Los hombres sin rostros (2016) - full transcript
Before the colonization
our people had their own life,
their own world outlook.
Yet, when the colonizers arrived,
we lost everything.
They imposed a foreign life upon us,
foreign thoughts as well.
But we have managed
to win our freedom back.
Mexico is a country with colonial past.
Its indigenous population has blended
with European colonizers.
And this is what indigenous population
is today.
Currently, indigenous peoples
constitute 15% of Mexico's population
and include 62 ethnic groups
speaking 364 dialects.
The share of indigenous population
increases towards the south
and reaches 50%
in the southeastern states.
Quintana Roo, Yucatán, Guerrero,
Oaxaca and Chiapas
are the states
with the largest share of
population speaking
indigenous languages.
Those states are the poorest
and rank last in terms of
socioeconomic indicators, such as…
the share of population,
whose income is below minimum wage,
the share of population
without access to healthcare,
the share of population
without education,
… have no running water,
… have dirt floor.
That is, the indigenous population
of Mexico
has much lower living standard
than the rest of the country.
Despite poverty,
there is less crime in those states,
compared to the national level.
Chiapas is Mexico's safest state.
Lacandon Jungle
is the remotest region of Mexico.
Indigenous people
from across the whole state
have been coming here seeking for land
unappropriated by great landowners.
This triggered the growth
of the towns bordering selva
Las Margaritas, Altamirano, Ocosingo,
Palenque, and San Cristóbal.
However, the new settlers
continued facing oppression.
Landless peasants were organizing
into peasant unions.
This is how there appeared
a secret resistance group…
Zapatista Army of National Liberation,
or EZLN.
In order for them to see us,
we covered our faces;
so that they would call us by name,
we gave up our names;
we bet the present to have the future;
and to live... we died.
Attention!
This is radio Zapata,
southeastern front of EZLN.
Zapatista Army of National Liberation.
The Declaration of Lacandon Jungle.
Today we say "Basta!"
We are the true heirs of our ancestors.
Today we have taken up arms
to conduct a revolution,
to achieve peace and justice
in Chiapas and in Mexico.
Long live the Revolution!
Long live Zapatista Army of National Liberation!
Long live Chiapas!
Long live Mexico!
Thank you, comrades!
What we did in 1994
was yet another battle
in the war of the bottom against the top,
against their world,
in the war for humanity
and against neoliberalism.
This war gave us a chance
to reach the ears and hearts
of near and distant geographies.
This is an insurgent movement.
Our organization is called
Zapatista Army of National Liberation.
The majority of its commanders come
from indigenous ethnic groups:
Tzotzil, Tzeltal, Ch'ol, Tojolobal,
Zoque, and Mam.
We used to be isolated in the past.
While in the rest of the world peoples were fighting
dictatorships, or what seemed as dictatorship,
this country's dictatorship
was flourishing.
15 thousand indigenous people
are dying in Chiapas each year.
The same amount of people
died during the war in Salvador.
Yet, here, all those who died were on the same side,
and what is even worse,
the majority died of diarrhea
and other curable diseases.
Previously, the indigenous
did not have rights.
They were not a part of society.
There were a lot of caciques.
Caciques owned the land
and employed the indigenous
for seasonal work.
Chiapas had been living like that
for decades.
In the past, they would come on foot
caring sacks with corn and other goods.
Back then there were four or five roads
that peasants could use to come to the town.
They were humble, did not speak Spanish,
only their own languages.
And town dwellers
were setting the price for their goods.
What could be more unjust?
How could they know the real price?
Previously, only mestizos were allowed
to walk on pavements.
And that is how it worked everywhere.
A lot of bad things were happening
back then.
In 1994,
there spread a rumor in the town
that there appeared some people
who were preparing for guerilla.
And the people from our circle
began to talk about a revolution.
We participated
in forcing Zapatistas back
into the jungle.
They occupied the town
and the government sent us.
We were just following orders.
We were sent to Chiapas,they said
there was an armed conflict there, and that was it.
We were asked to walk the streets
of San Cristóbal and Ocosingo,
and we walked them.
Yes, there were casualties in Ocosingo,
bodies were being found,
both civilians and Zapatistas.
The army forced Zapatistas
back into the mountains.
Chiapas has had this since the old times,
the element of repression.
The whole of Mexico was one big fiefdom
with its wardens and stewards.
