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EZLN caravan report.San Cristóbal to Tuxtla Gutierrez to Juchitán.

We are Everywhere | 04.03.2001 17:22

25th February, 2001. San Cristóbal to Tuxtla Gutierrez
to Juchitán.

Morning breaks with a fantastic send off, everyone shaking hands from the bus windows with the thousands of Zapatistas who are preparing for the journey back into the mountains, all of them in balaclavas, some of them wearing their traditional thick wool ponchos and straw hats aflutter with brightly colored ribons dangling to shoulder length. Descending from San Cristóbal, the mist hangs in the valleys below us, groups of EZLN supporters flank the highway, waving
and cheering.

Heading for the state capital, the tension builds as the heat rises; we have left the cool air of the mountains behind. For the past week, anti-Zapatista leaflets have been circulating in Tuxtla. If San Cristóbal is the indigenous and cultural capital of the state, Tuxtla is the ladino (westernized and often non indigenous) and industrial capital, as well as the governmental one.

The mayor of Tuxtla, an open adversary of zapatismo, has organized a children's festival at the same hour as the EZLN event. Nevertheless, 10,000 people fill the zocala, the trees creak and branches bend under the weight of dozens of people who have climbed up to get a view of the commandantes. Marcos noted wryly in his improvised speech that there seemed to be a high presence of children in the zocalo, despite the
competition.

Representatives of civil society give the comandancia new masks and white calla lilies, which Marcos expertly throws into the crowd, one by one, each taking precise flight like an arrow before falling into the hands of an adoring fan. The Tojolabal Comandante Tacho spoke to the crowd as well,
explaining that "...we don't want alms, nor surplus, nor crumbs. We don't want war. We don't want to kill while dying."

The crowds sing the Zapatista anthem and then the first stop is over, the caravan moves off with more than 30 stops to go, over a thousand miles to travel. We arrive at Juchitán, where more than 15,000 people have turned up for the event. The Comandancia lines up to speak on a stage backed by a wall of palm fronds, to which have been tied fluttering red bandanas. Above them enormous banners hang, painted with the iconic faces of Zapata, Che and a faceless balaclava clad zapatista. Each delegate receives a garland of flowers from a representative of the numerous indigenous nations, who then address the crowd in their respective languages. Marcos speaks of language, of how the conquistadores have always
attempted to destroy the indigenous languages, rightly
guessing that indigenous identity is deeply entwined with language.

Comandanta Esther speaks of the issues of women, saying: "Women are exploited three times. Because we are indigenous, and only know how to speak Tzeltal, we are scorned. For being women, they tell us that we don't know how to speak, they tell us that we are stupid and don't know how to think. For being poor, because we don't have food, nor dignified living,
education, we don't have good health. Many children die in their mothers' arms of curable diseases. For this triple exploitation itis necesary that all the indigenous and non-indigenous women raise our voices."

Once again the chorus of the Zapatista hymn echoes across another crowded square. The crowd cheers, the delegation files off the stage, banners are taken down and the numerous media crews pack up for the night. Supporters offer us showers in their homes and refuse an offer of payment; the government opens the municipal palace for the caravanistas to sleep, if we choose not to join the masses which are setting up camp in the zocala, which soon becomes a patchwork of
different coloured sleeping bags and tired bodies,desperately trying to get some rest before the next leg of the trip.

We are Everywhere

Comments

Hide the following 3 comments

WOW!

04.03.2001 20:16

Truly breathtaking stuff. Well written as well, I could smell the excitement.

Humbleness


This is revolution!

04.03.2001 22:56

What inspiring stuff. I am sat now in a neon-lit office in the corporate world of London. It is Sunday evening and I am having to work to make my living. Yet, from out of the grey cloud of normality/boredom/frustration shines a ray of light from Mexico. Reading, the reports and viewing the images of resistance from the brave Mayan, Mexican and international revolutionaries lifts my soul.

I have one question for all Zapatistas - for we are all Zapatistas - when will the revolution come to England? Solidarity my brothers and sisters across the globe!

Dan Anchorman


For Dan Anchorrman

05.03.2001 12:34

Dan, You are the revolution, don't wait for it to come to you. You, and people like you already sit on the inside of the revolution because you are part of it. We are all part of it if we want to be. Do something. The revolution will not come to England, it will come out of England. Remember, this issue is about all aspects of neoliberalism, in whatever shape or form.
Topically for example you could think about the foot and Mouth issue, a direct result of intensive farming and poor transportation of livestock. This need not happen. Consider why it does, consider how it could be overcome.
Tantan

Mike Kennedy
mail e-mail: mike.kennedy@merseymail.com