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CHIAPAS, MEXICO: Las Abejas - "No more deaths of innocents" The following press statement was issued by Las Abejas on December 28, 1999 during their 1000-person Pilgrimage for the Renewal of our Hearts to military bases throughout Chenalho county. Las Abejas (the Bees) are a group of 4000 Mayan Christians commited to nonviolence. They are a primary partner with whom CPT works in Chiapas.

According to a nun who works with the Abejas and spoke with the recent CPT delegation to Chiapas, the December procession didn't simply send a message to the soldiers; it shook their foundations. Following the press release is a translation of the flier that the Abejas handed out to soldiers at each of four military civic action camps along the route.

Press Release

Pilgrimage for the Renewal of Our Hearts God said to the people: Come, let us walk together in the light of the Lord (Is. 2:5)

Holy Ground of the Martyrs of Acteal, Chenalho, Chiapas December 28, 1999
Feast of the Holy Innocents

To the national and international press; To all the peoples of the world --brothers and sisters, indigenous, peasants, workers, teachers, professionals, homemakers, Mexican Army, elected officials, business people, students, criminals, and even drug traffickers; To all Chiapans and other Mexicans, from the poorest to the wealthiest:

We remember on this day the Feast of the Holy Innocents. From the moment of Jesus birth during the reign of King Herod, he was persecuted. Herod ordered the death of many children because he was thought that the Savior Jesus would be among them (Mt. 2:13-16).

Today God speaks to us. This pilgrimage is for the renewal of our hearts, so that there will be no more deaths of innocents. How many innocents have died, how many displaced people have abandoned their belongings and suffered throughout the last 2,000 years of history.

Our friends, today we look back over our lives and acknowledge our attitudes and our actions. We remember that we are all children of the same God, that we are brothers and sisters, and that each of us is but a sojourner living on borrowed time in this world so that we may work for good and not evil. We are called to work for peace (Mt. 5:9). Let us be builders of truth, not violence, of peace, not of hostility.

We believe that peace is only possible through dialogue. We cannot talk of peace and want war. We cannot seek reconciliation and provoke violence with the presence of weapons. We cannot live in a land of justice while militarization increases. If our hearts don't agree with our words, we walk in darkness. Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who call darkness light and light darkness, who call bitter sweet and sweet into bitter! (Is. 5:20) We want to plant and harvest the fruit of our mother earth in peace, free from military camps.

Let each of us do what we ought to do. Let us renew our hearts; let us be born again as Jesus said in John 3:3. It is time for us to correct each other with respect in the presence of friends and colleagues regardless of where we are from, our religion, our political party, our language, color, people or culture.

By the Civil Society Organization Las Abejas

Jose Perez Vazquez
Antonio Gutierrez Perez

Flier Handed out to Soldiers at Four Military Bases

Mexican Soldier:

We ask you to join us in learning to walk in the way of life, of justice, of right and of peace. Together let us create the pathway that leads to the house of our Lord God. Our brothers and sisters, we have asked for the demilitarization of the region but the government doesn't listen. You shouldn't learn to think like them. That's why we re asking you now to leave this military camp. This is not the only way to make a living. There are many kinds of work to achieve a just and pleasant life. The evil spirit, the spirit of war, of injustice, of violence will be quite happy with us if we don't do what is necessary for peace to come to our land. Think hard about this. While we live we have the opportunity to build the Reign of God.

You have walked through our region. You are familiar with our area. You know that there is no peace while you walk around provoking fear with your weapons. You have introduced weapons to the paramilitaries. With your checkpoints you have harassed us and those who come to visit us. How does your heart feel?

Don't shed the blood of your brothers in the land because when you kill a person, you are killing God.

Civil Society Las Abejas