Peace News
Peace Team Delegation Reports Increasing Violence In Chiapas Against Indigenous People
A three-person delegation of the Michigan Faith and Resistance Peace Team (MPT) served as a Civilian Observation Brigade for the Human Rights Center "Fray Bartolome de las Casas" in Chiapas, Mexico, from May 14-21.
Richard Stahler-Sholk, 39, Sr. Julie Slowik, 58, and Rev. C. Peter Dougherty, 63, traveled to four Tzotzil indigenous communities of the Highlands in the municipality of Chenalho, north of San Cristobal. The brigade went to Acteal, Tzajalchen, Poconichim and Xeyep.
Acteal is the site of the December 22 massacre, when 90 paramilitaries killed 45, wounded 25, and caused all others to flee for their lives.
All of the communities of refugees visited told stories of how they fled from their original homes, driven at gunpoint by paramilitaries. Their homes were destroyed, their belongings, including crops, were stolen.
These people know the paramilitaries by name. One man said they had been 'campaneros' before those men became paramilitaries.
The refugees told how the governor of the state had given the paramilitaries guns, and how ex-soldiers trained them how to use them against those calling for indigenous rights. They said that the paramilitaries are given 700 pesos every two weeks - more than they would earn from working in their fields. These people live in daily fear of paramilitary attacks where they now live.
The people know that the government, the Institutional Revolutionary Party that dominates Mexican politics, the military and the paramilitaries all work together to destroy a people's spirit because they cry out for justice.
Living conditions are horrible. These refugees lack basic food, water and medicine. One community told the delegation they know they might die of starvation.
A large portion of the communities living in Acteal, Tzajalchen and Xeyep are "Las Abejas" (The Bees). While agreeing with all the Zapatista demands for justice, they reject any use of violence in the struggle.
It was clear that the people appreciated the delegation's presence. It is important to keep sending internationals to Chiapas, to expose and have a chilling effect on the increasing violence against these Mayan descendents.
Contact the following by fax, email or letter:
C. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon
Presidente Constitucional de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Palacio Nacional 06067 Mexico DF, Mexico
Fax: (int-52) (5) 271 1764 / 515 4783
E-mail: webadmon@op.presidencia.gob.mxFrancisco Labastida Ochoa
Secretario de Gobernacion (Minister of Interior) \
Bucareli 99, ler piso Col. Juarez 06699 Mexico DF, Mexico
Fax: (int-52) (5) 546 5350 / 546 7380Urge them:
1. End the violence of the military and paramilitary against the indigenous seeking their rights.2. The government should abide by the San Andres Accords, which it signed, providing for indigenous rights.
3. The government should resume the dialogues with the Zapatistas on areas not yet resolved.
4. Stop the harrassment and deportation of international observers. By international law they have a right to be there.
Those interested in being part of an MPT delegation to Chiapas, contact:
MPT, 1516 Jerome, Lansing, MI 48912
Ph: (517) 484 3178 Fax: (517) 484 4219, michpeacteam@igc.apc.org
http://www.traverse.com/nonprof/peaceteam
Gods Of Metal Plowshares Face 30 Years Imprisonment For Air Show Protest
On May 17, 1998, the 30th anniversary of the Catonsville Nine protest, five peace activists enacted the biblical prophecy of Isaiah to beat swords into plowshares at an air show outside Washington, D.C. Activists Sr. Carol Gilbert and Sr. Ardeth Platte from Baltimore's Jonah House, Father Frank Cordaro from Des Moines, Iowa, Father Larry Morlan, from Peoria, Illinois, and Kathy Shields Boylan, from Dorothy Day Catholic Worker in Washington, D.C., calling themselves the Gods of Metal Plowshares, hammered and poured blood on a B-52 bomber during the Department of Defense Open House at Andrews Air Force Base, located outside Washington, D.C. in Prince George's County, Maryland.
The Gods of Metal Plowshares intentionally disarmed a dual-capable weapon of mass destruction. They carried out their nonviolent protest in accordance with the prophets, Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3: "They shall hammer the their swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks."
The five members of the Gods of Metal Plowshares appeared for arraignment before U.S. Federal Magistrate Jillyn Schultz who indicated they were facing two federal charges: 1] injury, over $1,000, to government property, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years and a $250,000 fine; and injury or attempted injury to property in a federal jurisdiction, with a possible sentence of 5 to 20 years and a $250,000 fine. Remarkably, the activists were released on personal recognizance and ordered not to go unto any military installation.
However, the government decided to dismiss the felony charges, and the five religious activists are now facing a single misdemeanor charge of willful injury to government property, less than $1,000 damage, which carries a possible sentence of one year in jail, a $100,000 fine and a special assessment fee of $25. The defendants waived their right to a jury trial, and a bench trial was set for September 22.
Since the initial court proceeding, the government reassessed its strategy of severe charges. It is assumed the government is wary of placing two nuns, two priests and a grandmother in prison for many years. Though the disarmament was symbolic, the hammering must have resulted in more than $1,000 damage.
They acted to unmasked the idolatry of the gods of metal, celebrated in this nuclear liturgy of the Open House. They nonviolently disarmed this weapon of mass destruction in a plea for the cause of peace with justice and the abolition of war. They celebrated God as "True Security" rather than accept weapons and violence as restorers or maintainers of peace. They poured their blood as a sign of their willingness to lay down their lives rather than taking the lives of others. They announced weapons and their carriers in air, land, sea and space are in fact idols. They asked others not to celebrate or worship gods of metal for they defile all of creation. Finally, they encouraged people of good will to explore similar opportunities to put love into action until justice is established and peace prevails.
These pacifists feel it is an urgent time to stand with peacemakers for nuclear disarmament and to call for an end to warmaking on behalf of present and future generations of children and Mother Earth, herself. They acted in memory of the action of the Catonsville Nine, who thirty years ago burned draft files to awaken all to the immorality of the Vietnam War. In this witness at Andrews Air Force Base, the Gods of Metal Plowshares hammered a total of 30 times on the bomber to continue the legacy and tradition of Daniel and Philip Berrigan and seven religious activists who acted on May 17, 1968 at a draft board office in Catonsville, Maryland.
Ardeth Platte, OP, a Dominican sister living in community at Baltimore's Jonah House, is originally from Grand Rapids, Mich. A former high school teacher, administrator and City Councilwoman, she has engaged in previous Plowshares actions.
Kathy Shields Boylan, a grandmother, is a mother of five children. She is a member of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker in Washington, D.C. and has been involved in previous Plowshares actions.
Rev. Larry Morlan is a Roman Catholic priest in the diocese of Peoria, Ill. He is a former member of the Davenport, Iowa Catholic Worker and a struggling resister. He also has previously been involved in a Plowshares action.
Carol Gilbert, OP, is a Dominican sister, formerly from Grand Rapids, Mich., but currently a member of the Jonah House resistance community. She is a former school teacher, who has been involved in previous Plowshares activities.
Rev. Frank Cordaro is a Roman Catholic priest and pastor at Holy Trinity of southeast Warren County in Iowa. As a co-founder of the Catholic Worker house/community in Des Moines, Iowa in 1976, he has been an active worker for justice and peace for more than twenty years.
Return to the Index of Synapse 44, Summer 1998