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From Global Exchange, San Cristobal de las Casas, 4 January 1998
Five military camps were visible from the road
1. The community of Oventic is semi-deserted. The few remaining families
and civil peace campers that remain said that the majority of Oventicís
population had evacuated due to the fear of occupation by units of the
Federal Army. They also reported that a military aeroplane had flown very
low over the community on the 3rd and 4th of January, increasing the fear
of its inhabitants. The mission also noted that approximately 30 soldiers
from the Federal Army were patrolling paths less than one kilometre from
Oventic.
2. The approximately 6,000 refugees that have taken refuge in Polho
continue to lack many of their basic necessities. Lack of food, medicines
and adequate living space continues to cost lives. This morning a
two-month-old baby, Cecilia Jimenez, died of pneumonia. Soldiers and state
police maintain the road-block that they set up at the entrance to the
community. One kilometre away, in the community of Majomut, a military camp
displayed a banner with the words ìSocial Workî written on it in big
letters. Its installations complete with military hardware, however,
stretched for over 200 metres along the road-side.
3. The inhabitants of Acteal, where the 45 indigenous people were
massacred, are scared by the constant visits of military personnel and
civilians claiming to be from the Attorney Generalís Office. The intruders
bring cameras and video equipment into the community without first asking
their permission on the pretext that they are carrying out investigations
related to the events of 22 December. They also tried to intimidate members
of the Civil Peace Camp when they questioned their incursion into the
community.
The members of the mission also noted the enormous increase in military
presence in Los Altos. As many as five military camps were visible from the
road between Chenalho and the community of Acteal, a distance of
approximately 25 kilometres. This number excludes the military check-point
at the entrance to Polho and the one that has been recently set up at the
community of Xoyeb. Army units are in constant movement along the road and
on cross country paths, thus increasing tension and the fear of an imminent
attack on EZLN communities.
As for Acteal, the mission demands that the Attorney General's Office
respect the inhabitants of the community, that its officials identify
themselves to its authorities, and that they declare the purpose of their
visits. They also demand that they abandon their arrogant and intimidatory
attitude when dealing with the community and that they cease to be
accompanied by the army. Our interviews with peace campers and members of
the community have shown that their frequent visits and incursions into the
community have only served to generate an increased level of fear in its
inhabitants.
It also urgently calls for the International Red Cross to bring
humanitarian assistance to the thousands of displaced people that are
suffering from cold and hunger.
Convinced that the heavy military presence that they have witnessed is not
helping to bring about an end to the conflict, the mission supports the
proposals that have been put forward by well known academics and
intellectuals for a peaceful solution. It also calls on the federal
government to respect the law on Dialogue and Pacification in Chiapas and
to fulfill the San Andres Accords on Indigenous Rights and Autonomy.
by Global Exchange |