- NGOs denounce 104 military operatives in the last four months

- The military has repositioned, withdrew 7 bases, but installed another 12, they say

La Jornada
August 17th, 2001
By Claudia Herrera Beltrán

NGOs declared yesterday that after the approval in Federal Congress of the constitutional reforms on indigenous rights and culture last April, there has been an increase of harassment activities by the military and paramilitaries in communities in Chiapas. In the last four months there have been at least 104 military actions.

Global Exchange, the Community Network for Human Right Defense and the Center for Economic and Political Research for Community Action (CIEPAC) stated that military bases have reinstalled in Chiapas, because although seven bases were closed, 12 new bases were installed.

Ernesto Ledesma, head of the Chiapas Program, said there is no change in the federal government as compared to Ernesto Zedillo's in respect to the role of military, since from April to August indigenous communities continue to report harassment, permanent military bases, patrolling, surveillance flights, training and questioning of civilians.

As a result of such actions, he explained during a press conference, there have been arbitrary detentions, which have caused the displacement of indigenous people from Ixtapa and Venustiano Carranza, in Cuatro Milpas, Tapachula. Repression has extended to workers of the US-Mexico commission that work in the eradication of agricultural diseases, as well as farmers from Mocri, and civilians that took the offices of the Agriculture Ministry in Tuxtla Gutierrez and Marqués de Comillas.

In respect to paramilitary actions, he declared that since January 2001 Paz y Justicia has conducted meetings with authorities to request the return of the military and elaborated a list of Zapatistas. Then he questioned the promise to put an end to paramilitary actions (by the government) as during the present year there have been no detentions of paramilitaries and the leader of Paz y Justicia, Samuel Sanchez, was released. "We are back to harsh times, just like with Zedillo".

Rubén Moreno, from the Network of Community Defenders for Human Rights qualified Fox's campaign promises as "an act" because there has been no decrease in the number of military forces, but a repositioning and an increment of their activities. "The strategy of low intensity war resumes," he asserted.

In a detailed recount, he outlined the increment of military presence in roads and communities of the autonomous municipality Ricardo Flores Magón, and the reinforcement of the bases in Cintalapa and Crucero Palestina.

He pointed out the installation of a military camp in the community of Paraíso and the bases in Chocoljaito and the road to Clavo. Moreover, in July 20th an airplane and a helicopter of the federal army flew these communities and in Victórico Grajales there was a night incursion of 40 soldiers.

He explained that in Altos de Chiapas the community assemblies are observed by soldiers, and the sound of arms firing intimidate the communities neighboring the 31 Military Zone.

Gustavo Castro, from CIEPAC, considered that behind the recent constitutional reforms as passed by PAN and PRI, are the interests of transnational corporations that prevent the indigenous communities from benefiting from their natural resources.

In view of these reports, the three NGOs demanded in a letter addressed to President Fox and the state governor Pablo Salazar, the observance of the San Andrés accords, and end to the harassment and human rights violations, a solution for the displaced population, a public forum on the Puebla-Panamá Plan and for the federal executive to exert a leadership and role to the armed forces as indicated in the Constitution.

Translated from the Spanish by Ricardo Sosa on August 19, 2001