this master plan. Later on, blue prints appeared showing that they would no longer exist as a community with all the other commercial development plans that were to surround the airport. As an additional display of arrogance the government offered a pittance of seven pesos per square meter for the land it was to take. The community of San Salvador Atenco organized itself. People who had never been involved politically became active in marches, rallies and press conferences to defend their land and way of life. Marching into Mexico City they wore bandanas and carried machetes to symbolize their traditions and cultivation of the land. They cried: “Not hotels…not planes...the land gives us beans!!” Eventually they were victorious and the federal government withdrew its plan to construct the airport. The airport was gone but the resentment of the federal government and other powerful interests remained.

In May, 2006, the government took the opportunity to strike back when the People’s Front expressed its solidarity with the neighboring community of Texcoco. On the hillsides that surround Texcoco, the indigenous people have a tradition of cultivating flowers. They sell the flowers in the center of Texcoco as part of the people’s market. The local government (again with no consultation) decided to convert the people’s market space into a commercial plaza that would feature a Walmart. The flower vendors were to be removed because they were considered an “eyesore”.

The vendors entered into negotiations with the government and on May 2^nd secured the promise that they would be allowed to sell in the streets the next day. This is significant because May 3^rd in Mexico is Holy Cross Day and is one of the biggest days for flower sales on par with Mother’s Day. Flowers are woven into a cross that is placed above doorways as a blessing for the home. The authorities lied. When the flower vendors arrived at dawn to set up in the streets they were met by public security forces that had been reinforced to execute the operation. The vendors took refuge in a home where they stored their flowers. Even though there were children and elderly inside the police fired tear gas, broke into the home, beat the vendors, dragged them out into the street and carted them off to prison.

When the community of San Salvador Atenco closed down a highway to demand release of the prisoners the government reacted swiftly and violently. In a pre-dawn raid on May 4^th some 3500 state and federal police invaded the town of San Salvador Atenco breaking into homes with no search warrants beating and dragging out residents including one who was bed ridden. Tear gas was fired indiscriminately. A teen age boy, Javier Cortés Santiago, who spotted an officer creeping into the neighborhood was shot and killed. Over 200 arrests were made and even though there was a prison nearby the detainees were transported across Mexico City to a medium security facility in the State of Mexico. What normally would have been a 2 hour ride became a 6 hour journey into hell. The police used this prolonged period to threaten, kick, beat and rape the arrestees. Amnesty International documented 23 cases of sexual violation. Not one police official has been detained. This is state terrorism.

The state particularly targeted the leadership of the People’s Front in Defense of the Land for arrest and torture. While the majority of those arrested were eventually released twelve remained having been charged and convicted of kidnapping with sentences ranging from 31 to 112 years. Ignacio del Valle one of the principal leaders of the People’s Front who had received a sentence of 112 years that he was serving in an underground maximum security prison wrote a letter on the one year anniversary of his incarceration that included the following:

What should we make of “goodwill” when they exploit, humiliate, and murder us in the name of the law and take away the creative force with which our hands shape matter, bringing life to it? What should we make of “justice” when they denigrate our struggle by outrageously casting us as criminals…But in spite of all this, the beast has made another blunder. Who can imprison the fury of a volcano, the silence of centuries that explodes in rage and pain? Who has ever imprisoned all the wings of liberty that fly like shining lights, breaking through the fog that traps our dreams? Who has ever imprisoned the light that projects our yearnings, that flashes as a wake-up call and guides us on our march towards horizons of justice and freedom? Who can stop the march of your footsteps?

On June 30th, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled in favor of liberating all twelve in favor of liberating all twelve of the political prisoners. Within a couple of days all were released.
After hearing Martha's testimony on so many occasions we wanted to see first hand the land that was saved thanks to the people's struggle. On September 19th, we had the opportunity to visit the land being cultivated with corn, beans, and barley. We also were able to meet and celebrate with the leadership of the People's Front.

Muchas de nuestras delegaciones y amigos, han escuchado el testimonio de Martha Pérez también del FPDT, describir cómo Atenco era una comunidad rural tranquila a las afueras de la Ciudad de México. Ahí, los campesinos todavía sembraban la tierra de aquellos abuelos que habían peleado por ella en la Revolución.

