Translation by Scott Campbell

Recommendation 050/2008

The Montes Azules region in the state of Chiapas has for a long time been a place of controversy and conflict.

By Magalí Rabasa

In this article, Magali offers a detailed account of the days she spent following la Otra Campaña during its stay in Oaxaca. Magali is currently a volunteer with the Servico Internacional Para la Paz (SIPAZ), an organizational partner of the Peace House.

Article written by Alex Rocklin and Rachel Wallis

One of the most striking aspects of the conflict in Chiapas is that the
situations of dire poverty and oppression, against which the Zapatistas
are fighting, take place in one of the states richest in natural
resources in Mexico. Chiapas is rich in timber, bio-diversity,
petroleum, minerals and water, which is used for both drinking water
and hydroelectric dams. Yet while this natural wealth is being
exploited at an alarming rate, the residents of Chiapas see almost none
of the benefits. At the time of the uprising, according to the peace
and justice organization SIPAZ, Chiapas was supplying more than 30% of
the electricity to the country of Mexico, but more than 30% of the
states residents had no access to this service.

Article written by Monica Sandschafer

The Zapatista movement is requesting assistance from the international community for the successful relocation of eight of their communities from the Montes Azules bio-reserve. While some communities have decided to stay and continue to resist threats of potentially violent expulsion at the hands of the federal government, these eight have chosen to relocate in order to have greater access to Zapatista health care and education. The communities will need support in order to relocate, as they will need to build new houses, prepare land for planting and amass temporary food provisions until the first harvest. The Mexico Solidarity Network is collecting donations to go directly to the communities to assist them in relocating. Please see www.mexicosolidaritynetwork.org for details.