The Narco News Bulletin
"The
Name of Our Country is América"
--
Simón Bolívar
How Paramilitaries First
Begin to Grow Out of Control
August 24 Communiqué
from Autonomous Town of Ricardo Flores Magón, Chiapas
Publisher's Note: In our coverage of Plan Colombia, we speak a lot of the "paramilitary"
organizations, formed by the Colombian government years ago.
Today we received from
Chiapas, Mexico, a communiqué by an Autonomous Community
under attack by more recently formed paramilitaries; formed in
accordance with the Pentagon manual on "low intensity warfare"
that has guided the Colombian and Mexican counter-insurgent campaigns
alike.
Here we present, translated
to English by Narco News, uncensored and in full, the
words of a community under attack; first by the paramilitaries,
second by the media, which without having a single reporter present,
blamed the violent acts of the paramilitaries on the community.
Here, from people who
have always told the truth to Narco News, the Zapatista
Autonomous communities, we present to you their word: the real
story.
What happened yesterday
in Colombia, happens today in Mexico, and the forces of Power
out of Washington and Wall Street are still playing the same
dirty game.
A New Communiqué from the Autonomous
Town of Ricardo Flores Magón, Chiapas, a Zapatista base
of support
AUTONOMOUS MUNICIPALITY IN REBELLION
RICARDO FLORES MAGÓN
August 24, 2000
To the People of Mexico
To the People and Governments of the World
To the National and International Press
Brothers and Sisters:
This Autonomous Municipality in Rebellion
"Ricardo Flores Magón" needs to raise its voice
to clear up incorrect reports about the violent acts that happened
in the community of the ejido (collective farmlands) Peña
Limonar on August 22 of this year. Thus, with the truth of our
word we declare the following:
FIRST:
It has been said on the news that the violent acts were provoked
by the support bases of the EZLN (Zapatista Army of National
Liberation), and by this Autonomous Municipality.
We say that it is a lie. The violence
was not provoked by the Zapatista bases of support, nor by independent
organizations that sympathize and support this Autonomous Municipality.
SECOND:
The Violent acts were provoked by a paramilitary group that confronted
the PRI members of this community called Peña Limonar.
This Autonomous Municipality has investigated
their existence over time and tried to prevent the crimes committed
by a group from this community that does not respect the agreements
of that community; not of independent organizations, nor of the
municipality, nor of the PRI members, nor even the government.
THIRD:
Their way of behaving without respect toward any authority is
what led us to suspect their existence. And there we began to
investigate and try to prevent their crimes. But today, with
the strategy in which they committed violent acts, it can be
confirmed that this is a paramilitary group that the very same
government created in its "low intensity war," but
it has escaped out of the government's own control.
FOURTH:
Those individuals, this paramilitary group that today fought
against the PRI members cannot possibly be, nor deserve to be,
called part of the support bases of the Zapatistas, nor sympathizers,
nor members of honest independent organizations that support
this Autonomous Municipality in Rebellion Ricardo Flores Magón.
That is because they are not, nor do are their actions worthy
of being so.
Brothers and Sisters, this is our word.
This is the clarification that we make, and we intend to inform
and clarify the facts that bring us pain as much as possible.
And we also condemn the actions that happened in Peña
Limonar, because our work is for a dignified and true life to
construct the autonomy of our town with liberty, justice and
democracy, not to provoke violence nor to fight between our brothers
or commit crimes.
Autonomous Council
(with the Seal of the Autonomous Municipality
Ricardo Flores Magón.)
To make contributions in solidarity:
CUENTA MAESTRA 5001060-5 at BANCOMER
Plaza 437 in the name of Rosario Ibarra
For international wire transfers:
Routing #: BCMR MXMM
Manda Obedeciendo