Ella nos contó cómo la paz fue hecha añicos en 2001 cuando la comunidad amaneció para enterarse de la expropiación de esas tierras para la construcción del nuevo aeropuerto internacional. Esto ocurrió al principio del sexenio de Vicente Fox y fue su proyecto de presidencia para integrar a México a la economía global. La comunidad no fue consultada sobre el proyecto y el lugar de esa comunidad en el “Gran Proyecto”. Después aparecieron planos topográficos donde no aparecía la comunidad, sino solamente todo el desarrollo comercial que rodearía al aeropuerto.

Además de esto, la arrogancia del gobierno se hizo más enfática cuando ofreció un mísero pago de siete pesos por metro cuadrado por la tierra que iba a tomar.

La comunidad de San Salvador Atenco se organizó. Algunas personas que nunca habían participado políticamente se involucraron en marchas, protestas y conferencias de prensa para defender su tierra y su propia vida. Al marchar a la Ciudad de México, portaban paliacates y empuñaban machetes que simbolizan sus tradiciones y modos de cultivo. Y gritaban: “¡Ni tierra, ni aviones, la tierra da frijoles!”.

Finalmente ganaron y el decreto de aeropuerto fue derogado. El aeropuerto desapareció, mas no el resentimiento del gobierno ni otros intereses poderosos.

En mayo de 2006, el gobierno tomó la oportunidad de vengarse cuando el FPDT se solidarizó con la vecina comunidad de Texcoco. A los alrededores de este lugar, los campesinos acostumbran cultivar flores y las venden en el mercado del centro de Texcoco. El gobierno local- nuevamente, sin consultar a la comunidad- decidió convertir ese mercado en espacio comercial para un Walmart. A los floristas los iban a quitar porque “afeaban” el lugar.

Los floristas entraron a una mesa de diálogo con el gobierno el 2 de mayo y les prometieron que podrían vender en las calles al día siguiente. Esto es importante ya que el 3 de mayo se celebra el Día de la Cruz en México y es uno de los días de mayor venta de flores. Las autoridades mintieron. Cuando los floristas llegaron por la mañana del día siguiente, la policía granadera (antimotines) los esperaba para ejecutar órdenes de desalojo. Los floristas se refugiaron en una casa que servía como bodega. Aunque había niños y ancianos dentro, la policía disparó gas lacrimógeno, golpeó a los vendedores de flores y los sacó de la casa para después llevarlos a prisión.

Cuando la comunidad de San Salvador Atenco bloqueó una carretera importante para exigir la libertad de esos presos, el gobierno reaccionó rápida y violentamente. En la mañana del 4 de mayo por lo menos 3,500 policías antimotines invadieron el pueblo de Atenco, y entraron a las casas sin órdenes de cateo, golpearon y sacaron a los residentes, incluyendo a un enfermo en cama.

Gases lacrimógenos fueron disparados indiscriminadamente. Un joven, Javier Cortés Santiago, fue visto por un policía y le disparó a quemarropa. Hubo más de 200 arrestos y aunque había una cárcel cerca, los detenidos fueron llevados a una cárcel a dos horas de Atenco. El recorrido de dos horas a la cárcel, se convirtió en seis horas durante las cuales la policía amenazó, pateó, golpeó y violó a los detenidos. Amnistía Internacional documentó 23 casos de violación sexual. Ningún policía ha sido arrestado. Esto es terrorismo de Estado.

