Winter 1996 - Issue Number 38
Every day the women fear being raped, and the men, as they go to the milpa (corn field) to work, wonder if their women and children will be all right when they return.
Patrick, a young Frenchman who had been adopted into this community of 93 Mayan families - the village of La Sultana - told us this and more. In February of 1995 this community had fled from t he brutal invasion of the Mexican army. For 40 days they lived deeper in the Lacondon Forest until it was considered safe to return to La Sultana. When they returned, they found all animals killed, crops destroyed, and what furniture they had, smashed. They live in fear of the Mexican military that is currently on the outskirts of the town enlarging its military encampment.
Steve Rall and I from Lansing, Michigan, went to Chiapas, Mexico, from October 1-14 as members of a Michigan Peace Team (MPT) project. We were in La Sultana as compamentistas - members of a Civilian Peace Camp. The people made it very clear that our presence in the town was the reason why the Mexican military did not come in to abuse them.
We were humbled by the goodness of these simple indigenous Mayan people. They work hard, yet live in great poverty. Their diet and medical care is insufficient. Yet they celebrate their existence with many fiestas during the year.
Since the Zapatista army (EZLN) made its appearance January 1, 1994, the Mexican military has attempted to destroy this movement for human and economic rights. The majority of the indigenous identify with the Zapatistas, and therefore are targeted by the military.
The Center for Human Rights in the city of San Cristobal has coordinated about 2,500 volunteers to be a continual violence- deterring presence in 29 indigenous villages in Chiapas. Volunteer peacemakers are needed as part of these Civilian Peace Camps. MPT can be a sponsor for individuals that wish to go at any time for a minimum of 15 days. Contact us.
Peter Dougherty is Coordinator of the Michigan Peace Team. He has been on violence-reduction peace team projects in Bosnia, Haiti, Hebron and Chiapas.
Return to the Index of Synapse 38, Winter 1996