Global Exchange had a Reality Tour visiting Chiapas in December of
1998 that received the following press attention. We thought it was
important for subscribers to be aware of the situation and our
response to it.
- Fray Bartolome Center Provokes Government,
La Jornada, 29 December, 1998
- Interior Ministry Will Expel Foreign Activists,
Cuarto Poder, 29 December, 1998
- So That They Explain Their Activities in Chiapas,
Cuarto Poder, 30 December, 1998
- Global Exchange Response, 31 December, 1998
La Jornada
29 December 1998
The coordinator of the National Immigration Institute (INM), Alejandro
Carillo Castro, claimed that the Fray Bartolomé de las Casas Human
Rights Center, headed by Bishop Samuel Ruíz García, was
provoking [the government] by declaring that the immigration checks on
foreigners in Chiapas is a violation of their human rights. He warned
that inciting foreigners to break immigration laws is a crime that
could be punished with three years in prison.
The Interior Ministry official also said that so-called "revolutionary
tourism" of the kind offered by the U.S. organization Global Exchange, in
which foreign visitors arrive as part of a package to visit the Highlands
of Chiapas and celebrate the fifth anniversary of the appearance of the
Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN), would not be allowed.
He also explained that they will not tolerate, as happens in other
countries, that foreigners are invited to build or help to build schools in
Mexico, as has been the case in Oventic, Chiapas. He said that to argue
that the human rights of foreigners were being violated was a "provocation".
"I insist that a tourist agency visiting Chiapas is not breaking any laws,
but if the organization is making seditious visits with the pretext of
discovering the reality of the country and intervening in situations of a
political nature, that is prohibited, starting with article 33 of the
Constitution."
As for the work of the Fray Bartolomé de las Casas Human Rights Center, he
signalled that the government is not against the fact that they defend
human rights, not just of Mexicans, but of any person whatsoever who visits
[Mexico]. But "what we consider to be inappropriate is that human rights
defending is used as a pretext to invite people to break Mexican laws," he
warned.
Cuarto Poder
29 December 1998
The National Immigration Institute (INM) affirmed today that the government
will be vigilent about enforcing the law in fulfillment of article 33 of
the Constitution [which gives the President of the Republic the power to
expel any foreigner that he consider "inconvenient" without a prior hearing
for "meddling in the internal politics of the country"] as a response to
the invitation of foreign organizations like Global Exchange to carry out
"a revolutionary tourism" in the conflict areas of Chiapas.
"The INM will be vigilantly enforcing the law, with full respect for human
rights, but also for national sovereignty," said the head of the
immigration service, Alejandro Carrillo Castro. He also added that they
would not be employing any additional mechanisms in relation to the fifth
anniversary of the appearance of the EZLN, although he he said that they
had detected some 250 foreign observers.
In relation to the invitation of foreign organizations like Global Exchange
to carry out "revolutionary tourism" in the conflict areas of Chiapas,
Carrillo Castro affirmed that the government would apply the law in order
to enforce article 33 of the Constitution.
These kinds of activities, he said, "are mere acts of provocation so that
when the laws are enforced they can start to shout that the human rights of
tourists are being violated".
"Is the government ready to apply article 33 in Chiapas?"
"Well, not only are we ready, but we've been applying the law any time that
it's been necessary."
Cuarto Poder
30 December, 1998
Foreign citizens from the New Year [reality tour] in Chiapas organized by
the NGO Global Exchange will be cited to explain their activities in
Chiapas before the National Immigration Institute (INM).
Sources close to the INM made it known that this federal institution has
decided to control the flow of foreigners to prevent them from carrying out
activities that are not authorized by their visa.
According the same source, the above is to take place because the North
American organization Global Exchange has offered an $800 package by
internet to attend the fifth anniversary of the public appearance of the
EZLN in Zapatista support base communities.
The purpose of the citations given out by the immigration authorities is so
that the foreigners can declare the activities that they have planned to
carry out. The documents will be given to them when they cross an
immigration checkpoint.
The 14 foreigners, who entered the country on tourist visas so that they
could spend seven days in Chiapas, should carry out cultural and
recreational activities and should not get involved in any of a political
nature, as indicated in the INM rules.
[The article then lists the names of each and every one of the tour
participants.]
All of the above responded to the package offered by Global Exchange, which
included transport from Mexico City to Chiapas and from there to the
villages where there is a rebel Zapatista Army presence.
Global Exchange is unable to defend itself against the recent media
attacks (which have been diffused by local radio, national television
and several of the main national newspapers) as the INM has prohibited
foreign nationals from communicating with the Mexican media, arguing
that this is a political activity that contravenes article 33 of the
Constitution.
In reference to the recent media attacks to which Global Exchange and the
participants of its current reality tour have been subjected, we would like
to clarify the following points:
- We deeply regret the aggressive attitude adopted by the INM in
relation to our current reality tour to Chiapas. According to the
Mexican Constitution and General Population Law we cannot find any
reason why tourists should not be able to visit indigenous communities
in Chiapas.
- The INM has threatened to apply article 33 of the Mexican
Political Constitution in the event that our tour visits an indigenous
community where the fifth anniversary of the public appearance of the
EZLN will be celebrated on January 1st. Article 33 stipulates the
following:
"All persons who do not comply by the qualities established by Article 30
are foreigners. They have the right to the guarantees instituted by Chapter
I, Title I, of this Constitution, but the Executive Office of the Union
will have the exclusive power to remove from national territory,
immediately and with no need of a hearing, any foreigner whose permanence
the Executive judges unconvenient.
Foreigners shall not, in any way, meddle in the political affairs of the
country."
We do not understand why the INM and the federal government insist on
considering cultural and educational visits to indigenous communities by
foreigners as "meddling in the political affairs of the country." The
non-profit reality tours of Global Exchange are not organized so that
foreign citizens can vote, promote a particular political party, or seek
public office while in Mexico, for these are the exclusive political rights
of Mexican citizens. The purpose of our tours is rather to give
participants the opportunity to observe at first hand the cultural and
social life of indigenous communities.
This activity is fully permitted by Article 1 of the Mexican Constitution
which guarantees foreigners the same fundamental rights as Mexicans,
including freedom of movement, freedom of association, and freedom of
expression. These rights are applicable to all people, regardless of
nationality, sex, race, creed or any other individual or collective
characteristic. According to Article 2, any individual, by the simple fact
of entering Mexican territory, is protected by these constitutional rights.
Furthermore, the federal government reserves the right to expel any
foreigner whom it considers to be "inconvenient." We therefore ask
ourselves for whom the presence of foreigners in indigenous communities is
considered "inconvenient" - for the federal government or for the
indigenous communities?
- In recent days the INM harrassed foreigners who attended the
commemorative mass for the massacre of 45 indigenous people at Acteal
on December 22, 1997. Various of the more than 70 foreigners who
visited the community were given citations to appear before the INM
office in San Cristobal de las Casas. We ask ourselves if attending a
commemorative mass, which is essentially a humanitarian and religious
act, is also considered "political meddling" by the Mexican
authorities?
Global Exchange Reality Tours