BACKGROUNDOn December 22, 1997 the community of Acteal in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas was the site for a massacre in which 45 women, children and men were systematically and brutally killed over a period of seven hours. This slaughter of civilians must be placed within the context of a military strategy of counter-insurgency implemented by the state in 1994 as a means of eliminating the popular support for the Zapatistas, an armed indigenous movement that rose up in protest of the “free trade” agreement that from their perspective was a death sentence set by large capital interests anxious to acquire the rich resources of the region. The common expression for this military strategy is: “to kill the fish you drain the ocean”, which is to say fields, houses, and civilian populations that could provide sustenance, cover and are sympathetic to the Zapatistas or even those who simply are unwilling to collaborate with the government were to be eliminated.
In the region of Acteal there was a grassroots organization known as Las Abejas (The Bees) that was formed to defend indigenous rights. The group is rooted in the Christian faith and chose the name because of the collective work of bees to create a hive, a life-giving space with la reina (the queen bee) at its center. La reina was interpreted to be the “reign of God”. While the Abejas shared the Zapatista proposals for democracy, liberty and justice they were firmly opposed to the taking up of arms. However in the military mindset that “if you are not for us you are against us” they were considered a threat and therefore a legitimate target.
Acteal also exposes the gender directed violence of counter insurgency warfare. Among the women killed four were pregnant. The message was clear. A principal objective was to “kill the seed” in order to eliminate any potential resistance from future generations.
The Abejas continue to organize demanding that there be justice and an end to impunity that allows such atrocities to occur.
PURPOSE
Participants will be analyzing the current militarization of Mexican society including the U.S. sponsored Plan Mexico with a particular focus on gender directed violence and disruption of indigenous communities. Participants will strategize for ways to act in solidarity with international human rights organizations and campaigns.
PROGRAM CONTENT
· Walking Tour of San Cristobal
· Current Human Rights Situation and Legal Case of Acteal
· History of Chiapas and the Zapatista Movement
· Chiapas within the Framework of Plan Puebla Panama
· Analysis of Violence and Strategies for Peacemaking
· Visit to Autonomous Community
· COIN– Counterinsurgency in Chiapas
· Militarization and Gender Directed Violence
· Commemoration Service for Martyrs of Acteal
COST
The cost of $790 USD includes full room and board as well as all other program related expenses and airport pick up. Participants are responsible for their own airfares and flight arrangements to the Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas airport and their return to the airport for departures. The program begins with dinner on Sunday December 16th at 6:30 p.m. and closes with lunch on Sunday December 23rd at 1:30 p.m.
For a registration application, deposit and payment information contact us at
creamericas@gmail.com