It was a feudal structure,
in which a president and a governor
are regarded as commanders.
They rule the country
and make people work for others' profit.
Back in the 1960-s there were attempts to find a new form of relations.
They materialized in 1974, at the Indigenous Congress.
And this is an ongoing process.
20 years had passed from 1974 until 1994
when people banded together.
We would like to speak
on behalf of our peoples.
We see that it does not matter,
whether we are informed, or are given voice by the rulers.
We must claim our rights,
we need to consolidate from within,
consolidate in fight and solidarity.
Since 1974, when the indigenous national consciousness
was only awaking,
since then, the indigenous people's self-perception
has radically changed.
They acquired dignity.
The rights violations are still taking place,
but they are being concealed, and this is not normal.
Ultimately, all the conflicts
and rights violations
are connected to land and territory.
Based on the territory, they revive
politics, society, culture,
economy and ecology
of the indigenous peoples.
We will give our lives for our land,
but we will protect it
from the ambitions of governments
and money owners,
who want to build expensive hotels,
golf courses and highways.
This colonization has been going on
since Creoles,
Spaniards, then liberals,
and now - neoliberals.
We are still forced
to make decisions that harm people.
There will be no more Mexico without us!
Comrades, brothers and sisters,
thank you!
Brothers and sisters
from Zapatista Army,
from the General Headquarters,
we thank you!
We, Zapatista Army
of National Liberation
are telling about everything
that is taking place
in all corners of our motherland,
Mexico.
We must protect ourselves
regardless of any consequences.
This military conflict
was never resolved.
And I believe that many participants
may have no idea about this.
The war generates new threats
of repressions and prosecution
of indigenous activists,
who are seeking
their own methods of resistance.
I had a feeling
that we have friends in resistance
that, in spite of pain and sufferings
from oppression and indignation,
there are many active people
moving forward.
We hope to leave this place,
having turned into real
revolutionary soldiers,
whose weapon is
justice and honesty.
See you tomorrow at two.
Usually this meeting is organized
for the orientation of international observers,
the participants of civil brigades.
So, you come here to learn
basic facts, right?
I can provide you
some general information
about the conflict in Chiapas.
This zone was considered as
Zapatistas' sphere of influence.
The army came here
and adopted offensive disposition.
They set up military camps,
which are still there.
At the same time
various paramilitary groups
appeared in different regions.
This became obvious
after the murder in Acteal.
On 22 December 1997,
a group of armed people came to Acteal
and killed everyone who stayed there.
Acteal was a refugee camp.
People were leaving their villages,
because the were facing an ultimatum:
either join paramilitaries,
or die.
This is why people were seeking shelter.
Previously, there were no houses here,
just this church.
Those are bullets.
They were hiding there.
Both men and women,
everyone who stayed there
were shot dead.
They were left there, all 45 people.
There were 45 people:
men, women and children.
At that time there were around
14 thousand refugees,
and this is only for the north
and the state's highlands.
The victims were the members
of a civil society group called "The Bees".
This organization had always declared
their adherence to pacifism.
They were agreeing with EZLN's demands,
but did not accept
their militarized methods.
Back then dialogues with the government
were taking place
here in San Cristóbal,
in the cathedral.
Here it was decided to consider
EZLN demands.
It was decided
to have another round of talks.
And EZLN prepared a location
for meeting the government delegation.
They called this place Aguascalientes.
There is a town in Mexico
called Aguascalientes.
The resolution of the 1910 Revolution
was adopted there.
This name was chosen
to indicate a place where
compromise can be achieved.
Instead of a compromise, however,
the federal government
ordered arrest
of EZLN's General Command.
Lots of soldiers came,
they occupied schools
and municipalities,
those places
where people usually gathered.
And the people began to leave.
It became necessary to organize
civil brigades
that would help people
return to their homes.
Eventually,
after 4 months
of intensive negotiations,
the San Andrés agreements
were signed.
Papers were delivered
to the federal government
and returned in a month,
with "minor amendments."
In response, EZLN said:
"this is not a game",
"this is not what we signed."
And that is how the opportunity
of a dialog with the government was lost.
At that time San Andrés agreements
began to be implemented
on the territories
controlled by the resistance.
EZLN presents five Aguascalientes to the world
1 - La Realidad, Border Jungle Zone
2 - Oventic, Highlands Zone
3 - Roberto Barrios, North Zone
4 - Morelia, Northern Jungle Zone
5 - La Garrucha, Jungle Zone
They were creating
autonomous municipalities,
which was in accordance
with San Andrés agreements.
