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CHIAPAS, MEXICO - The Community Defenders for Human Rights Network A.C. met with representatives from different communities from the area which makes up the Trabajo Autonomous Municipality, Chiapas.

During the meeting, which was held on, August 12, 2000 in the Roberto Barrios Ejido, representatives from the different communities informed us that, on August 9, the 27 communities affiliated with the Peace and Justice organization went to the community of Arimatea, for the purpose of reviewing what their leaders had not accomplished of what they had committed to, such as economic programs, aid programs, etcetera. They also reported that the government is interested in opening more highways - along the road which leads to Cha'ncala Zapote to Samaritano, and the other which goes from Santa Mari'a, to Echeverri'a Alvarez - in communities which will receive no benefit from them. The government is doing this solely in order to facilitate the entrance of the military, intimidating the communities in resistance.

The Palenque council sent machinery in order to open another stretch from Samaritano to Luis Echeverri'a. The installation of satellite telephones in various communities, communication radios and changes in agents and rural police.

On August 6, low helicopter overflights above the San Felipe Tulija' Ejido. Paramilitaries holding meetings in different communities. Peace and Justice groups from Luis Echeverri'a Ejido causing problems in order to blame the community in resistance. Municipal President Ismael Cordova Pimienta has been visiting PRI communities, primarily in evangelical churches, distributing propaganda and trying to convince the people to vote for his party, the PRI.

Two days after the meeting of promoters from different communities and organizations gathered together at the Roberto Barrios Ejido, 5 shots were heard, as if they were being fired into the air, from the military camp, which is located 200 meters from the community. This caused great fear in the persons gathered together. The community learned that a soldier died in the fire.

We are reporting that we believe all of these actions, which took place prior to and during the meeting, are provocations, so that the government can justify an offensive against the peoples in resistance who are seeking the peace for which we are all hoping.

Sincerely,

Community Defenders for Human Rights Network