World Free Spaces Feature Archive

On the 30. Juni 2003 a demonstration took place against borders, deportations and the new visa-regulations in Warsaw, Poland.
This noborder demo in Warsaw on June 30 ended with 16 arrests for a short time.
A website with templates for appeals to authorities and more info was prepared.

The demo ended a noborder conference and an International Anarchist Meeting preceding the Krynki bordercamp which started on June 2nd.

Since the end of July, the squat of Lelas Karayanni 37 has been confronted with a local and state repression as the chancellors of the university commissioned police to cut off the water and electricity supplies into the occupied building, and threaten a violent eviction refuse they to leave. L. K. 37 was bequeathed to the University, under the proviso it is used to house homeless and poor students. Despite that, it was abandoned since 1960, until April of 1988, when it was occupied by a collective of young students, workers and jobless, who transformed it into a place for housing and self-organisation. L.K. 37, through open assemblies, publications and social interventions became a workshop and base for radical criticism against housing issue in Athens.

The repression seems to be one of the initial casualties that seem to co-inside with speculative business enterprises earmarked for the "Olympic Games 2004". In another case the Students' House in Ilisia suburb has been occupied for more than two months as the rectors' council demanded all students must leave in order to use it for the journalists' accommodation during the Olympics, the students have refused.

[ Full report | athens.indymedia | L.K.37 page ]

Time lines of events:
Wed-Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun

After a demonstration for freedom of movement was attacked with pepper spray, baton charges and tear gas on the Bordercamp's third day, all actions and demonstrations relating to the bordercamp in Strasbourg were declared illegal. The denial of the right to protest was confirmed when media activists of the Publix Theatre Caravan and Indymedia were removed from the Strasbourg city centre on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Despite the ban protests continued with prisoner solidarity and street theatre. The last action of the camp was marked by leaving in a mass exodus convoy on Sunday.

This first Europe-wide noborder camp was initiated by the Noborder network and organized by activist groups from a number of European countries. The camp consisted of 10 days of actions, workshops and discussions around the central demand of 'Freedom of Movement and Settlement for Everyone', bringing together activists, migrants and artists from across Europe in a laboratory of creative resistance and civil disobedience.

Strasbourg was chosen because it is home to the central headquarters of the Schengen Information Systems [SIS], the database being used to store details of immigrants (legal or otherwise) the details of terrorists and political protestors (even only suspected ones!) and especially 'anti-globalisation' protestors. From here the project d.sec was born,which attempts to mix the cyber-activism with the activist movements of Europe.

Radio Noborder Bus:
http://noisebase.t0.or.at:4000/noborder

Radio SIS [offline now]
http://freeteam.nl:8000/sis32
http://paranoia.autistici.org:8000/noborder

More radio info at www.noborder.org/strasbourg/radio

Reports:
July 28th: Sunday report
July 27th: Saturday timeline
July 26th: Friday round-up | Virtual border action | Court case
July 25th: Media activists removed from city centre | Days events | Street Theatre pics | Pics and article
July 24th: Pics of the day | Press Release from the NoBorder Collective | Noborder Protests Declared Illegal In Strasbourg | Latest + witness reports
July 23rd: Pink-Silver and Black Block
July 22nd: Noborder Demo at Euro Court of Human Rights - Photos

Previous reports:
1 | 2 | 3 | pics
Resources:
noborder.org | d'sec | Statewatch

Monday, March 12: Subcommandante Marcos spoke at the "Paths of Dignity: Indigenous Rights, Memory and Cultural Heritage" intercultural meeting organised by the ENAH (National School of Anthropology and History) - a meeting also attended by writers like Jose Saramago and Alain Touraine. He reflected on the march:

"We zapatistas have seen a part of the map of the national tragedy which is not shown on primetime on the radio and television news programs. (...) The zapatistas have also seen part of rebel Mexico, and this seeing themselves and seeing others, is nothing other than dignity. The Mexico of below, especially the indigenous, speak to us of a history of struggle and resistance which comes from afar and which beats in the today of every place. Yes, but it is also a history which looks forward."

Marcos on culture, chess, clocks and boots

Saturday, March 10: The Zapatista Delegation headed today towards Xochimilco, also in the Federal District of Mexico City. Early in the morning, a thousand strong contingent proceeding from around 400 indigenous and rural communities of the State of Guerrero, as well as a delegation of Barzonistas from Micoacán, have joined the Zapatista march towards the heart of the Republic's capital. "We will not go until there is Institutional recognition of the rights and culture of all Indigenous peoples of Mexico", Marcos affirmed. (full story in spanish)

Also, The "White Overalls/Monos Blancos" have announced today that they are withdrawing from their role as Caravan security. This decision was made public this morning with a flyer that quickly became the focus of conversation of the awakening travellers. The paper is addressed to the Civil Society of the Caravan. (full story)

- The Caravan of Dignity (Part 1)

Friday, March 9: The EZLN Delegation has called today for a mobilisation in the whole country demanding that the Congress of the Union ratifies the San Andres Accords. The EZLN's General Command in Rebellion manifested once more that if Vicente Fox's government wants to dialogue with the EZLN, they will have to accept the Zapatista demands first, and that the "dialogue will have to be sincere and definitive, in which, whatever it is finally accorded will have to be respected and put into practice". "The Zapatistas have already proved that we can comply with our word, now it's the Federal Government's turn". In an earlier communicate, the Zapatista delegation announced that "we are thousands on our way to Mexico DF, and we want to call on all Mexican and International civil society to accompany us in the final leg into Mexico DF this Sunday, be it from the streets, from the pavements, from your windows, balconies and roofs, whatever you choose!" The Caravan spent the night in Milpa Alta.

