Narco News 2001
Questions
about the Zapatista Caravan?
The
EZLN Responds
Subcomandante
Marcos Answers 62 Questions from Civil Society
Originally published in Spanish by the
EZLN
_______________________
Translated by irlandesa
Zapatista Army of National Liberation.
Mexico.
THE EZLN RESPONDS
February of 2001.
Dear Cybernauts:
The following questions, asked by journalists
and people from civil
society, have reached the EZLN through this web page and by email.
Subcomandante Marcos, military chief and spokesperson for the
zapatistas,
is responding, and will continue to respond, as far as possible,
to the
most general questions. We are now presenting this section, updated
as of
February 9, 2001. As far as possible, we will be adding more
questions,
expanding upon and updating our answers. The words presented
here are the
EZLN's official position on each issue addressed.
The questions have been grouped in five
areas:
1) CURRENT POLITICAL DEBATE
2) THE THREE SIGNALS
3) COCOPA LAW
4) EN ROUTE
5) STAY IN MEXICO CITY
1. - CURRENT POLITICAL DEBATE
1. Is Marcos going to Mexico City at the
invitation of President Vicente
Fox?
No, the zapatista delegation is going
to Mexico City on its own initiative
and for the purpose of engaging in dialogue with the Congress
of the Union,
that is, with Deputies and Senators. The purpose of that dialogue
is to
seek approval of the so-called "Cocopa legislative proposal,"
which, taken
to the constitutional level, will mean the fulfillment of the
agreements
reached at Table One of the San Andrés Dialogues and will
be a very
important step on the path to peace in Chiapas. During its march
to Mexico
City, the zapatista delegation will engage in dialogue with civil
society
and the Indian peoples of 12 Mexican states. It will also be
participating
in the work of the Third National Indigenous Congress. All of
this for the
purpose of promoting the constitutional recognition of indigenous
rights
and culture.
2. Has the EZLN had direct contact or
correspondence with the government
commissioner, Luis H. Alvarez?
No, the EZLN has said, as long as long
as the three signals we have
demanded for dialogue are not carried out, it will not make direct
contact
with the federal government. As soon as they are carried out,
we will
establish contact. Meanwhile, we are making it clear that there
has not
even been an exchange of correspondence. The conflicting information
on
this point has, we believe, been deliberately orchestrated by
the federal
government in order to confuse people. On the other hand, we
continue to
view Señor Luis H. Alvarez with respect, and, as soon
as the three minimal
signals we are asking for take place, we will make direct contact
with him.
3. Has the EZLN had direct contact or
correspondence with the Cocopa or
with any of its members?
No. There has been no exchange of correspondence
nor have there been
direct contacts.
4. Has the EZLN not felt pressured by
the publicity deployed by Fox
government concerning the actions it has undertaken in Chiapas?
Do they
not feel that the people can ask them to sit down now?
We feel that the people also want the
government to offer these signals.
We don't feel pressured, because they aren't telling us "to
sit down now".
That's what the government is saying. The people, in any case,
want the
two parties to commit ourselves seriously to the peace process.
As far as
we are concerned, the government's seriousness will be demonstrated
with
the fulfillment of the three minimal signals. And, on our part,
seriousness will consist in our not asking for new signals in
order to
begin dialogue.
On the other hand, the people have always made us feel that they
understand us. It's obvious that when we say "the people",
we aren't
referring to the powerful, to the Onécimos or to the Loyolas,
but to civil
society in general.
5. Are the zapatista delegates who will
be travelling to Mexico City going
armed?
No. The zapatistas will be travelling
unarmed, as and how established by
law. In this undertaking, we are not leaving to make war, but
to engage in
dialogue. When we engage in dialogue, we do not need weapons.
6. Are the 24 zapatista delegates going
to be travelling with their faces
covered with ski-masks? Why?
Yes, they will be going with ski-masks.
Because ski-masks are now a symbol
of zapatismo. The ski-masks point out that the government does
not look at
the indigenous when they show themselves, and, now that they
conceal
themselves, they do see them. It's also an invitation for everyone
to feel
part of this struggle.