In 2003, EZLN announced
the end of Aguascalientes.
This marked a change in their policy.
They said that Caracols would be created
in the same locations as replacements,
they would become the meeting points
of EZLN with the civilian population.
Caracol, or Snail,
is a place not only for Zapatistas,
but also for visitors.
For example, you are in one
such Caracols right now.
This is the place from which
our words spread around the world
Those words originate
in this tiny village,
but you will disseminate it
and the Caracol will become bigger.
We have chosen the name of this little animal.
It moves very slowly,
but it moves forward.
This is what we have borrowed
from the snail.
Our resistance is similarly unhurried,
but we are moving only forward.
Formerly, this area
did not require any observers.
But now the situation
has become complicated.
That is why we are here.
The topic of indigenous population's rights
in Latin America
has always interested me.
In San Cristóbal it is possible
to get closer to this cause.
I like this kind of lifestyle.
I would also like other people
to know about it.
I think one taxi should fit
all three of you.
I got interested in this topic,
because Zapatism is similar to utopia.
So much time has passed,
so much struggle,
and such permanency
trying to implement an idea.
They will tell you
where to spend the night.
Then they will pick you up
and bring you to the village.
Observers, please,
come this side,
then families will be presented.
This is how we are going to make groups
I am a displaced person.
I've spent 6 months in Acteal
Right now we are
in the community called Puebla
We used to have problems
while living here.
Two commune houses
were burnt
together with the walls
of our new building.
We had to leave,
we couldn't stand
so many threats to our lives.
We couldn't stand the pain.
Could you tell me what happened?
They came to Juan's home,
broke in,
grabbed him and beat him.
Juan's son
was pressed behind the table.
Then, community's commissar came.
He told Juan
"If you join us, you will be OK.
If not -
we'll throw you behind the bars,
since you are a part
of the organization."
I was told: "You are on Catholics' side,
on Zapatista's' side,
let's burn them,
pour petrol over them,
throw them in jail."
This is when I started crying.
Maybe they told you about this already,
and this is important,
don’t walk alone,
neither you, nor him.
Both of you are in danger.
You can't continue living as you used to.
That is why you have here
friends who share your views.
Civil brigades,
national and international,
accompany indigenous farmers' families
that temporarily returned to their lands
after being forcefully displaced.
Puebla community,
Chenalhó municipality, Chiapas, Mexico
99 people, indigenous farmers,
men, women and children
abandoned these lands
in June-August 2013
threatened by prosecution
and manifest aggression.
They are coming back
to their Puebla community,
Chenalhó municipality, Chiapas,
for harvesting coffee.
This is the product
that supports me and my family.
Profit from harvest is used
to sustain the family,
to buy maize, beans
and clothes.
I was away for six months
and could not take care
of the plantation.
It needs to be cleaned
three times a year,
three times a year
it needs to be looked after.
If this is done,
the harvest will be good.
The coffee turns out to be
of a higher category.
Instead,
I lost around 15 sacks of coffee.
Each sack is 60 kilos - 900 kilos all in all,
that's how much I lost.
The price for coffee is
30 peso.
900 kilos multiplied by 30 is…
I don't even know
how much is it...
On behalf of the law enforcement
we guarantee political intention
to achieve peaceful resolution
for Puebla community.
This looks like a celebration.
They think there is
no violence in this community.
We will build the peace together,
for the benefit of our community,
because "Chiapas unites us,"
as the governor likes to say.
I am in a different community right now,
and I see all the violence
that is taking place here.
Because almost the same
was happening in 1997,
when they murdered people in Acteal
Everything started here,
in Puebla community.
A man called Jacinto Arias
headed the paramilitaries,
who killed 45 people in Acteal.
We know that
the government only talks
and does not deliver on its promises.
"... masks cuase nice ideological effect
and correspond to our conception
that Revolution
must not be individualized."
They killed him,
ruthlessly, with unprecedented hatred,
teacher Galeano.
After this the Councils of Good Government
decided that violence
had crossed all acceptable limits,
and handled the problem over
to EZLN General Command,
which is stationed at La Realidad right now
for investigating the incident.
You should not pay
too much attention to me.
As the last 20 years have shown,
I don’t understand anything
about mass media.
