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TITLE: Weekly News Summary |
AUTHOR: |
ORG: Mexico Solidarity Network |
DATE: March 1-8 |
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Contents: National Indigenous Congress Meets in Nurio, Michoacan Fernando Yañez--Zapatista Rep. to the COCOPA--Meets with PRD Senators Concert for "Peace" Held; Santana Pulls Out, Mana Gives It Up; Alternative Concert Organized
National Indigenous Congress Meets in Nurio, Michoacan
The Zapatista March arrived in Nurio, Michoacan last weekend after an emotional trek through Hidalgo, one of the most marginalized states in Mexico. The much anticipated Zapatista arrival coincided with the arrival of 3300 indigenous people representing 42 of the 56 indigenous groups in Mexico for a gathering of the National Indigenous Congress (CNI). Many foreign supporters of the Zapatista movement and indigenous struggle in general also attended. Delegates spent three days convening meetings, workshops and lectures. At the end of the meetings the Zapatistas took the stage, read pronouncements, and subcommandante Marcos gave a moving 17-minute speech recognizing the diversity amongst the various indigenous groups in Mexico, their histories, and their struggles. For a large portion of his talk Marcos individually addressed each of the indigenous groups present and in his characteristic poetic style, calmly relayed parts of the history of each group back to his massive audience. "We will not resign from being who we are and we will continue defending our autonomy," read one of the final proclamations of the conference. "And in defending it," the proclamation continued, "we will also defend all of those who, like us, want to live differently with dignity." Other declarations generated from the conference proclaimed support for the San Andres Accords, demanded the relelase of all indigenous political prisoners, and the demilitarization of the country--essentially a broadened, Mexico-wide version of the three signals that the Zapatistas have been demanding as a condition for the return to dialogue. Perhaps the most significant result of the Congress was the decision to form "autonomous municipalities"--similar to the 38 formed in Zapatista territory-- in indigenous regions throughout Mexico. The Indian nations also said they would declare a National Day of Indigenous Rights. It should be noted that delegates rejected Fox's Plan Puebla to Panama as well as the Trans-Isthmus Mega Project, which would create a super highway streching from Vera Cruz to Salinas Cruz, bringing in thousands of acres of nutrient-sucking eucalyptus trees, and displacing thousand of indigenous people from their lands. END
Fernando Yañez--Zapatista Rep. to the COCOPA--Meets with PRD Senators
Laywer Fernando Yañez, formerly known as Commandante German, who is serving as the Zapatista representative to the Mexican Congress met with PRD senators on March 8th. Yañez presence was described as a "courtesy" to the Senators in preparation for the upcoming March 12 meeting between the commandancia of the EZLN and the Congressional Commission on Concordance and Pacification (COCOPA). Yañez commented that he thought there was a "favorable climate" for the Congress to pass the Law for Indigenous Rights and Culture, based on the San Andres Accords. The Accords were jointly signed between the government and the Zapatistas in Feb. 96, but have yet to be ratified by Congress. END
TV AZTECA/Televisa "Peace" Concert exposed; Underground Rock Musicians Organize "Zapata in the Heart" Concert for March 12 The huge Mexican TV networks took a hint from their Colombian cousins this week and televised a widely promoted "concert for peace" on TV screens across Mexico. Rock concerts for peace have become a trademark for Colombia's major TV networks in light of that country's 35-year old civil war. Mexico City residents reported that the concert broadcast on every station throughout the city. "There was nothing else on!" reported one resident of La Condesa, a stylish neighborhood in the heart of the city. Most residents in Mexico City were not fooled by the concert, though it was well attended. "What kind of peace are they talking about?...One where we all smile and pretend everything is ok?...or a peace that allows for the dignity of indigenous people?" asked one spectator. But while the concert monopolized the airwaves, the concert's main promotors, TV Azteca and Televisa were beseiged with bad news. The networks were stung just days before the concert when Carlos Santana stated he would pull out of the concert. Later, headlining pop stars Mana and the famous veteran rockers Los Jaguares announced, after consultation with sources close to the Zapatistas, that they would take the money they earned from the concert and donate it to 24 communities in Chiapas. Meanwhile, well-known underground musicians announced a different concert-- "Zapata in the Heart"--and declared that proceeds from the sale of the live CD of the concert would go directly to Zapatista communities. The concert, to be held March 12th on the Zocalo in Mexico City, will feature renowned rock groups Maldita Vecindad and Panteon Rococo. Panteon's most recent CD "To the Left of the Land" just surpassed 35,000 sales--not much by American pop standards but remarkable in Mexico. "The ideas [of Zapatismo] have made us learn about liberty, independence, and our rights...and that we shouldn't rely on people with money to get things done." "They said that we were Generation X, because we didn't know what we wanted. Now we are Generation EZ," said Taniz, drummer for Panteon. END |