IN HONOUR OF JUAN VÁZQUEZ GUZMÁN AND IN SUPPORT OF SAN SEBASTIÁN BACHAJÓN

Compañeras and Compañeros,

This is a call for signatures. Please could groups, individuals and collectives send their signatures to this document, by next Saturday evening, 22nd June, 2013, to  dorsetchiapassolidaritygroup@riseup.net

A big thank you, and embraces of solidarity from the Dorset Chiapas Solidarity Group

To our sisters and brothers of the Ejido San Sebastian Bachajón
To our Zapatista sisters and brothers
To our compañer@s of the Sexta
To the Committees of the True Word
To civil society
To public opinion
To national and international human rights defenders
To the peoples in resistance
To the mass and alternative media
To people of good conscience throughout the world

We know that in all corners of the world the forces of neoliberalism are destroying the land, the territory, the natural resources and all living things as part of the insane desire of transnational corporations, banks, and their allies in governments to develop more and bigger megaprojects. In this process, the original inhabitants of the lands become disposable. If they cannot be bought out, they are displaced, dispossessed, cast aside, and assassinated.

This is what has been happening since 2006 to the adherents to the Sixth Declaration from San Sebastián Bachajón, and is what has led to the murder of their community leader Juan Vázquez Guzmán. The forces of greed and plunder want to seize control of the potentially extremely lucrative tourist destination of the Waterfalls of Agua Azul. Hence the ongoing violence, repression, threats, arrests on false charges, abuse, plunder, arbitrary actions, and the invasion and occupation of the area by state forces. Juan was a constant inspiration, both to his compañeros in their dignified struggle in defence of their ancestral land and territory and of their rights as indigenous peoples, and also to other social movements throughout Mexico.

We the undersigned call for the return of their common lands to the people of San Sebastián Bachajón, respect for the rights of these indigenous peoples to their land and territory, respect for their right to self-determination and the search for alternative ways of life, as well as a full investigation into Juan’s assassination, and punishment of those responsible
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In our own places we are also engaged in these struggles, and we know we must all work together to save the planet from destruction by the few, in pursuit of their own personal enrichment, at the expense of the many. So we offer our full support to this campaign, and our solidarity to our compañeros from San Sebastián Bachajón in the continuation of their most dignified struggle. We honour the example set by Juan Vázquez Guzmán of dedication, commitment, passion and resistance. He remains with us all on the path to a better world.

For more information:  http://vivabachajon.wordpress.com/en-ingles/

Please could all groups and individuals send their signatures to  dorsetchiapassolidaritygroup@riseup.net by the evening of Saturday 22nd June