Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

CHIAPAS, MEXICO - Jet black braids against pure white shawls adorned with bright red embroidered flowers, the Abejas women were first in line to register for the assembly. Then came the men in their white knee-length tunics, black wool ponchos and traditional hats donned with colorful, dancing ribbons.

After nearly 100 members of the Mayan pacifist group, Las Abejas (the Bees), had taken their seats at long rows of white tables on one side of the convention hall, the municipal authorities from Chenalhó, a small county in the heart of the Chiapan highlands, entered the lobby to sign in.

Then came a few select observers -- religious leaders, human rights lawyers, the Red Cross -- and the moderator of the meeting, Chiapas Governor Pablo Salazar.

When the hall was full, there sat the Abejas face to face with many of the men who had run them out of their homes at gunpoint four years ago.

The August 24th event was initially announced as a meeting to sign a "Non-Aggression Pact" between the Abejas and local government authorities in preparation for the return of more than 300 people displaced by paramilitary violence to their home communities. But the Abejas clarified their intentions: "A non-aggression pact implies that two parties are fighting with each other. We, Las Abejas, have not committed any acts of aggression against anyone." So the negotiations resulted in an "Accord of Mutual Respect" in which the government agreed, among other things, to prohibit the possession of firearms in the villages and to ensure the safety of those returning home.

During a break when each side went to caucus in separate rooms, several priests and nuns came over to chat with CPTers who were maintaining a prayer presence outside the convention hall.

"This is an important opening of space," they reported. "Each side is speaking and listening to each other with respect." They emphasized that, although the Governor would like to call it "reconciliation," this "acercamiento" (establishment of cordial relations) is an early step in a long process to come.

Near the end of the break, CPTers noticed two men standing in the corner talking amiably and shaking hands. One was Abejas leader José Vásquez from X'oyep. The other was Manuel Pérez Arias, pastor of the Presbyterian church in Pechiquil -- the home community of many of the paramilitaries who participated in the massacre of 45 Abejas in December, 1997. These two old friends, who worked together to translate the Bible into their native language of Tzotzil, had not spoken to each other for several years following the massacre.

The prophet Ezekiel (11:19) announces God's promise of transformation: "I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh." The word for "peace" (in relationships) in Tzotzil is "jun 'ontonal" -- one heart. Today in Chenalhó we can hear the nascent heartbeat of "cordial relations."