El Estado se afanó en contra del liderazgo del Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra por “secuestro equiparado”. Mientras que la mayoría de los detenidos fue puesta en libertad, doce de ellos no fueron liberados y se les imputaron cargos de “secuestro equiparado” con sentencias desde 31 hasta 112 años. Ignacio del Valle uno de los líderes del FPDT había sido sentenciado a 112 años en la prisión subterránea de máxima seguridad del Altiplano. En el primer aniversario de su encarcelamiento, escribió una carta que incluía lo siguiente:

Pues, ¿cómo entender buena voluntad si nos explotan, humillan y asesinan en nombre del derecho y toman nuestra vida de fuerza creadora que nuestras manos conforman la materia dándole vida?, ¿cómo entender justicia si nos señalan ensuciando con escandalosas frases de delincuentes? […] Pero después de todo la bestia se vuelve a equivocar; ¿pues quién puede aprisionar la furia de un volcán? Silencio del siglo que explota en dos, partido de rabia y dolor, ¿quién ha podido aprisionar el universo de alas libertarias que baten su vuelo como luces encendidas rompiendo brumas que aprisionan nuestros sueños? ¿quién ha podido aprisionar la luz que invade con fines de anhelo?, que impacte en su llamado para despertar y conducir su marcha en pos de horizontes de justicia y libertad, ¿quién puede detener la marcha de tus pasos?

El 30 de junio, la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación dio el fallo a favor de la liberación de los 12 presos políticos. En unos días todos fueron liberados.
Después de escuchar el testimonio de Martha en tantas ocasiones, queríamos conocer la tierra que defendieron y rescataron. El 19 de septiembre de 2010 tuvimos la oportunidad de visitar esa tierra que ahora tiene cultivos de maíz, frijol y cebada. También pudimos conocer y celebrar con los líderes del Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra.

A reflection on the Cry of Independence in Mexico: 200 years later

Across Mexico authorities are gearing up for the big blow out bicentenary celebration of Mexico’s fight for independence. For the past year town and city plazas have featured the bicentenary clock to count down the days, minutes and seconds for the main event.

The cry refers to the proclamation issued by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on September 15, 1810 that declared Mexico free of Spanish rule. The tradition is for the Mexican president to appear on the balcony of the national palace to wave the Mexican flag and to call out the names of Mexican heroes who fought for independence and national sovereignty. The current president, Felipe Calderón, has declared that the festivities present an opportunity for the Mexican people to become united and “through responsibility and generosity construct a more secure, democratic, stronger and more egalitarian country.” This is the same president who rigged the elections (so much for democracy!), declared war on drug lords (or some of them that is) creating a spiral of violence that has resulted in 28,000 deaths and still counting (so much for security!), and last year busted one of the most powerful independent unions of electrical workers adding more than 44,000 to the rolls of unemployed that reached close to 800,000 (so much for being more egalitarian!

No expense will be spared for the great extravaganza, the weapon of mass distraction to help the Mexican people forget about their woes. There will of course be celebrations across Mexico but the zócalo or central plaza in Mexico City is where the real action is! There will be aerial dancers, two 60 meter long plumed serpents, forty-five big screens, a sound and light show, gigantic floating balloons (like the Macy’s Parade) and of course lots and lots of fireworks. A show of this magnitude could only be entrusted to the global expert, an Australian named Ric Birch who has lots of experience directing mega fiestas. He is confident that this will be the most spectacular event “ever done in Mexico” and that this will help dispel the stereotype of Mexico as a country “where there are only mariachis and men with large sombreros sleeping in long siestas”. One of the principal Mexican organizers for the event, Monica Raya, considers this huge bicentenary bash as an opportunity for Mexican kids who “can’t get to Disneyland” to see a parade like never before and not for another hundred years!

What about the kids who don’t get to see a school because they are working in the streets?

What about the kids who don’t get to see their parents because they have gone north…not to visit Disneyland but because they can no longer live on the land?

What about the kids who don’t get to see a doctor because the public health system is so inadequate?

Disneyland??? Please!!! The fight for independence and the Mexican Revolution were struggles for land and liberty …not for some fantasy land!!! When there is that kind of a real commitment to protect the livelihood of campesino farmers so they can live on their land instead of allowing big agribusinesses like Cargill to dump corn in the Mexican market below production costs; to guarantee the rights of workers to organize and earn a just wage vs. selling Mexican workers as cheap labor to global capital, to provide quality education and health care rather than cutbacks dictated by foreign interests like the World Bank and IMF …then we will have cause to celebrate the independence and sovereignty of Mexico!!

LAND AND LIBERTY YES!!!…DISNEYLAND NO!!!