7. Can the zapatista delegates be detained?
No, because the so-called "Law for
Dialogue, Reconciliation and Dignified
Peace in Chiapas" protects the zapatistas from any legal
action against
them. The law states that the suspension of legal actions continues
while
dialogue is in effect. The law points out that weapons should
not be
carried in places of dialogue and negotiation. The Cocopa has
already
publicly pointed out its position in this regard: the dialogue
continues
in effect, and therefore the law which guarantees respect for
the
zapatistas' freedom of movement and safety is in effect. Since
we will be
going without weapons, we cannot be detained.
8. What does the indigenous issue mean
to the EZLN? Do they want to
separate from Mexico?
The EZLN is a primarily indigenous organization
that rose up in arms for
Democracy, Liberty and Justice for all Mexicans. Of all the Mexican
peoples, the indigenous is the most forgotten. That's why the
EZLN raised
the recognition of indigenous rights and culture as an important
demand.
This demand found echo throughout the country and in the entire
world. The
indigenous issue signifies, for the EZLN, an unfinished debt
of Mexico, and
we should not have to wait any longer for its resolution. We
do not want
independence from Mexico, we want to be part of Mexico, to be
Mexican
indigenous. Up until now, they've treated us as second-class
citizens, or
as a hindrance for the country. We want to be first-class citizens
and to
be part of the country's development, but we want to be so without
ceasing
to be indigenous.
9. Why has the EZLN not signed the peace?
Because Zedillo's government did not carry
out the accords it signed with
the EZLN. In order for peace to be real, it must be built on
accords that
are fulfilled. If it's not so, then it's not peace, but pretense.
The
EZLN has wanted peace for seven years, but not just any peace,
one with
justice and dignity. We are continuing on that path.
10. What do the zapatista indigenous want
after the end of the PRI?
For the Mexican nation to recognize indigenous
rights and culture in the
Constitution. That it works to resolve the serious condition
of
marginalization of the Indian peoples of Mexico, taking them
into account.
For democracy to become a reality for all Mexicans, all the time.
For the
indigenous woman to have a special place in Mexican society.
And for the
zapatistas to be able to go out and engage in politics like any
other
citizen, that is, for neither ski-masks nor weapons to be necessary
any
longer.
11. After seven years of militarization
and siege, how has the situation
changed for the peoples of Chiapas?
Now there is hope that the past will not
be repeated, that the indigenous
self will no longer be the cause for shame or pain, that we can
improve the
condition of our lives, that we will never again have to make
war in order
for them to hear us. The fundamental change, in short, is that
we are not
alone now.
12. What expectations are there concerning
the Vicente Fox government,
which is not PRI, now?
We hope the Fox government understands
that the country has changed now.
That the Indian people cannot continue to be kept in oblivion.
That the
people should, and want, to participate in decision-making. That
peace
with justice and dignity is a national and international demand.
We hope
that it gives clear signals as to its willingness to dialogue,
that it
engages in dialogue, that it reaches accords and that it carries
them out.
We hope that it decides to seek peace.
13. What will happen to Subcomandante
Marcos if peace is signed?
Along with all the zapatista compañeros
and compañeras, he will fight for
democracy, liberty and justice along new paths.
14. How does the EZLN respond to those
who attack them and speak badly of
the zapatistas?
That we aren't attacking anyone, we don't
want to take anything away from
anyone. What we want is a dignified place for the indigenous
of Mexico.
Those who are attacking us are attacking a demand for justice
which
everyone, throughout the world, supports and recognizes. We are
only
afraid of those who prefer to see the indigenous dead.
15. Are there political groups, drug traffickers
or foreign interests
behind the EZLN?
No. The EZLN is a completely Mexican organization.
It didn't have any
foreign financing, and its decisions and actions are answerable
to the
orders of the zapatista indigenous communities. We are independent
of all
national and international political organizations. Not only
are we not
dependent on drug trafficking, but we have fought it since our
creation.
In the zapatista indigenous communities, the use, planting and
trafficking
of narcotics is prohibited. No country or organization maintains
the EZLN
economically. The EZLN supports itself through its own resources,
that is,
with the support of the communities. That is why we are a poor
army.
16. Why does the EZLN say "army"?
Because it is organized as an army, and
it fulfills all international
regulations for recognition as an army. When the war began, the
EZLN did
so fulfilling international conventions: it formally declared
war, it has
recognizable uniforms, ranks and insignias, it respects the civil
population and neutral bodies. The EZLN has weapons and military
organization and discipline.
