Mileno
August 17, 2001
By Eugenia Jiménez Cáliz

The militarization in Chiapas has increased in the last few months because the current Fox cabinet, instead of generating peace conditions, are reactivating the low-intensity war and "returning to the strict old Zedillo times" claims the non-government organization Global Exchange, a human rights organization, and The Center of Economic and Politic Investigation for Community Action (Ciepac). Gustavo Castro Soto; coordinator of Ciepac, Ernesto Ledesma; director of the Program Global Exchange in Chiapas, and Rubén Moreno Méndez; representative of the Defenders Network, pointed out that during the months of May through July there have been 104 military operations in at least 16 municipal cities in Chiapas. Furthermore, paramilitary actions have increased greatly.

Also, in the months of April through August, 12 military check points have been reinstalled. The military actions include harassment, permanent and temporary check points, patrols, flyovers, military repositions, military training in indigenous communities, and interrogation of individuals. The paramilitary groups and the presence of the Mexican Army have strongly affected the indigenous communities, the displaced populations, and the socio-agricultural organizations.

With the reactivation of this low-intensity war, there is a risk of an increase in economic turmoil, because of the current agricultural crisis, which is greater than the economic crisis. The agricultural crisis has affected the production of maize, coffee, sugar, among other products which provide sustenance for poor local farmers and indigenous communities.

The withdrawal of seven military camps, requested by the EZLN, showed the public that the government kept its formal promise of demilitarization. However, sources have assured, that this is only an 'act' and that there has not been a decrease in the military presence in Chiapas, only a repositioning of the military camps and an increase of army actions in the nearby communities. Thus President Vicente Fox could claim the formal fulfillment of the San Andres negotiations to the Mexican Congress, the Cocopa, and to Chiapas Governor Pablo Salazar. He was also called on to stop to the community harassment, find a solution to people displaced from their homes, bring the paramilitary groups to justice, and a hold a public consultation about the Puebla-Panama plan.

Translated from the Spanish by a volunteer on August 19, 2001.