CPTnet
26 June 1998
CHIAPAS, MEXICO: The Bees walk freely, if only for the morning

CHIAPAS, MEXICO -- One lone Mexican soldier watched from a hill above
the crowd; Antonio, spokesperson for Las Abejas (The Bees), encouraged
the crowd of over 2,000 Bees and supporters with the stories of their
nonviolent struggle for justice. At noon on June 25, the crowd listened
after walking two and a half hours on a peace pilgrimage in this
southern Mexican state. What began as a journey home ended
up as a courageous walk for peace. During their march, The Bees regained
control
over a main artery of the Chiapas highlands, if only for a few hours, as
2,000 people freely walked in a highly militarized zone.

The Bees are an indigenous group of 4,000 Christian pacifists committed
to social justice. Eight hundred and fifty Bees planned to return to
two of their home communities yesterday -- Yibeljoj and Los Chorros.
Government-backed militias violently displaced them from these
communities in the fall of 1997. These 850 internal refugees are only a
small proportion of the 18,000 similarly displaced people in Chiapas.

The Bees received news hours before their return of threats against
themselves and hostage threats against Bishops Samuel Ruiz and Raul Vera
by the armed group in Los Chorros. Contrary to their original plans,
The Bees walked hilly rural roads going only half-way to their homes.
Despite not going home, it was a celebrative event. Women and men
walked in three lines stretching perhaps half a mile holding a string
which surrounded them. Hundreds of children led the way, singing.
Periodically, the entire group waved their white peace flags together.
A truck full of musicians sang to an accordian and a guitar. Dozens of
journalists, priests, and international supporters, including five
Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) members, went with them. The Bees were
also supported by people world-wide praying and fasting for their
return.

Roughly 70,000 Mexican troops are stationed in Chiapas, complete with
regular checkpoints. The military diverts water sources from
communities and refugee camps, human rights groups report that soldiers
rape women, and the military takes over schools and factories. In
recent weeks, CPT members witnessed a heavy military presence on the
road The Bees walked yesterday -- sometimes as many as twelve military
vehicles every hour. The government-tied militias have until now
prevented the refugees from even attempting a return. The Bees
certainly have not forgotten that paramilitary members of the ruling party,
many from Los Chorros, massacred 45 of their number in Acteal, December
22, 1997, as Mexican public security officials nearby refused to
intervene. Yet today, The Bees "reoccupied" a strip of the countryside
near Acteal. Probably due to the international and large press presence
The Bees generated, CPT members saw only three military vehicles driven
on the road and the ones they saw were on their best behavior.

Although the 850 Bees did not return home yesterday, they presented a
strong voice for justice through their peace pilgrimage. The Bees
shared their frustrations and indignation toward the paramilitary groups
and the Mexican government, yet they continued in their practice of
nonviolent struggle. As one spokesperson said, "God does not teach us
to kill each other."