Zapatistas, Post-Mexican Elections, Make Their Move

Marcos, Now Spokesman for the Autonomous Towns of Chiapas, too, Suspends All Contact with Mexican Government and Political Parties

By Subcomandante Marcos
Translated by The Narco News Bulletin

July 22, 2003

COMMUNIQUE OF THE CLANDESTINE INDIGENOUS REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE – GENERAL COMAND OF THE ZAPATISTA ARMY OF NATIONAL LIBERATION, MEXICO (CCRI-CG of the EZLN)

JULY 19, 2003

TO THE MEXICAN PEOPLE:

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD:

BROTHERS AND SISTERS:

THIS IS OUR WORD.

FIRST: As has been demonstrated, in the world of globalization power has entered its most aggressive stage in making military war its principal weapon of domination. However, the aggression against the people of Iraq not only demonstrates the truly destructive vocation of globalization. It has also provoked the largest global repudiation in human history. In spite of the fallen statues, global resistance and rebellion continue and grow. The Zapatista is just one small part of the great expression of human dignity throughout the entire planet.

SECOND: In our country, the Mexican political class (which includes all the registered political parties and the three branches of government) has betrayed the hope of millions of Mexicans, and thousands of people from other countries, that the rights and culture of the indigenous peoples of Mexico would be constitutionally recognized. A short while ago, completely isolated from reality, the Mexican politicians gave an excellent example of their unlimited capacity for being ridiculous by engaging in one of the most comical electoral campaigns in Mexican history. The high absenteeism in the elections on July 6th, 2003, was a popular reaction that they still refuse to see.

THIRD: Given all this, the EZLN has decided to totally suspend any contact with the Mexican federal government and the political parties. The Zapatista peoples ratify that resistance is their principal way to fight. In clear communiqués made known by members of the CCRI-CG of the EZLN on January 1st this year in the city of San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, We, the Zapatistas, reiterated our condition as rebels and announced that, in spite of the stupidity and blindness by the Mexican politicians, the so-called “San Andrés Accords on Indigenous Rights and Culture” (signed by the federal government and the EZLN on February 16, 1996 and codified in the so-called “Cocopa Legislation”) would be applied in rebel territory.

FOURTH: Also, on that occasion, We, the Zapatistas reiterated our right to express solidarity with the just struggles of the people of Mexico and the world, in spite of those who demanded that we limit ourselves to the indigenous issue in Mexico. In the world we have expressed our support for the political fight of the Basque people, the Argentina rebellion, Venezuelan sovereignty, the Iraqi people, and all the struggles that resist in rebellion against the power of money. In Mexico, we voice our support to the brothers and sisters, principally indigenous, who resist throughout the country.

FIFTH: During these months, the Zapatista indigenous peoples and organized rebels in the EZLN have prepared a series of changes that refer to their internal functioning and their relation with national and international Civil Society, and now are ready to make them public.

SIXTH: To announce and explain those changes, 20 Zapatista autonomous municipalities have asked the CCRI-CG of the EZLN that Subcomandante Insurgent Marcos, in addition to his role as spokesman for the EZLN, also serve as spokesman for the autonomous municipalities, although only temporarily. Thus, beginning today and in the upcoming days, clear communiqués that will be signed by Subcomandante Insurgent Marcos in the name of the CCRI-CG of the EZLN and the Zapatista autonomous rebel municipalities will be made public.

SEVENTH: To the brothers and sisters who, in Mexico and the world, who maintain relations of projects and correspondence with the autonomous rebel Zapatista municipalities, and to those who, in Mexico and the world, have written the EZLN to ask for our word and/or participation in different international initiatives against the globalization of power, we beg your understanding and your patience because, until these changes are announced and are functioning, we won’t be able to give them the attention they deserve.

That’s all… for now.

Democracy!

Freedom!

Justice!

For the Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous Committee – General Command of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation.

For the Autonomous Rebel Zapatista Municipalities of Chiapas.

Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos

Mexico, July of 2003

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