17. Why does the EZLN say it seeks to
disappear?
Because the EZLN is fighting so that it
will no longer be necessary to be
clandestine and to be armed in order to fight for justice, liberty
and
democracy. When the EZLN achieves what it is seeking, then the
EZLN will
no longer be necessary. That is why we say we are fighting in
order to
disappear.
18. Why does the EZLN say it isn't fighting
for Power?
Because from the time of our first public
appearance we have never proposed
the taking of Power. We are not interested in having government
positions,
but in the people participating and their voice being listened
to and
heeded. We think it's not important who's in government. What
is
important is that it "govern obeying", or that the
people compel those
governing to carry out their work in accordance with the people's
interest,
and not in accordance with the interest of a party or of an economic
or
religious group.
19. Are there women in the EZLN? And in
the delegation?
Yes. There are women in the EZLN at all
levels: there are women who are
support bases, there are militia, there are insurgents, there
are officers,
there are local and regional 'responsables', and there are comandantes.
In
the delegation going to Mexico City there are four comandantes.
There
names are Susana, Yolanda, Esther and Fidelia. There are more
women in the
Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous Committee, which is the
top leadership
of the EZLN, but only 4 of them are going ion this trip.
20. Are there children in the EZLN?
No, there are no children fighters in
the EZLN, or no child soldiers.
There are zapatista children, but they are support bases.
21. Is Marcos willing to meet with Fox
personally?
The EZLN does not think that the war in
Chiapas will be resolved by a
meeting between two people, but that a process of dialogue and
serious,
respectful and responsible negotiation is necessary. When the
three
signals are fulfilled, the EZLN will name a group of its leaders,
among
whom may or may not be Marcos, in order to engage in dialogue
and to
negotiate with the federal government. The Fox government has
already
named the person who will be in charge of negotiation, Señor
Luis H.
Alvarez. The zapatistas will, therefore, engage in dialogue with
him when
the process begins.
2. THE THREE SIGNALS
1. If Vicente Fox's government carries
out the three signals demanded by
the EZLN in order to begin dialogue, will the EZLN demand more
conditions?
What is the guarantee that, if Fox carries out the three signals,
the
zapatistas won't ask for more?
Upon the fulfillment of the three signals,
the EZLN will make contact with
the Commissioner for Peace, and it will jointly set the day,
place, hour
and agenda for the first meeting. There will not be any more
conditions.
The guarantee the EZLN is offering is its word, which we have
never broken.
2. Will the zapatistas go to Mexico City
even if the Fox government does
not carry out the three signals for dialogue?
Yes, as we have already explained, the
purpose of the trip is dialogue with
the Congress of the Union, with the Indian peoples of Mexico
and with civil
society, not with the federal executive. Even if Fox has not
carried out
the three signals, the dialogue with Congress, the indigenous
and civil
society will take place.
3. Is it true that Fox has already withdrawn
the army from Chiapas?
No. The Fox government had some of the
checkpoints and control points on
the roads withdrawn, and he ordered the withdrawal of troops
from 4
positions out of the 259 military camps which have invaded chiapaneco
lands.
4. Is the EZLN demanding complete demilitarization
in order to sit down
to talks? Does it recognize the troop withdrawal?
No, the EZLN is only asking that they
close 7 military positions. The
federal army will still be keeping 252 positions inside the so-called
"conflict zone". By asking for the closing of 7 positions,
the EZLN is
asking the Fox government to respond to the question: "Are
you in charge
of the federal army, and are you willing to abandon the military
option as
a means of resolving the conflict?" By asking for 7 positions,
the EZLN is
using 7 as a symbol. The closing of those positions does not
mean the
demilitarization of the conflict zone. The federal army will
maintain,
even without these 7 positions, its military capacity. The closing
of the
7 positions will not in any way affect the correlation of forces
between
the federal army and the EZLN. The EZLN recognizes that only
4 of the 7
positions have been closed. The reluctance to close the remaining
3 means
that the Fox government has not decided to abandon military means,
or that
it's not in charge of the federal army, and their orders are
not being
fully complied with.
5. At what point is the process of the
release of zapatistas who are
imprisoned in different jails in the country?
Up to now, only 25 zapatista prisoners
have been released. The 25 have
been released by the government of the state of Chiapas. The
federal
government has not released one single one. In addition to Chiapas,
there
are imprisoned zapatistas in Tabasco and in Querétaro.
