President-Elect of Mexico, Vicente Fox, proclaimed that he could resolve the war in Chiapas in fifteen minutes. We, the men and women of Amanecer Zapatista Unidos en la Lucha (AZUL), reject a quick-fix solution to a centuries old problem of injustice and violence against the indigenous communities of Chiapas! We, as Mexicanos, immigrants, students, and workers, call to action our community in New York and communities in solidarity across the country and the world to demand an end to the violence in Chiapas on the first day Fox takes office on December 1!!!.

President-elect of Mexico, Vicente Fox, has promised to quickly restart peace talks with the zapatistas and "negotiate" implementation of the San Andres accords after he takes office. Before that important step can take place, Fox must first move quickly to dismantle the immediate danger that is at the center of the conflict in Chiapas: the growing military and paramilitary presence in communities throughout indigenous regions, and, the rapidly increasing displacement of hundreds of families fleeing from the violence of army occupation and paramilitary attacks.

Across Chiapas, impoverished and isolated indigenous communities remain surrounded by an estimated 70,000 soldiers and by hundreds of additional paramilitary forces who harass and violate struggling families every single day in all indigenous regions. The daily reality is this: people are dying by direct military or paramilitary attacks and because of the inaccessibility of basic needs. More than 20,000 people have been displaced in the last few years due to the on-going low-intensity war being waged by the government of Mexico, a low-intensity war with long-term, high-intensity repercussions.

We the men and women of AZUL extend an invitation to all zapatista organizers and supporters to come together at Mexican consulates throughout the U.S. and the world on Friday, December 1, 2000 to keep Fox to his promise and demand in one voice:

• The immediate withdrawal of the more than 70,000 Mexican soldiers
surrounding indigenous regions in Chiapas
• The immediate dismantlement of paramilitary groups
• The release of all detained indigenous leaders
• The immediate relocation of the more than 20,000 displaced indigenous
men, women, and children of Chiapas
• The final implementation of the San Andres Accords.
• The agreement to all EZLN demands and conditions to enable a return
to dialogue with the government

Join us in this open challenge to Mr. Fox because although it will take more than 15 minutes to bring real justice to Chiapas, it takes less than 15 minutes to decide to take action and demand the rights of the indigenous peoples of Mexico, and less then fifteen seconds to pull on a mask, pick up a sign and yell YA BASTA!!

If your community is organizing a local action, please let us know.

Contact us at  ny_azul@hotmail.com.

Demand that Vicente Fox End the War in Chiapas Friday, December 1, 2000 at 5:30 p.m.

Consul General of Mexico
27 East 39th Street
New York