AUT: English Chiapas al Dia 160 I

[CIEPAC <ciepac@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

ENGLISH VERSION OF "CHIAPAS AL DÍA" BULLETIN No. 160
CIEPAC
CHIAPAS, MÉXICO
(Friday, July 2, 1999)


	THE CONSULTA:  BREAKING SIEGES (Second Version)
(Second and Last of Two Parts)


The Seven Tasks

Following a review and discussion of the results of the Consulta, the EZLN
and civil society agreed to promote the following tasks:

1. -  The State Coordinators shall become Contact Coordinators.

2. -  The commitment to extend information at all levels about what
happened at the Second Encuentro between Civil Society and the EZLN.

3. -  The Contact Coordinators shall be a bridge between civil society and
the EZLN.

4. -  To broaden the bases of the Consulta, in order to support the
struggles already going on in the country, for example, the student
struggle at the UNAM, where they have been on strike for 25 days;  the
struggle of the Electricians Union against privatization of the electricity
industry;  and the commitment of everyone to join in this struggle and
those that might arise.

5. -  To establish an information network in all the states, and to provide
links between themselves, in order to be able to promote actions in cases
of repression against any person who is struggling to build a better Mexico.

6. -  The invitation to participate in all political and cultural acts
convened and held by the EZLN.

7. -  To prepare for the Third Encuentro of Civil Society with the EZLN.
And also that it would not be a bad idea for it to be held at the UNAM or
at the Electricians Union in Mexico City.

At the Southern Gulf Table, Major Moisés set forth a few thoughts, saying:
"We are giving this message to all of those who are here, and to those who
could not come, please inform them, that you should be aware that working
to achieve justice, democracy, liberty and to put this country in the lead,
brings risks, and we want to know if you are willing to run them.
Certainly there shall be deaths, repression, jailings, and everything we
already know the bad government does.  You need only think of January 12,
1994, at that great march in Mexico City, you said to us, sit down to
dialogue with the government, put your weapons to one side, and we obeyed
you.  Now you have the commitment to sustain the long and difficult path of
the struggle.  We do not want you to take up arms with us, but, rather,
together, we are going to change this country, these encuentros make it
possible for us to do so."  The response of the people was a moment of
silence, and then everyone raised their hands, saying:  "We are willing to
take the risks with you, because ya basta with so much injustice, and, if
we do not do it now, then when?"

The message is clear, but I believe there are internal challenges within
this new social force that it is necessary to examine.

1. -  There will be elections for governor in 2000, and 40 state deputies
for Chiapas will be chosen.  At the same time, the President of the
Republic will be elected.  Although civil society does not seek to take
power, civil society in itself has power, and anyone can try to use it to
their benefit.  This is why the electoral situation is an important moment
to take into consideration, because it means the repositioning of the
different social forces.  There is the risk that this force-in-progress
will debate among themselves whether or not to participate in the
elections, and therefore there is the risk that there could be internal
ruptures.

If this new force manages to establish clear lines as to what it wants, and
it opts to give its vote to whomever commits themselves to promoting those
lines, then we will be speaking of a political force that decides to
participate in this very important political process in the country.

2. -  But if it does not participate, then it will have to put its rhythms
and time into the building of a tactical program that will defend against
the onslaught of the neo-liberal program.  It has the challenge and need,
however, to construct a new strategic program, that will be the kind of
country we desire.

3. -  The most important aspect of that new force is not in its debating
whether or not to participate in elections, but rather in preparing itself
to establish a new kind of relationship with the government that is
elected, whomever it may be.  The wealth of this movement is in its
political plurality and the collectivity with which it has been working.
This allows for the possibility of weaving a new kind of relationship among
the different sectors of civil society, from which are emerging new values
that give body and form to the new society.  Collective work breaks with
caudillismo, and it coordinates common interests.

4. -  The challenge exists within this movement of joining different
thoughts, religious beliefs, different political affiliations, be they
social organizations, political parties, womens organizations, or any of
the wide gamut of the social movement that is today seeking democratic
change.

5. -  Another challenge is establishing a plan of action where all social
forces are joined, so that they can change the country's political climate.
 It is necessary to stop responding with short-term actions, and to
organize strategic plans that will break the war strategy.

6. -  It is necessary to be open, with the capacity to listen, in order to
understand and comprehend others, in order to influence the requirements of
the necessary democratic change.

7. -  It is necessary to understand different work styles, the limits and
abilities of each person's participation.  It is necessary to recognize the
efforts, however large or small they might be.

8. -  This movement must maintain fluidity in its different currents of
thought.

9. -  It has the challenge of organizing itself on the basis of a new kind
of structure, with the criteria of inclusion, with the participation of
everyone, that is, lateral and not vertical.

10. -  It is necessary to construct a network of national and international
relationships, so that this movement does not remain isolated.  The Mexican
government does not pay much attention now to demonstrations by civil
society in other countries concerning injustices which occur in Mexico.
For this reason it is necessary to influence other country's governments,
so that our country's government will adopt policies to meet the demands of
the Mexican people and break with the political clientelismo that only
favors the PRI.

