Government Repression and Harassment follows the Other Campaign

Communities involving themselves with the Other Campaign face a great risk
of reprisal from other organized groups before and after the arrival of
Delegate Zero. For its revolutionary nature, the EZLN is not welcomed in
many sectors of Mexican society. During their twelve-year public
existence, EZLN communities have suffered attacks, killings, intimidation
and harassment from the likes of Mexican political parties and
paramilitaries.

Surely ever place the Other Campaign visits is swarming with government
agents both undercover and marked, watching the activities and documenting
the faces and names of the people participating in activities.

A series of incidents have occurred the past few months in Mexico where
organizations and individuals have encountered hostility and threats for
their participation with the Other Campaign. People from the Mexican
states of Oaxaca, Tabasco, Veracruz Quintana Roo, Chiapas, Campeche and
Mexico have reported distinct forms of harassment.

One of the most outrageous cases occurred in the town of Rosario, Chiapas.
On Jan.17 people from three different paramilitary organizations
including the PRI arrived to provoke people in the town, ripped out horse
corral fencing and razed corn fields belonging to Zapatistas. They also
broke a window and the door to the town church. They violently detained
Jose Rodrigo Lopez and ransacked his house.

The following day at 4 a.m., Mr. Lopez was released after being forced to
sign a document where he renounced his position. He was threatened to be
lynched if he did not resign from his community position. After releasing
him, the agressors returned on horses and stole the Zapatista’s corn.

Other situations have occurred where different collectives were prevented
from tabling in public spaces in Veracruz and Mexico State. On Dec, 5
members of the PRT Revolutionary Workers Party in Candeleria, Campeche
received a visit from federal agents who tried to intimidate and provoke
them for their participation with the other campaign.

In Tabasco, where the Other Campaign is now passing through, a group
waiting to receive the Other Campaign was visited by federal police on
Jan. 23 who wanted to verify that Delegate Zero was going to arrive. In
the village of Francisco Madero in Tabasco, an agent from Mexico’s
national security walked about the town videotaping various sites,
including the homes of people identified with the Other Campaign.
Residents have also observed an increase in military presence and movement
in the area.

A family walking about the beach town of Tulum in Quintana Roo posting
flyers announcing the arrival of Delegate Zero was threatened by local
police who tore down their flyers and followed them as they walked about.
Later at the town police station, the family was informed that it was not
illegal to post propaganda but the rules change when the image of
Subcommandante Marcos and the letters of the EZLN appear. Five members the
Collective RATA (Anti-Animal Torture Resistance), an antiauthoritarian
punk collective, were followed by state police in Oaxaca. Once the cops
caught up, RATA members were interrogated, beat and insulted.


On Nov. 20 Gustave Jimenez, a human rights defender was almost killed by
armed individuals. Two days later, after making a public denouncement of
his experience he suffered another attempt at his life.

These situations represent the danger of organizing for just social change
in Mexico. Historically, movements for social justice in Mexico have been
harassed, intimidated and massacred by the Mexican government and
paramilitaries obstensibly supported by Mexican government.