Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Chiapas, Mexico - On the eve of the presidential elections in Mexico the situation in the State of Chiapas has grown to a critical juncture. Military and paramilitary forces are setting the stage for a final showdown with the rebellious Zapatista movement. The time is now and the result of any armed conflict will be genocidal for the indigenous people of Chiapas.

For this reason the members of "Zapatistas Online" are sending out this urgent call to unity with other activist communities throughout the world. Though our particular "issues" may differ, the idealism and values which we hold true are consistent. Chiapas is a mirror and a real time example of the misguided policies of free trade and globalization. Millions of indigenous people practicing a traditional lifestyle are threatened not only with change, but, with cultural extinction. The government of Mexico offers them a choice between global economic slavery or death.

Events in the conflict are escalating on a daily basis now. The analysts both in Mexico and in the USA fear the worst is about to happen. A Ruling party victory, whether legitimate or by the historical use of electoral fraud, in the presidential elections will be taken by the government as a rubber stamp for war against the indigenous of Chiapas.

We need your help and we need it now. Though there are many pressing issues throughout the world, Chiapas is now at the critical moment. We are asking for two things from the activist communities worldwide.

First: Letter writing campaigns to your local and national news media and governments condemning the actions of the Mexican government and asking for international pressure to remove the military from Chiapas.

Second: Preparations for a massive emergency protest in the event that open war does break out.

Again, the situation in Chiapas is critical. Murder, assassination, intimidation, torture and other violations of the human rights of a minority ethnic group taking are now taking place daily and escalating in seriousness and quantity as well.

Please join Zapatistas Online in raising a gigantic wall of protest in support of the rights of the indigenous people of Chiapas Mexico.

Zapatistas Online meets at zo-en@deliberate.com, an email list. The English language messages from the chiapas95@eco.utexas.edu edited news list come into our list. We discuss the news, look for ideas, encourage street action, and issue proclamations. We make our decisions by formal democracy, following the democratic ideals the Zapatistas defend.

Help us to be a Voice.

Join us by sending the message "subscribe zo-en" to majordomo@deliberate.com