11. -  This movement needs to maintain its independence from the EZLN, from
the political parties, from the churches, and avoid just one organization
or group attempting to appropriate or direct it.  The plurality that has
characterized it can be the strength and basis for the building of a
network of relationships among everyone, men and women, with new
characteristics and ethical values.  The coordination must indeed maintain
contact with all organizations, including the EZLN, but it must build its
own programs and initiatives.


SOME ETHICAL VALUES THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED

Fearing to make a mistake, but also without being taken as a prescription -
rather as suggestions on what requires deeper reflection - it is necessary
to consider the following values that should oil the motor of civil society:

1. -  This social movement should be characterized by being purposeful and
constructive, with the redefinition, and incorporation of, ethical and
moral values, with those leading or directing being of good character, with
the capacity for criticism and self-criticism, with humility and simplicity
in their relationships with others.

2. -  This movement has the need and opportunity to build a new political
culture based on respect and tolerance.

3. -  Honesty:  If we criticize the government for being corrupt, economic
resources must be managed within this space with the transparency necessary
for overcoming mistrust.  It must be an example of how we want the
government to change.

4. -  Promote Respect for Human Rights:  Every time the army, the police
and the police forces violate human rights, denunciations only occur at
certain levels.  In order to be constructive, it is necessary to promote
programs, workshops, training in the defense and respect for the rights of
everyone, including soldiers and police.  In a sense, there is room for the
soldiers who have complained about the violations of their labor and
military rights.  An example of this is those from the Patriotic Command
for the Raising of the Peoples' Awareness.  We cannot ask that human rights
be respected, if they do not know what it is about.  That is, the need to
build a nonviolent culture.

5. -  Equality and Inclusion:  We have seen how the current government's
programs and the neo-liberal programs are exclusionary.  This movement must
seek the participation of all men, women, boys and girls, as well as taking
into consideration those sectors seeking to build a better world.

6. -  Promoting the Culture of Peace:  In the last forum, that was held
this April in Chiapas, it was said that:  "..we now see that the war comes
from the government?"  The proposals, therefore, should be directed towards
the building of peace, and, in order to begin, there must be an example
among those participating in, and trying to build, this movement.

7. -  Construction of Justice:  Many of those unjustly imprisoned are there
because they do not have the money to buy off the law and government
officials, since they ask for money every step of the way.  It is necessary
for this space to begin to be just in the treatment of all the participants
who make it up, but it is also necessary to do away with the irregularities
and injustices that are committed within it.

8. -  Construction of Dignity:  This movement should not fall into the
errors in which other social movements have fallen, where there have been
co-optation and the buying of leaders, who then deliver the social movement
to the highest bidder in exchange for money, programs, vehicles and blank
checks.  The fundamental problems of this country are not going to be
resolved through feigning zapatista desertions, nor by delivering poultry,
tractors and cattle.  The roots of the problems are issues of democracy,
liberty and justice, as common denominators of other problems in Mexico.
It is necessary for society to be vigilant over the government, and to
require of the government what it wants and needs.

9. -  Construction of Democracy:  Democracy is not just participation in
elections, but, rather, participation by everyone in the building of the
government we want.  It allows us the opportunity to plan, design, execute
and evaluate government plans and programs according to our needs.

10. -  Promotion of Participation:  In order to achieve what is wanted, it
is necessary for everyone to participate.  Therefore, all those sectors of
goodwill must be called to and included, who are trying to build a new kind
of country, more just and of a democratic nature.

11. -  Liberty:  In order to construct what is wanted and needed, an
indispensable requisite is that of having sufficient liberty in order to
express one's opinion, in order to organize, in order to propose, without
fear of reprisals, of being mistreated or discriminated against because of
the opinions and proposals generated.

12. -  Respect for Persons' Identities:  If lesbians, homosexuals, gays,
indigenous, men, women, children, etcetera, are in this movement, everyone
should have a place with the respect, affection, brotherhood and solidarity
that we demand for ourselves, without fear of being discriminated against
or isolated.

13. -  Solidarity and Brotherhood:  To feel the pain of others in any part
of the country, or of the World, as our pain.  To support each other and to
give our hand to one another, whomever it may be, without the need to
expect anything in return, other than the satisfaction of, and commitment
to, promoting brotherhood and fraternity.

14. -  Truth:  In various places and spaces where democracy is trying to be
built, it is said that the lie comes from the government through the media.
 This movement must conduct itself with truth, sincerity and honesty, and
always be willing to accept that we could be wrong, and that sometimes we lie.

15. -  Reconciliation:  To always be aware that we cannot live all our
lives fighting amongst ourselves.  It is necessary to have the ability to
forgive, to transform our attitudes in line with the building of a
different world.

Onésimo Hidalgo

Center   of   Economic   and    Political    Investigations   of  Community
 Action,   A.C.
CIEPAC
CIEPAC, member of the "Convergence of Civil Organizations for Democracy"
National Network (CONVERGENCIA)

 ******************************************
Translated by irlandesa for CIEPAC, A.C.
******************************************

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