- EZLN words in Milpa Alta
- Cuernavaca, Zapatista Territory (pic)

Thursday, March 8: On the International Day of the Rebel Women and the 12th of the march, the EZLN caravan entered the Federal District of Mexico City. The day began in Cuautla (Morelos) with the scheduled event being cancelled after the security teams reported they had found an unidentified man carrying a weapon. In Anenecuilco (Morelos) the EZLN delegation visited the museum built around the ruins of the house where General Emiliano Zapata was born and met Zapata's son and daughter.

- EZLN statement at the International Day of the Rebel Women
- 12th day, 5th message and an abundance of good words (La Jornada)
- Narco News report from Anenecuilco
- Sunset in Cuautla (pic)

Wednesday, March 7: The EZLN Delegation left Tepoztlan (Morelos) towards Guerrero, a state with a history of rebellion and social struggle as well as "...the state in which the national drama is synthesized: concentration of wealth in the hands of a few, scandalous social imbalance.." as the EZLN addressed the crowd at the central event in the city of Iguala, Guerrero. At the same event the General Command of the EZLN delivered the third of the seven messages to Mexico City: "This is Mexico. In order to make war one must challenge the government. In order to achieve the peace with justice and dignity, one must also challenge the government. We, thus, are challenging whomever objects. We are challenging them."
The Delegates returned to Cuautla, Morelos. In Cuautla lies in state the tomb of General Emiliano Zapata. In the nearby community of Aninecuilco, Zapata's was born and the ruins of his home still stand. Also nearby, Chinameca, where history says Zapata was assassinated.

- Words of the EZLN March 7, 2001. In Iguala, Guerrero.
- "On the Road with the Subcomandante (Philadelphia City Paper)

Tuesday, March 6: The Zapatista Delegation passed through Cuernavaca (Morelos), and then to Tepoztlán (Morelos), where it spent the night. Large crowds welcomed the Zapatistas all along the way. In Toluca (Morelos) Comandante Zebedeo said that "we have seen that this popular movement it is already like the stars in the sky that are continuously multiplying". Hundreds of men, women and children from Mazahuas and Otomies communities also welcomed the caravan in an unprogrammed stop. Comandante David invited them to join the Caravan "to Mexico DF, to the Congress of the Union, so between all of us we may achieve respect and recognition for the indigenous rights and culture".
It is also important to point out that today, the Cocopa commission has officially recognised Mr Fernando Yanez as the link between the EZLN and the Federal Government.

- EZLN words in Cuernavaca
- Awaiting the Zapas in Cuernacava
- Full report and pictures on today's leg (spanish)

Monday, March 5: The Delegates stopped for a planned event in the state capital of Morelia and then passed through Zitácuaro, Michoacán, and entered the State of Mexico. There was a rally in Toluca and another in the Otomí zone of Temoaya. The delegation "share bread and roof with our brothers and sisters" of the Andrés Molina Enriquez housing project known as "La Pila" in the town of Metepec.

-EZLN speech in Morelia (Michoacan) (spanish)
-Even souvenir shops support the EZLN (pic)

Sunday, March 4: Last day of the CNI Congress. 3,300 delegates demanded the recognition of indigenous rights and a demilitarisation of the country. During the three days of the Congress, there were also present oround 3000 "observers" mainly consisting of the internationalists following the Zapatista caravan and several hundred journalists. Read first hand account.

- Results and resolutions from the Indigenous National Congress
- EZLN speech
- Declaration presented by the Purhepecha People: Regional Autonomy
- indigenous women at the congress (pic)
- Anti-corporate media banner at the congress (pic)
- Purhepecha flag at the congress(pic)

Saturday, March 3: More work at the CNI Congress. After several hours of speeches and ceremonies, including the intonation of the Zapatista hymn, the hundreds of indigenous delegates split up into four working groups, where they will discuss proposals and work to forge consensus regarding the Cocopa indigenous rights bill soon to be debated in the Mexican Congress. Read report.

Read today's Editorial of the daily newspaper La Nación de Costa Rica, on the importance of the Zapatista March for the rest of Latin America.
-Photo of Comandantes holding the EZLN flag during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Indigenous National Congress.

