MEXICO URGENT ACTION
Renewed threats of arrests and evictions in the Monte Azules Biosphere Reserve region of Chiapas
In the past few days there have been very serious reports of an imminent operation to be carried out by the Mexican
security forces in the southern part of the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve. The purpose of the operation would be
to arrest the community leaders of eight small indigenous campesino settlements in the Montes Azules Reserve. Five
of these settlements are Zapatista communities. One of them, Arroyo San Pablo (known as Lucio Cabañas to its
residents) is believed to have been set up by Zapatista supporters who had already been violently displaced from
their homes in the Marqués de Comillas region
The reports have appeared in the Mexican newspaper La Jornada. They are based in part on a document which was
"leaked" to Maderas del Pueblo del Sureste, a non–governmenal organization that provides technical advice on
environmental protection to campesino communities.
Several recent events lend credibility to the reports:
Firstly, unusual troop movements have been observed in the general area that is reportedly targeted for the
security force operation (although it was noted in La Jornada that, due to the isolation of the communities in
question, it is likely that the security forces would have to enter them by air).
Secondly, during her visit to Tuxtla Gutierrez (the capital city of Chiapas) last week, Diana Ponce Nava, the
Deputy Federal Procurator for Environmental Protection (the deputy–head of PROFEPA) stated that legal
proceedings are to be taken against various settlements in the Montes Azules Reserve. State Governor, Pablo Salazar
Mendiguchía then indicated that his government would support such evictions, because the communities
concerned consisted of "occupations" and there were no relocation negotiations with these communities. It is known
that PROFEPA has filed twelve legal complaints regarding the settlements in the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve
with the Office of the Federal Attorney General.
Thirdly, it was reported in La Jornada that, during an interview with the press, opposition–party members of
COCOPA (the Congressional mediating commission for Chiapas) stated that the government should enter into
negotiation and dialogue rather than carrying out summary evictions in the Montes Azules Reserve. The PRI Senator
Arely Madrid, who is also the president of the Senate's Agrarian Reform Commission, said that she had no official
information on possible evictions, but that she did know that a complete study is being carried out regarding the
status of the communities in question.
BACKGROUND:
More than half of the communities in the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve are Zapatista communities belonging to one of several autonomous municipalities. Many others are linked to the campesino organization ARIC–Independiente. There are also communities with ties to the PRI (the former governing party in Mexico and in the state of Chiapas. There has been public discussion of forty–two communities that may be evicted or, in the government's words "relocated". Many social analysts have pointed out that the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve is of considerable interest to foreign investors because of its remarkable bio–diversity and its potential for eco–tourism. Large scale investment in bioprospection and in luxury tourism can be considered to be inimical to the interests of the autonomous communities and independent campesino organizations
For more detailed information, please see Urgent Action of March 25th 2002
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Please send short written messages to the Mexican government expressing your dismay at learning of possible plans to evict the campesino settlements in the southern part of the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve. Please stress the fact that such a step would exacerbate the existing very serious social tensions in Chiapas. Please emphasize the right of the indigenous communities to set up and manage their own protected areas, pointing out that the existing Reserve was set up without the prior consultation with the affected communities that is required by Mexican law and by Covenant 169 of the International Labour Organization.
Canadian residents: If you have time to do so, please write to the Canadian government informing them of the very serious situation in the Montes Azules region and asking them to urge the Mexican government not to take any steps that could lead to a worsening of social conflicts in Chiapas.
ADDRESSES:
Lic. Vicente Fox Quesada
Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Residencia Oficial de Los Pinos
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec, Mexico D.F., C.P. 11850, MEXICO
FAX: 011 52 55 522 4117 or 516 9537 or 515 1794 vicente@fox2000.org.mx or
radio@presidencia.gob.mx or go to www.gob.mex and from there to interactivo@ to send a message. If you have access to a fax machine and are able to get through, the fax method, being less impersonal, is probably more effective. If you live in Ottawa or in a city where there is a Mexican consulate, they will almost certainly be willing to forward a fax to President Fox's office on your behalf.
Please send a copy of your letter to
Lic. Pablo Salazar Mendiguchía
Gobernador del Estado de Chiapas
Palacio de Gobierno, Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Chiapas, MEXICO
FAX: 011 52 961 20917 salazarp@prodigy.net.mx
and to
Her Excellency Maria Teresa Garcia Segovia
Ambassador for Mexico
45 O'Connor St, suite 1500, Ottawa, Ont. K1P 1A4
FOX 613 235 9123 info@embamexcan.com
FOR CANADA:
Hon. Bill Graham
Minister of Foreign Affairs
FAX: 613 996 9607 Graham.b@parl.gc.ca