The thing is that "Sup"
began to attract too much attention.
The character has been created
and now we, Zapatistas, its creators
decided to get rid of it.
We began to wait
for a suitable moment
- an exact calendar date
and geography -
to show who we really are for those, the real ones,
who would understand us.
And just now Galeano pointed
at this geography and calendar with his death:
"here and now, in La Realidad,
in pain and revolt"
EZLN cannot interfere
in community's life
at its own discretion.
Here, the people rule,
while the government merely obeys!
That is why we, Zapatistas,
do not fight for power,
neither at elections, nor with arms.
We exist because the people decided
to live without politicians,
who only lie and disrespect.
And we are protecting our own people.
The most important for us
are our comrades Zapatistas,
men and women.
They are our strength,
our subsistence,
our fate.
They are us.
Comrades, we have come here
to resurrect teacher Galeano.
Soon you will know how.
Our commitments and our practice tell us
that for a struggle
there is no need in leaders, caudilhos,
messiahs or saviors.
One merely needs a bit of shame,
some dignity
and lot of good organization
for putting up a struggle.
We believe that one of us must die,
so that Galeano could live.
That is why we decided that Marcos
will cease to exist today.
When the world was asleep
and did not want awake,
the great gods gathered
to discuss their business.
That is when they decided
to create the world,
and to create men and women.
The gods wanted to make people
beautiful and long-lived,
that is why they made people
out of gold.
But the golden people
neither moved nor worked,
because they were too heavy.
Then the gods gathered again
to resolve this problem.
They agreed to create other people.
The made them out of wood.
They were of wooden color,
they walked and worked a lot.
And the gods were pleased,
and almost started to celebrate,
when they noticed
that the golden people
make the wooden people
work for them.
Thus, the gods decided
to make people out of corn,
good people,
the real men and women.
The corn people
had their own language,
they could negotiate
and come to agreements.
And these people went into the mountains
to find the right path for all mankind.
I asked old man Antonio
"What was the color of the corn people?"
He showed me different kinds of corn
of various colors
and told me that they are of all colors,
no one knows which for sure,
because the corn people,
real men and women,
did not have faces.
if you want to see
who's hidden behind the mask,
then take a mirror and look at yourself.
This organization is standing out
not only because of their
motives or ideological commitments.
They implement their ideas in practice.
Productive autonomy.
Capability to sustain life
through autonomy.
Productive autonomy seems
to be a key to Zapatista's organizations.
They can be totally independent
from both the government
and the market.
They themselves can
create everything,
they bring forward as a demand.
I understood another thing here.
We still have a lot of work
and self-organization ahead of us
to keep up with Zapatistas
on our path towards so ambitious happiness.
To make a different world possible,
a world, which can fit
many more worlds.
These are, of course,
some very ambitious expectations.
Our private desires
are tiny in comparison.
We want a stable job,
an apartment and a car.
Those desires
are so down to earth.
We are having a special offer:
If you buy 2 bottles of soda,
you get a pack of rice, water and a bucket
as presents.
The strategy of autonomous town projects
anticipates the refusal to participate
in state activities and the market,
it creates new forms of relations,
it demands daily
creative response to challenges,
alternative thinking,
which transcends the borders
of predetermined logic,
the rejection of consumerism,
imposed by market society,
a new perspective on our life,
to have a possibility to reject
that what we don't like
and to recreate
what we love.
Most of the people here are not locals.
Oftentimes, they are attracted by the forms,
and not the meaning,
which is not always visible.
Attractive forms
become the protection
from the governments'
military aggression,
be it in Mexico or Chile.
Zapatism cannot be exported.
That's what they say themselves.
Everyone has to fight in their own locality.
In any kind of struggle, one could use
the example of Chiapas' resistance,
organization and the fact that
people can actually unite
and fight for their rights.
If everyone is here,
let's call the comrades.
Is everyone here?
Yes!
OK, we'll call them now.
Here we will meet the people in charge
from all three levels
of Zapatista's autonomous government,
while we are here at school.
Very good afternoon,
comrades, men and women
from different countries
and states
I am happy to share
with you.
Bad capitalists are telling us,
that women are useless.
But this is not true.
Sometimes our women
don't know how to read or write,
don't speak the second language,
Spanish.
But we still can
carry responsabilities
and find new ways
to improve women' participation.
