The Zapatista Caracol of Oventic is high in the mountains about 15 miles out of the Chiapas capital of St.Christobel. It is a centre for Zapatista organisation and a point of contact with the outside world. For visitors wishing to financially support the efforts of the Zapatistas there is a shop selling donated goods and another shop/café specialising in Zapatista related merchandise. Everything from CDs of Marcos’ speeches to EZLN mugs and Tshirts. There is a large meeting space several smaller ones a hospital (see separate report), 2 schools (see separate report) and a factory/leather workshop where goods are made including boots for the EZLN.
Despite the presence of nearby army bases there has been peace in this area for several years with neither the Police nor the army venturing into the Caracol or surrounding area.
“Nothing is easy” say the Good Government Junta and even less so when you are working under conditions of militarization and Para militarization.
Oventic was the second caracol built by the Zapatistas, it is in the High zones of the region, the place of Tzotzil Zapatistas and an area of extreme marginalization and poverty; This is the biggest of the five “caracoles”. It formed by long Central Street with new buildings being constantly built at the sides. Walking down the street, we see cooperatives, offices, communal bedrooms, an auditorium; the street finishes in an open circular ground where a basketball ground and the first Zapatista secondary school are found.

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