The governor of
Querétaro has said he will not let the 2 zapatistas who
are being kept in
prison go. With this, and with his statements asking for the
death penalty
for us, the governor of Querétaro has become one of the
obstacles
preventing the recognition of Indian rights and progress in dialogue.
6. Are the zapatistas satisfied with Vicente
Fox's having sent the Cocopa
law to the Congress of the Union? What is still needed for the
fulfillment
of this first signal?
No, the sending of the "Cocopa law"
to the Congress of the Union is not
sufficient. It's necessary for this proposal to be turned into
law, that
is, into constitutional reform. The "Cocopa law" has
a three-fold
importance: it is important because it recognizes the rights
of the very
first residents of Mexico. It is important because it will be
a
fundamental signal for the reopening of dialogue and for reaching
peace.
And it is important because it will demonstrate that dialogue
and
negotiation are indeed the means for resolving conflicts. What
remains for
the fulfillment of this signal is for the federal executive -
Fox, that is
- to work with Deputies and Senators in search of consensus for
its
approval. The Cocopa needs to work with the parliamentary groups
of the
various parties represented in the legislature. The Congress
of the Union
needs to listen and to heed the clamor of the Indian peoples
represented in
the CNI and the EZLN.
3. COCOPA LAW
1. Who made the "Cocopa Law",
and what does this law say?
The so-called "Cocopa law" was
drawn up in December of 1996 by legislators
from the Commission of Concordance and Peace (Cocopa). The legislators
belonged to the 4 most important political parties: the PRI,
the PAN, the
PRD and the PT. The zapatistas did not make this legislative
proposal,
rather the legislators did: those who make the laws in Mexico.
The
so-called "Cocopa law" takes up the most important
of the first San Andrés
Accords, signed by the government and the EZLN in February of
1996: it
recognizes the right of the indigenous peoples to inclusionary
autonomy
(that is, that their difference is recognized, but they continue
to be
Mexicans), without breaking national unity and respecting human
rights,
especially those of indigenous woman. It also notes that the
indigenous
peoples should be taken into account in decision-making which
affects them.
That their culture should be respected and promoted. And that
there
should be guarantees that their voice is listened to and heeded,
and that
they have the right to have representation in the Congress of
the Union and
in the state Congresses. Fundamentally, the "Cocopa Law"
constitutionally
recognizes a reality: the Indian peoples are part of Mexico,
and they have
their own forms of social and political organization. That is,
they have
the right to be indigenous and to be Mexicans.
2. Is it true that the EZLN is not willing
to have any period or comma of
the "Cocopa Law" changed?
In the current debate no one is suggesting
that the problem with the
"Cocopa Law" has to do with periods and commas. The
attacks on the law are
directed at its fundamental aspects (autonomy of the Indian peoples,
territoriality, collective rights), not at mere problems of wording.
By
defending the "Cocopa Law", the EZLN is defending the
San Andrés Accords,
which reflect the demands of the Indian peoples of Mexico.
3. What is the Cocopa's position regarding
the law that they themselves
made, and which is, today, as important as peace itself?
The Cocopa has not, as a legislative body,
made any pronouncement. Its
members have, speaking personally, made contradictory statements.
The
current Cocopa will thus have to take a position regarding the
legislative
proposal they drew up.
4. Is the Cocopa Law supported by the
country's indigenous groups, or
just by the zapatistas?
The Cocopa's legislative proposal is supported
by representatives of
indigenous organizations of all Mexico's ethnic groups, grouped
in the
National Indigenous Congress. In addition, it has been analyzed
and
discussed over the last four years in many of the indigenous
communities
throughout the country. Over the last few years no legislative
proposal
has received such analysis, debate and backing by Mexican citizens,
primarily indigenous.
5. Does the recognition of all indigenous
uses and customs not represent
risks for the nation?
There are uses and customs which do not
serve the indigenous communities,
primarily those having to do with the segregation of women in
decision-making, but they are being fought by the communities
themselves,
basically by organized indigenous women. We are not demanding
the
recognition of a bad custom which we ourselves are striving to
change.
