On the Sixth Committee's Security
Policies
for the Other
Campaign
Zapatista Army of National Liberation
To all the compaņeros
and compaņeras of the "Other":
To the Committees, Coordinators (or however they are called)
which are being formed in each state or region in order to help with the first
stage of the EZLN's Sixth Committee national work
To the Security Committees which have been formed, or are
being formed, for the accompaniment and security of SubDelegado Zero during
this first stage:
Compaņeras and compaņeros:
Greetings from our compaņeros and compaņeras
of the "Other." We are writing you in order to propose
some criteria for security at the meetings and activities in which SubDelegado
Zero will be participating.
First - It is always better
(and more effective) to avoid arrogance and grandstanding. It is not
about isolating, but about accompanying and protecting. A security team
is effective if it does its work without being noticed. In no way will
the EZLN's Sixth Committee accept any persons on their security team who are of
any nationality other than Mexican.
Second - The work of security and accompaniment is
avoiding problems due to crowds (in the unlikely event that there are any),
preventing (as far as possible) any bad acts by some "anti-otra," and, most importantly, seeing that SubDelegado
Zero does not get lost while going from one place to another (for example,
making a "mistake," with obvious trickery, with the door when going
to the bathroom and going into the "ladies" instead of the
"gents").
Third - In the event that the bad governments attempt
some repressive measure, do not put up any resistance (especially if there are
shots), and step aside. In no way should you put your life or liberty at
risk. Always have identification with you and the help of human rights,
always maintaining the truth, that is, that you are exercising a legal and
legitimate civil right. You will not be violating any law by being next
to an individual with a ski-mask and an elegant profile (with the contribution
of the tummy).
Fourth - In the event of
detention, SubDelegado Zero knows what to do and, above all, what not to
do. And so do not worry yourselves by imagining what you will do in such
and such a horrible event. The response is: run, take shelter, inform,
disseminate, mobilize...send me tobacco.
I am, in advance, not authorizing anyone or any organization
to assume, WITHOUT MY EXPLICIT VERBAL AND WRITTEN REQUEST, the legal defense of
my person.
Fifth - Neither the EZLN nor its Sixth Committee will
be asking for any guarantees from federal, state or municipal officials.
We do not expect anything, nor will we ask for anything, from those who have
always treated us with contempt and disdain. If any Committee or
Coordinator from a state or region decides to request from their respective
officials respect for the liberties of meeting, association and movement, which
are the prerogatives of any citizen, we are respectfully asking that they do so
in their name, not in ours. Even if they threaten us from above or
promise us detentions, jails, clandestine cellars or cemeteries, we shall go
out to do the work which we committed ourselves to in the Sexta.
Sixth - In the event of any major mishap, public
statements or not, and the decisions which our organization will take, are the
SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE purview of the top command level of the EZLN.
Seventh - Whatever happens, know that it is an honor,
and it shall be, to have you as compaņeros
and compaņeras in struggle.
From the mountains of the Mexican Southeast
SubComandante Insurgente Marcos
SubDelegado Zero of the Sixth Committee of the EZLN
Translated by irlandesa