One important achievement
of the armed rebellion
was the freedom for all Zapatistas
to build our own autonomy
and self-government
with both men and women.
We declared
that we would no longer depend
from the corrupt system.
And there emerged a need
to form three levels of government.
We are referring to three echelons:
local government,
municipal government,
and zonal level.
The first, local level
is a group of comrades.
The local level is a group of families
living in a particular locality.
Yes, there are villages,
where only 2-3 comrades are living,
while the majority is party-affiliated,
we don’t consult with them.
Those who participate directly
in EZLN's internal proceedings
are called "support bases."
So, they choose their representative,
and that is what we call
local government.
The local representative coordinates
and promotes people's will.
Then, there follows municipal government.
Autonomous insurgent municipalities.
Every municipality
has a he adquarters,
where its employees meet,
and where one could come
to raise issues and bring suggestions.
Those who work at the municipal level
are resolving the problems
that were not resolved in the villages.
And every issue requires consultations.
If necessary, the village representative
goes back to the village
to consult with village-mates
regarding municipality's suggestions.
Representative says:
"we decided so and so,
but we are not sure
if the villagers would agree with us.
And the next level is
the Councils of Good Government
the most advanced one.
This level is formed by
groups of autonomous municipalities.
Some zones have 5 municipalities,
some - 4, 7 or 9,
depending on the size of a zone.
This is the structure of our government:
local, municipal and zonal levels,
the latter being
the Councils of Good Government.
All the government
at all the three levels
must operate in strict accordance
with seven principles
called "Govern, while obeying".
Suggest, but do not impose;
Represent, but do not replace;
Build, but do not ruin;
Obey, but do not dictate;
Descend to the people, but do not dominate;
Persuade, but do not defeat;
Serve the others, but not yourself.
These are the principles
that any government must comply with.
A - autonomy
E - education
I - ideas
O - organization
U - unity
Many people are joining resistance here,
but it needs to be serious.
We must reject government's help.
Many people receive pensions here.
500 or 1000 peso.
They fight for other things,
because they are paid,
and they are happy about it.
We are different.
If we have money,
it is for our work on the land.
This is where prosperity comes from,
from constantly working on the land.
In villages,
in municipalities,
at the zonal level,
all Zapatista's zones.
We organize collective work.
While working collectively,
we produce goods.
When we sell them,
we earn money.
Most of the profit
from collective works
goes for representatives' transportation,
for petrol and fees.
For instance, works in corn fields.
If a comrade is a part
of the committee and needs food,
we help with grain.
If a collective is doing handicraft,
their products are being sold,
and the earned money
can be invested into other products.
If there is some profit
remaining from the works,
the representative gathers all the families
of the support base
and they make a decision
how to use that profit,
where to invest it.
My name is Anna Aurelia,
I am a representative of my collective.
We breed cattle.
Initially we bred birds,
but this did not generate profit.
Then, we made a decision to sell all the birds,
and to buy a calf.
But this was not enough.
And then we made another decision
to grow chili.
Having sold the chili,
we bought more cattle.
That's why we have
all those animals.
In the Border Jungle Zone
we have created a bank,
called BANAMAS.
This is an autonomous bank
of Zapatista women.
It supports financially
our women,
who work for the autonomy.
We also have a coffee cooperative.
We have been working for eight years,
renting warehouses and equipment,
paying for coffee transportation.
Then, the zone made a decision
to repair a warehouse
for storing coffee.
Our method of decision-making
is general assemblies.
Our understanding of democracy
differs significantly from
the democracy of the corrupt system.
In the corrupt system, democracy
exists only during elections.
For us, however, democracy
is a daily routine.
This is how we make decisions,
analyze problems,
and eventually come to conclusions
about how our life should be.
Thanks to our organization,
all 5 Caracols could gather here.
When there were no Zapatistas,
we did not know each other.
Tzeltals lived separately,
spoke their own language.
Tojolobals lived separately as well.
This is not how it works here.
Another thank to the organization
for the opportunity to get acquainted,
and to share our experience
of self-organization.
Here we can hear
our comrades speak,
we can learn
how to live differently.
We have to show
good example
And follow our own slogan
That we will live for Motherland
Or die for freedom
And we are going and going
and going forward
To succeed in our fight,
Because the Motherland needs
Zapatistas' efforts.
Attention!
Long live Zapatista!
God!
I've been to a different world, for real!
A beautiful world.