What we are demanding is the recognition of our different selves,
of our
culture, of our history, of our language, of our forms of governance,
of
our form of social organization. Apart from that, returning to
the case of
indigenous women, the Cocopa law itself puts emphasis on respect
for the
integrity of women and their political participation. It is for
that
reason, among other things, that we want this law to be approved
in
Congress.
4. EN ROUTE
1. Who are the 24 delegates who are going
to Mexico City?
Comandante David, Comandante Tacho, Comandante
Zebedeo, Comandante Susana,
Comandante Javier, Comandante Yolanda, Comandante Isaías,
Comandante
Bulmaro, Comandante Abel, Comandante Moisés, Comandante
Esther, Comandante
Maxo, Comandante Ismael, Comandante Eduardo, Comandante Gustavo,
Comandante
Sergio, Comandante Omar, Comandante Filemón, Comandante
Abraham, Comandante
Daniel, Comandante Mister, Comandante Fidelia, Comandante Alejandro
and
Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos.
In the EZLNalDF web page you will find the names of the delegates,
their
photographs and a text concerning each one of them.
2. Will the EZLN address each and every
one of the invitations from civil
society, from social organizations, from NGOs and other groups
who want to
meet with the zapatistas?
The zapatista delegation will answer invitations
from civil society as far
as possible. The time necessary for covering the route makes
it
impossible, unfortunately, to respond affirmatively to all the
invitations.
When we reject an invitation, we're not doing so because of a
lack of
interest, a lack of courtesy, or because we don't consider it
important to
attend to it, but because we have limited time and an agenda
to meet. In
passing, let me say that there are, in the Zapatista Information
Center,
hundreds of invitations from the twelve states through which
we'll be
passing and from the Federal District.
3. What people do you want to count on
for the mobilization to Mexico
City?
On everyone, without regard to their sex,
their political affiliation,
their ideology, their religious beliefs, their size, their weight,
their
social position, etcetera. Indigenous groups which want to meet
with us
will, obviously, have a special place.
4. Who is organizing the mobilization?
The EZLN, through an office called the
"Zapatista Information Center".
This CIZ is receiving proposals from civil society and channeling
them to
the EZLN. Through the CIZ, the EZLN is informing civil society
of the
plans they are making and the details for the mobilization to
take place.
5. During the route of the march, will
the EZLN be meeting only with the
CNI?
No. Although the CNI and the Indian peoples
are very important in the
march, the EZLN knows that the struggle for the recognition of
indigenous
rights and culture does not belong only to the Indian peoples,
but to all
honest Mexican men and women, and to all the people of the 5
continents who
are struggling for peace, justice and dignity for all human beings.
6. Who is organizing the Third Indigenous
Congress in Nurío, Michoacán?
The people of Nurío are organizing
it directly, along with the CNI. More
information can be obtained about the Congress in the following
places:
UCEZ. Telephone-fax: (014) 314-13-94 Email:
<encuentro
mor@latinmail.com> in Morelia.
La Casa Hotel del maestro. Telephone-fax: (014) 324-00-01, in
Morelia.
Graciela Contreras (01715) 3-75-89, in Zitácuaro.
Alfonso Vargas Romero Telephone-fax: (01452) 5-09-40, in Paracho.
7. Who is going to be financing the zapatista's
delegation to Mexico
City?
National and international civil society.
The EZLN is asking for financial
support for all those persons who can and want to help in the
struggle for
the recognition of indigenous rights and culture. That is why
the EZLN has
asked Señora Rosario Ibarra de Piedra to open a bank account
so that people
can make their financial donations. The bank account number is:
Bancomer. Branch 437. Account #5001060-5
In the name of Señora Ma. Del Rosario Ibarra.
San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.
The Zapatista Information Center is operating
through the funds being
collected, and they will cover the costs of the trip for the
delegation.
8. Should deposits be made into this same
account in support of the work
of the Third Indigenous Congress?
The organization of the Third CNI is an
enormous effort, which is also
dependent on everyone's efforts. The infrastructure for the meeting,
the
feeding of the thousands of delegates and all the fitting out
and
adjustments being made in the community of Nurío need
financial
contributions from the entire world. The CNI maintains the following
bank
account:
Bancomer. Branch 463. Account #1029446-9
In the name of Alfonso Vargas Romero
Uruapan, Michoacán, Mexico.
9. If the zapatista delegation is not
going to be passing through my area,
how can I participate in this mobilization?
