On Attacks and Threats

Communiqué from the Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous Committee - General Command of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation

Mexico

December 25, 2005

To the People of Mexico:

To the Supporters of the "Other Campaign":

To the Peoples of the World:

Brothers and Sisters:

Compañeros and Compañeras:

The Zapatista Army of National Liberation makes note of the following:

First - As the EZLN's direct participation in the "Other Campaign" has been approaching - through its Sixth Committee and along with thousands of Mexicans - the climate of harassment, threats and persecution against those who are committed to this initiative has been growing.

Second - In Chiapas, the compañeros Gustavo Jiménez and Gabriel Ramírez have received direct attacks and threats, as well have compas from the Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas Human Rights Center and from the "Maderas del Pueblo" organization. In other parts of our country there have been similar threats and attacks, such as the detention in Oaxaca of Joel Aquino, the continuous attacks against the brothers who are opposing the construction of "La Parota" dam in the state of Guerrero and the closures, or attempts at closure, of indigenous community radio stations.

Third - In the chiapaneco regions of the different Zapatista Good Government Juntas, the corporate organizations of the Revolutionary Institutional Party (PRI) and of its shameless brother, the Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD,) have been increasingly belligerent.

Fourth - In the case of the PRI, the "OPDICCH" has been moving forward in making itself into a paramilitary group with the consent of the federal and Chiapas state governments, and it is organizing provocations in various parts of the Selva Lacandona. In the Northern region, PRI organizations are continuing their threats against zapatista support bases and members of other sister organizations.

Fifth - The "CIOAC-Historic", affiliated with the PRD, is trying to present unfortunate events which have been provoked, encouraged and perpetrated by its leadership as having been carried out by Zapatista support bases.  One of the leaders of "CIOAC-Historic" supports Lopez Obrador's campaign in the state.  They are using the deaths of their compañeros (assassinated by members of the CIOAC itself) for the purpose of gaining positions in the next election in Chiapas while hundreds of displaced, women, men, children and old ones, who are members of their organization, are wandering around without food or shelter.

Sixth - All of this is being concealed by the bad and tragicomic comedy of the elections of above for a two-fold purpose: getting rid of everything that is not within the framework of above and presenting the appearance of "democratic normalcy" during the elections to the international public.

Seventh - The EZLN is calling on all supporters of the Sexta and the "Other Campaign" to lift their voices in protest, to be in solidarity with all those who have been attacked, persecuted and threatened and to not stop in their work of building a national anti-capitalist movement of the left.

Democracy!

Liberty!

Justice!

From the mountains of the Mexican Southeast

By the Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous Committee - General Command and the Sixth Committee of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation

Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos

Mexico, December of 2005

Originally published in Spanish by the CCRI-CG and the Sixth Committee of the EZLN

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Translated by irlandesa