CPTnet
November 12, 2001
CHIAPAS: Returned, but justice not forgotten

by Keith Young

The last of the displaced Abejas have returned to their home communities
October 22. Since August 28, 2001, the Abejas have returned to ten home
communities: Colonia Puebla, Yashgemel, Chuchtic, Los Chorros, Nueva
Esperanza, Canolal, Acteal Alto, Poblado Quextic, Quextic
Centro, and Tzajalhucum. The Abejas emphasize that these returns are returns
without justice, and without peace, because in their home communities there
are
still arms and paramilitary. Additionally, the Mexican government still
refuses to implement the San Andreas Accords on indigenous rights, which it
signed had signed in 1996. With their returns to their home villages, the
Abejas hope to
continue speaking out against injustice.

   Three months ago, neither the Mesa Directiva (governing body
of Las Abejas), nor CPT could have predicted that there would be such a
comprehensive return of the displaced to their home communities. One of the
catalysts for the returns was that conditions in the refugee camps of Acteal
Centro and X'oyep were becoming intolerable. Wood for cooking was becoming
scarce, sanitation was unhealthy, nutrition was poor, and it was difficult
to work their corn and coffee fields in their home communities due to
the distance.

Another motivation was the political climate. The governor of Chiapas, Pablo
Salazar, has been supportive of indigenous rights, and backed the return of
the Abejas. At the same time the political climate in the home communities
of
Las Abejas was more completely under the control of PRIistas and
paramilitaries as long as the Abejas remained absent. The Abejas returned in
part to hold accountable the political systems in their home communities and
to report any paramilitary activity. Thankfully, there have not yet been any
acts of violence from the paramilitaries.

  CPT must reevaluate its role now in Chiapas and in Chenalho county. One
discussion led to the idea of an "emergency response team" that could
respond to violent or potentially violent situations in Abejas communities,
ideally within a couple of hours. As long as Chiapas is militarized and
paramilitaries are being armed, a repeat of expulsions and killings is very
possible.

CPT could also become a part of a non-violent direct action team,
coordinated with another Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) and Las Abejas.
However, now that
the Abejas returns have taken place, and people are back in their home
communities, the negative consequences of such direct action could be
greater. The returned Abejas are no longer in large supportive communities
of like-minded people, but are back in areas where their views and actions
may be viewed as threatening to the status quo.

The indigenous of Mexico have been struggling and resisting for the last
five-hundred years. The Abejas have been able to return to their home
communities, but justice is still a long way off.