In several ways. One is by becoming informed
about the delegation's route,
so that you can see where the EZLN delegation will be holding
public
events, and you can make plans to be present. Another is by joining
the
zapatista caravan, whether from when it leaves Chiapas, or during
the
journey, or during its arrival in Mexico City. Another is by
holding
informative events in your area, simultaneous with the march.
On the CIZ
web page you can find the la
test information concerning the objectives of the march and what
is
happening every day.
10. If I'm in another country, what can
I do to support the mobilization?
We have suggested to the international
community that they accompany us on
the march, in the Federal District or in their own countries.
Any of these
three forms of accompaniment would be equally important for us.
They can
also help the zapatista march financially through Doña
Rosario Ibarra de
Piedra's bank account, or in the National Indigenous Congress
bank account
(described above).
11. What is the zapatista delegation's
agenda in the state of Chiapas?
The zapatista delegates will travel to
the city of San Cristóbal de Las
Casas on February 24, departing from the Aguascalientes of Oventic,
La
Garrucha and La Realidad, in addition to the community of Moisés
Gandhi.
The EZLN is expecting to be accompanied by national and international
civil
society from these four points.
In addition, the date for the farewell
event for the delegation has been
confirmed. The event will be held in the central plaza of the
city of San
Cristóbal de Las Casas this February 24 in the afternoon.
The delegation will spend the night in
San Cristóbal, and it will leave
this city on the morning of February 25 for Juchitán,
Oaxaca, stopping
briefly in Tuxtla Gutiérrez to greet the people gathered
there.
12. What is the zapatista delegation's
agenda in the state of Oaxaca?
We will be leaving San Cristóbal
de Las Casas, Chiapas on the morning of
February 25, heading towards the municipality of Juchitán.
The delegation
will be greeting the compañeros and compañeras
gathered at the entrance to
Oaxaca lands. Further along it will be participating in an event
organized
in front of the Juchitán municipal palace, where Zapotec,
Huave, Zoque,
Chontal and Mixe brothers and sisters will be gathered.
The delegation will spend the night in
this municipality, and on the
morning of the 26th it will leave for the city of Oaxaca, where
it will be
holding a main event with Mixtec, Amuzgo, Cuicatec, Zapotec,
Chatino,
Chocholtec, Triqui and Chinantec brothers and sisters.
Following this event, the delegation will
be spending the night in this
city, and on the morning of the 27th it will leave for the city
of Puebla.
13. What is the zapatista delegation's
agenda in its travels through
Orizaba, Veracruz?
On February 27, en route to Puebla, we
will stop off to participate in a
brief event organized in the municipality of Orizaba.
14. What is the zapatista delegation's
agenda in the state of Puebla?
The zapatista delegation will arrive in
the city of Puebla this February
27, and they will hold an event there in the central plaza, prior
to
participating in an event with people gathered in Tehuacán
(Puebla) and in
Orizaba (Veracruz).
The delegation will stay over in the city
of Puebla, and on February 28,
during the morning, it will leave, headed for the state of Hidalgo.
15. What is the zapatista delegation's
agenda in the state of Hidalgo?
The zapatista delegation will arrive in
the state of Hidalgo on February
28, and they will be holding a main event there, in the municipality
of
Ixmiquilpan, with a brief prior stopover to greet the people
of Emiliano
Zapata, Ciudad Sahagún, Pachuca, Actopan, Francisco I.
Madero and
Tepatepec, who can either remain in their areas or travel to
the main event
in Ixmiquilpan (or, even better, do both).
The delegation will spend the night in
the community of Tephé, and on the
morning of March 1, it will leave for Michoacan.
16. What is the zapatista delegation's
agenda in the state of Querétaro?
On the first of March the delegation will
be participating, along with our
brothers and sisters of Querétaro, in a brief event organized
in the state
capital. When the event is over, the zapatistas will continue
on their way
to Michoacan (with a prior stop in Acámbaro, Guanajuato).
17. What is the zapatista delegations'
agenda in the state of Guanajuato?
It will be an honor for the 24 zapatista
delegates to greet the people
gathered in the municipality of Acámbaro on March 1. After
this greeting,
the delegation will continue on its way to Michoacán.
18. What is the zapatista delegation's
agenda in the state of Michoacán?
