La Jornada
August 14, 2001
Hermann Bellinghausen

Indigenous peoples fear a military attack against the EZLN

We ask our fellow brothers of México and the world to be attentive, they say in the communiqué.

San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. The autonomous municipal counsel of San Andrés Sakamch'en criticized the increase of military movement in the San Cayetano barracks, two kilometers from the Aguascalientes at Oventic. "This causes tensions in our communities, because it is feared that Mr. Vicente Fox is preparing a military attack against the EZLN and their support bases", it is stated in a letter of public opinion and by other means of communication.

The authorities of the autonomous municipality claim: "On August 11, 19 army vehicles, among buses and pick-up trucks, arrived at the neighborhood of San Cayetano. This is not the first time this has happened, in fact, days earlier soldiers had entered in 2 or 3 cars to increase the number of troops on hand; this is how they have been coming so as to not attract attention, but today hundreds of federal soldiers arrived."

The protest and outcry coincides with that of the counsel of the neighboring autonomous municipality of San Juan de la Libertad, over the increased patrols and troops in San Cayetano, Puerto Caté and El Bosque. In the past, San Cayetano and other communities in the neighboring community of San Andrés and San Juan de la Libertad ( San Antonio El Brillante and Jolnachoj) were areas where indigenous protests against the presence of soldiers have occurred.

The autonomous counsel of San Andrés Sakamch'en stated: "We as authorities of our villages energetically reject the increase of military personnel in each camp in any of our indigenous zones, because the military presence causes the villages to suffer and are signs that Mr. Fox has no desire for peace, instead, it shows that he wishes to continue the war against our people."

The new criticisms of the rebel municipalities seem to indicate an inexplicable 'warming up' of military activities in their territories, in the Tzotzil region of the Altos. The San Andrés Sakamch'en counsel has specifically stated: "We ask all our indigenous and non-indigenous brothers of Mexico and the world to be attentive".

More troops in Ocosingo and Las Margaritas

On another note, the communities of the autonomous municipalities Tierra y Libertad, along the border region, state that last weekend there was an intense mobilization of troops in Nuevo Huixtán and Poza Rica.

Armed vehicles and military transport vehicles in groups of ten blocked the roads. The community of Poza Rica, located on the border highway, is one of the entry points to the south part of the Lacandona jungle, and is located 15 kilometers from Guadalupe Tepeyac and the road to La Realidad. In these same days, the military bases of Maravilla Tenejapa and Amparo Agua Tinta were also active.

According to in-coming reports from the autonomous municipality of Francisco Gómez, the army has increased its personnel in the base at Patihuitz, just a few kilometers from the Aguascalientes III of the EZLN, and have installed a checkpoint. A similar comment was made by the parish priest of Ocosingo and Altamirano, Raymundo Tamayo, who after feeling threatened in Patihuitz sent an open letter to President Vicente Fox in which he, among other things, questioned: "Is the work of the diocese (of San Cristóbal de las Casas) under vigilance?"

Translated from the Spanish by Thomas Benton on August 16, 2001