During the five days between December 13th and 17th, friends, intellectuals, and indigenous representatives in Chiapas gathered together in honor of the recently deceased Andrés Aubry. The announcement was made only weeks beforehand, but garnered dozens of speakers and hundreds of attendants from across the world. Andrés was remembered fondly as an accomplished anthropologist and a lifelong defender of indigenous rights in the Americas. He was a committed political advocate and authored numerous books, articles, and documentaries on the situation of indigenous communities. His activity not only had impact in Chiapas, but in Guatemala, the Yucatán peninsula, and North America as well. Even North American Indian representatives attended to honor him and express solidarity with indigenous communities worldwide.
The colloquium was held at CIDECI: Universidad de la Tierra, which Andrés had also been involved in during his life. The university provides free education to members of indigenous communities on topics such as women’s rights and political action. The turnout for the event was astounding, enough so that the indoor facilities could only accommodate a fraction of the people. Attendants were forming lines to enter the conference center to reserve a seat over an hour before the discussions began. The event also became an opportunity for activists and academics to network and share information, and was covered by several dozen correspondents from independent media sources.
The topics covered were as diverse as the speakers, but all focused around the theme of anti-systemic movements. The speakers came from political movements in Mexico, France, Great Britain, Cuba, Brazil, and Canada to name a few, notably Subcomandante Marcos, Naomi Klein, and John Berger.
The topics included critiques of feminism and socialism, definitions of power and democracy, deconstructions of modernism and capitalism, reflections on solidarity, and the current state of affairs in Chiapas. (All of Subcomandante Marcos’ speeches and a few by other speakers can be found at www.ezln.org.mx and chiapas.indymedia.org.)
A few conclusions emerged as particularly poignant among the rest. Among these has been the renewed war against the Zapatistas. Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos reported over the weekend on the current state of affairs in Chiapas. He made clear that the EZLN are under attack once again, but at this point in time they do not have as much international support as before. Paramilitary groups are becoming increasingly violent, and basic infrastructure such as electricity, water, and roads are being cut off. This is a continuation of an old pattern, but the change is that the offenses are reaching a new intensity, and media attention is at an all-time low. Marcos predicted that we are once again on the brink of violent escalation in Chiapas.
In addition, Marcos described recent efforts to estrange the movement politically and ideologically, citing accusations levied against the Zapatistas as opponents to progressive change. Particularly surprising are the attacks coming from the political left in Mexico, blaming the Zapatistas for Obrador’s loss in last year’s elections, despite clear evidence of election fraud on the part of Calderón. In addition people have used the Zapatistas and Marcos as scapegoats for their frustrations with the indigenous movement in general. Marcos mentioned that some organizers of the colloquium expressed indignation at Marcos’ daily participation at the event. Marcos responded to the criticisms with respect, but with the disappointment of being misunderstood and attacked.
Marcos also expressed his opinions on international support. He made clear that the EZLN is appreciative of the support given over the years. However now, as support is flagging, the question arises whether support is given because it is fashionable or because it is necessary. He stated that certain groups have been asking for compensation for their assistance, and pointed out the flaws in this way of thinking. He also described what he called ‘the gaze’ on Zapatistas.
Many people have capitalized on the movement, using it as a platform for their academic or political careers. He mentioned the countless books, theses, and documentaries that have been authored misrepresenting the struggle without proper research. He expressed gratitude for the attention, but also a desire to educate people on their intentions. He stated that if support is given, it should be done with knowledge and respect for the group and their needs, and is insulting and harmful if used simply as a platform for self-advancement.
Naomi Klein also contributed to the topic of international involvement in Latin America. She described how political activists come to Latin America “mining for hope”. This is not bad in and of itself, however frequently people do not put up a resistance to capitalism in their home countries that are perpetrating many of these wrongs. Unless matched with home-grown resistance, this political tourism is simply another form of imperialism. After the collective critiques of international support, a consensus became apparent that activists need to become aware of their own motives, and balance what they are taking from the movement with what they are giving.
The final day of the colloquium was a memorial for Andrés Aubry. Most of the representatives from the Junta de Buen Gobierno attended, including a speech by Comandante David. A representative from a North American Indian confederation gifted an eagle feather in Aubry’s memory, an Native American honor only bestowed on the greatest of warriors, and sang a traditional song in Andrés’ honor. Afterwards, everybody in the audience was invited to the front to sign a memorial of Mr. Aubry. The colloquium was proof of his impact even after death. It proved to be an opportunity for teaching, learning, and planning for what is in store. However, the true litmus test of this colloquium’s impact is yet to be seen in the change in actual political action after all of this theorizing and motivating.