Friday, March 2: The Zapatista delegation arrived in city of Nurio (Michoacán) to participate in the Third Indigenous National Congress. More than 1000 delegates have attended the first session of the 3 days event that brings together representatives of indigenous communities from all over Mexico.
Mayan representatives have expressed their doubts about Vicente Fox's "good will". They accused the Federal Government of only having interest in gaining publicity, and not being fully committed to a "just and dignified peace". They also reiterated that the main demands of the indigenous peoples of Mexico are still the same as the resolutions of previous Indigenous Congresses: the withdrawal of military bases and the dismantling of paramilitaries not only from Chiapas, but from all the indigenous communities.
The General Command of the EZLN has confirmed that it is still waiting for reports on yesterday's crash in order to determine if it was indeed and accident or an attack. It also laments the death of the military official that was 'escorting' the caravan.

- Indigenous National Congress Info Page (english)
-Image of Nurio,site of the Indigenous National Congress (pic)

Thursday, March 1: The Caravan reached the state of Quéretaro where there are Zapatista political prisoners incarcerated. The local governor, Ignacio Loyola Vera (well known for his strong opposition to any form of negotiation with the EZLN), left the state capital of Querétaro (Quéretaro) in sign of protest.
The day began with a tragic road accident in which one of the buses of the caravan ran over two police officers of the escort, killing one. Because of the delay caused by the accident the caravan was unable to get to Nurio (Michoacán) where the Third Indigenous National Congress is due to begin on March 2nd.

- EZLN communique regarding road accident
- People protects EZLN commanders after their bus has crashed (pic)
- EZLN in Querétaro (article from La Jornada)
- Caravan welcomed in Queretaro (pic)

Wednesday, February 28: This morning the delegation left Puebla (Puebla) in direction to the state of Hidalgo. The first stop of the Caravan was in Tlaxcala (Tlaxcala). Then passed through several towns and cities of the state of Hidalgo: Emiliano Zapata, Cuidad Sahagún, Actopan, Francisco I. Madero,Ixmiquilpan and Tepatepec.
During the reception event in the state's capital Pachuca Subcomandante Marcos formally announced the beginning of contacts between the EZLN and the federal legislators.

-EZLN Confirms Contact With Legislators
-Carlos Santana says NO to Televisa-Azteca "Peace Concert"
-Televisa's truck gets a Zapatista graffiti (pic)
-Marcos giving a speech in the rain (pic)
-EZLN Delegation in Ixmilquilpan (pic)

Tuesday, February 27: The Caravan, including the Italians who managed to hire other buses, passed through Tehuacán (Puebla) and Orizaba (Veracrúz) where they were greeted by a crowd of 50 thousands. The caravan ended the day in the state capital of Puebla (Puebla) where 15.000 people attended a rally in the Central Square.

-Words of the EZLN in Puebla
-Zapatistas in Puebla (Video)
-EZLN mass reception in Puebla (pic)

Another day of protest against the WEF in Cancun heavily repressed by police.

-Update of the events in Cancun
-Blockade in Cancun (pic)
-White overalls in Cancun (pic)
-police arrest injured protester (pic)

Monday, February 26: Passing through Tehuantepec and Villa de Mitla, the Caravan was travelling to the state capital of Oaxaca, Oaxaca. During the night at Oaxaca, the buses of the Italian supporters miraculously disappeared. A sabotage action by anti-Zapatista groups was considered the most likely cause for this incident. Read more.

-Article in La Jornada on the Oaxaca rally
-The Caravan in Oaxaca (video)

Meanwhile in Cancun, protests and actions took place against a meeting by the World Economic Forum.
[report 1 ¦ report 2 ¦ picture 1 ¦ picture2]

Sunday, February 25: The Zapatista Delegation left San Cristóbal, Chiapas, and was moving through the State of Oaxaca via Tapanatepec and La Ventosa. It stopped to salute a concentration of indigenous allies at the border of Oaxaca, before taking part in the central event of the day - a rally in Juchitán. The citizens of Juchitán were the first to rebel against Mexico's ruling party in 1982. Read first hand account.
See a gallery of images from the first two days of the caravan.

-Communique about the threats to the EZLN¹s Caravan
-Irish anarchist reports from San Cristobel on Zap march

Saturday, February 24: The Zapatista Delegations left from La Realidad, La Garrucha, Oventik and Moises Gandhi where Civil Society met them. A communique (in Spanish) by the EZLN's Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous Committee was read by the Zapatista delegation. This marked the starting point of the Caravan journey that moved towards San Cristóbal de Las Casas.

-Report from EZLN caravan in San Cristobal, Chiapas
-First hand report from Oventic
-Arrival in San Cristobal
-Picture of Zapatistas leaving Oventic
-Picture of Zapatistas as they arrive in San Cristobal

On January 1 1994, the Zapatista Army for National Liberation (EZLN) took over several towns in the southernmost Mexican state of Chiapas - timed to coincide with the implementation of the NAFTA 'freetrade' agreement.

Since then, they have been demanding basic human rights and social justice for the indigenous and rural communities of the area. Autonomous communities have meanwhile been set up: which have organised education and health care; collectivized the land; and implemented a grassroots approach to direct democracy decision-making. Outside Chiapas, the Zapatistas are also known for their radical rejection of neoliberal capitalism, as well as for moving away from the traditional strategies of many past guerilla movements in Latin America.