The zapatista delegation will be arriving
in the state of Michoacán on
March 1, specifically in the community of Nurío, stopping
previously and
briefly to greet the people of Zinapécuaro, Morelia, Patzcuaro
and Uruapan.
We will be staying in Nurío on
March 2, 3 and 4, participating in the work
of the Third Congress of the CNI. On the morning of the 5th we'll
be
leaving for the state of Mexico, participating in a previous
event planned
in the municipality of Morelia.
19. What is the zapatista delegation's
agenda in the state of Mexico?
The zapatista delegation will arrive in
the Toluca Valley on March 5, and
they will hold an event in the city, and another in the municipality
of
Temoaya, belonging to the Otomí region of the state. After
sharing food
and shelter with our brothers and sisters from the "Andrés
Molina Enríquez"
residential complex, known as "La Pila" (in the municipality
of Metepec),
we will be departing on the morning of March 6 for the state
of Morelos.
20. What is the zapatista delegation's
agenda in the state of Morelos?
The 24 zapatista delegates and the caravan
accompanying them will arrive in
the municipality of Tepoztlán on March 6. A public event
will be held
there, and food and shelter will be shared with the brothers
and sisters of
Tepoztlán, following a previous stop in the city of Cuernavaca,
where we
will briefly greet the people gathered there.
On March 7 we will be leaving Tepoztlán
headed for Iguala, Guerrero,
without making any stops. In Iguala we will be participating
in a joint
event with Guerrero compañeros gathered in this municipality.
We'll return
to spend the night in Cuautla that same day, March 7.
On March 8 we'll be spending the greatest
part of the day in the state of
Morelos, and, following the route of our General Emiliano Zapata,
we'll
leave that same day, heading for the delegation of Milpa Alta,
where we'll
arrive in the afternoon.
21. What is the zapatista delegation's
agenda in the state of Guerrero?
Responding to the call of the Guerrero
indigenous people and civil society,
the zapatista delegation will be holding a main event in the
municipality
of Iguala, Guerrero, on March 7. After participating in the act,
the 24
delegates will return to Cuautla, Morelos to spend the night.
22. What is the zapatista delegation's
agenda in Milpa Alta and in Mexico
City?
The zapatista delegation will arrive in
Milpa Alta in the afternoon of
March 8. They'll be spending the night there, and on the morning
of the
9th, an event will be held in the historic zapatista barracks
in San Pablo
Oxtotepec. They'll also be spending this night in Milpa Alta.
23. What is the zapatista delegation's
agenda in Xochimilco?
On March 10 a main event will be held
in Xochimilco. The zapatista
delegation will spend the night there, and the following day
they'll set
off for the Zócalo in Mexico City. The event is currently
being organized.
24. What are the zapatista delegates going
to be travelling in?
In a bus. If it breaks down, we'll look
for a bicycle, a burro or, if not,
then on foot.
5. STAY IN MEXICO CITY
1. How long is the zapatista delegation
going to be in Mexico City?
As long as it takes to enter into dialogue
with the Congress of the Union
and with civil society.
2. On what day are you going to enter
the Zócalo in Mexico City?
On Sunday, March 11, 2001.
3. Where is the EZLN going to be meeting
with civil society during its
stay in Mexico City?
The EZLN will release the places, dates
and hours in advance of the public
events in which it will be participating. We'll be having public
events
and private meetings.
4. Does the EZLN have any representation
in Mexico City?
No. The EZLN doesn't have any outside
representation, neither in Mexico
City nor any place else.
5. Will the EZLN be going to the UNAM?
As I already explained in an interview,
prior to responding, we'd have to
have an invitation from the university community (students, workers
and
academics). Up to now we've only received invitations from students.
6. What issues will the zapatista delegation
be addressing during their
stay in Mexico City?
The zapatistas will be concentrating on
the issue of Indigenous Rights and
Culture, the San Andrés Accords, the law which the Cocopa
has made and the
peace process in Chiapas. We'll be talking about these issues
(which are,
in fact, one) with legislators, indigenous and campesino organizations,
unions, NGOs, students, teachers, neighbors, intellectuals, journalists
and
everyone who wants to meet with us.
Vale. Salud and we'll be seeing you soon.
From the mountains of the Mexican Southeast.
Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos.
Mexico, February of 2001.
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2/12
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