[ACE] The Zapatistas Today - events in Edin & Glasgow 16/17 June

[ace at lists.mutualaid.org]

THE ZAPATISTAS TODAY

public events in Edinburgh and Glasgow

First hand reports from the front line in Chiapas

plus 2 new videos -

WE SPEAK AGAINST INJUSTICE
(2002, 45 mins)
- Plan Puebla Panama and paramilitary murders in Chiapas in 2002

LONG LIVE LIFE, DEATH TO DEATH
(2003, 15 mins)
- 1st Jan 2003 : 20,000 Zapatistas take over the city of San Cristobal de
Las Casas

8pm Mon 16 June
Communication Workers Union, 15 Brunswick Street, Edinburgh

1pm Tues 17 June
Mono, 12 Kings Court, King Street, Glasgow G1

2 speakers from the Kiptik drinking water project, just returned from months
working in the Zapatista communities in resistance. Direct news of
confrontations in Montes Azules between Zapatista villagers resisting
eviction and the Mexican army and paramilitaries.

Info Edinburgh-Chiapas Solidarity Group 0131 557 6242
edinchiapas at yahoo.co.uk
e mail to join the Edinburgh-Chiapas e mail list, about one message every
one or two weeks on the struggle in Chiapas and solidarity activity in
Scotland.


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 More info on the events

The 2 speakers have both been involved over a period of years working with
the Zapatistas installing drinking water systems in the communities of
resistance. Kiptik works with the Zapatista autonomous municipalities to
provide good drinking water, improving health and improving the lives of
all, especially the women.

Both speakers have only just returned from Chiapas within the last few days,
and so can provide up to date first hand information on what is happening
right now. They will be able to report on what the international observers
saw when the Mexican armed forces and armed civilians arrived to
try and evict the Zapatista village of Nuevo San Rafael in Montes Azules.

The speakers will describe the work of Kiptik, and how we can help and get
involved.  One of the speakers is the co-ordinator of the project, who
normally lives in Chiapas, and so this is a rare opportunity to have a first
hand account of the indigenous people's struggle in Chiapas from someone who
has spent years working directly with the Zapatistas.

Kiptik can be contacted at kiptik at eudoramail.com
and see  http://www.kiptik.buz.org


Details of the films to be shown

1. We speak against injustice (about 45 mins) covers the link between the
latest paramilitary violence (in the second half of 2002) and the Plan
Puebla Panama.
During 2002 there was an upsurge in paramilitary violence in Chiapas,
including several murders of Zapatista activists in the Montes Azules area.
The film shows the link between this and the plans of the Governments and
multinationals to plunder southern Mexico and Central America through the
Plan Puebla Panama.

2. Long live life, death to death (about 15 mins) covers the amazing march
of 20,000 Zapatista villagers into San Cristobal de las Casas on Jan 1st
2003.
This dramatic mobilisation by the Zapatistas showed the Mexican state and
the world that they are far from the spent force that their detractors
allege. Arriving after long journeys from the remote jungle and the
highlands, thousands of dirt-poor indigenous peasant villagers achieved an
incredible feat by peacefully taking over the major tourist and commercial
city of San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas.
Banging their machetes and sticks, holding up burning torches, as the black
smoke from the multiple bonfires engulfed the town centre,the masked
insurgents packed the expansive centre plaza and still thousands more were
left chanting in the surrounding streets.
"We came to say that here we are still stronger than ever and we resist,"
said Comandante Mister. "In the face of a globalization of death imposed by
the powerful, we proclaim a globalization of freedom..."

Don't miss this event! Please take flyers to publicise, forward e mails,
tell your friends......