There were gods there.
They performed magic.
They are so heavy!
Walk as you normally would.
I can't!
Bend your knees!
No, I am too old for this.
I saw myself
as a protector of spirits,
And I was shown
how to summon them,
how to help them,
how to protect.
I have an important announcement
for the kids.
Tomorrow at 8:30
they should show up at school
to begin their classes.
I think that they look at me
in the village
as at the most active one.
That is why when there emerged a need
of an autonomous teacher
someone said
"I think Juan would suit us"
Does everyone agree?
Yes, yes. Everyone said yes.
Everyone voted "aye."
That is how I began
to work with children.
Parents wanted a new life
and new future
for the whole San Isidro community.
That is why they proposed to create
an autonomous school.
Before the armed uprising
there were almost no
state schools.
We were forgotten.
Teachers would not come for weeks.
Many of them drank,
and showed up drunk for classes.
Our people began to think
what education should be like.
This is how there appeared a project
involving incoming comrades.
They helped us
to build schools.
Now, there is a school
in almost every village.
We want our children and youth
to think differently,
to appreciate collectivism,
to learn about their reality,
about how people live.
And when they understand the situation,
they stay with their fellows,
they also serve the people.
The corrupt government will perish!
But the people should live!
And the children will be free!
I know that children
are very open-minded,
with them we can create
many things.
That's what happened to me.
I was confused, lost my way,
but, thanks god,
I am again where I should be.
Our organization
is a form of Zapatism.
We are on the same path:
we fight for our rights,
we fight for our tradition,
so we would not lose them.
We are living in accordance
with San Andrés agreements.
We know very well
what was the deal between the government
and the General Command.
Although the government refuses
to admit this,
this is still necessary.
Our ancestors
had similar forms of work,
forms of self-organization.
They were not told by anyone
how they should live.
They did everything on their own.
And not just this.
We have birth certificates,
we issue them
for autonomy
without government's involvement.
Driving licenses as well.
Here we …
fabricate them? Is this the word?
What do we have to ask forgiveness for?
What do we have to be forgiven for?
For not dying of hunger?
For not being silent?
For not accepting humbly the gigantic historical burden
of disdain and oblivion?
For rebelling with lethal force,
while all other alternatives were closed?
our people had their own life,
their own world outlook.
Yet, when the colonizers arrived,
we lost everything.
They imposed a foreign life upon us,
foreign thoughts as well.
But we have managed
to win our freedom back.
Mexico is a country with colonial past.
Its indigenous population has blended
with European colonizers.
And this is what indigenous population
is today.
Currently, indigenous peoples
constitute 15% of Mexico's population
and include 62 ethnic groups
speaking 364 dialects.
The share of indigenous population
increases towards the south
and reaches 50%
in the southeastern states.
Quintana Roo, Yucatán, Guerrero,
Oaxaca and Chiapas
are the states
with the largest share of
population speaking
indigenous languages.
Those states are the poorest
and rank last in terms of
socioeconomic indicators, such as…
the share of population,
whose income is below minimum wage,
the share of population
without access to healthcare,
the share of population
without education,
… have no running water,
… have dirt floor.
That is, the indigenous population
of Mexico
has much lower living standard
than the rest of the country.
Despite poverty,
there is less crime in those states,
compared to the national level.
Chiapas is Mexico's safest state.
Lacandon Jungle
is the remotest region of Mexico.
Indigenous people
from across the whole state
have been coming here seeking for land
unappropriated by great landowners.
This triggered the growth
of the towns bordering selva
Las Margaritas, Altamirano, Ocosingo,
Palenque, and San Cristóbal.
However, the new settlers
continued facing oppression.
Landless peasants were organizing
into peasant unions.
This is how there appeared
a secret resistance group…
Zapatista Army of National Liberation,
or EZLN.
In order for them to see us,
we covered our faces;
so that they would call us by name,
we gave up our names;
we bet the present to have the future;
and to live... we died.
Attention!
This is radio Zapata,
southeastern front of EZLN.
Zapatista Army of National Liberation.
The Declaration of Lacandon Jungle.
Today we say "Basta!"
We are the true heirs of our ancestors.
Today we have taken up arms
to conduct a revolution,
to achieve peace and justice
in Chiapas and in Mexico.
Long live the Revolution!
Long live Zapatista Army of National Liberation!
Long live Chiapas!
Long live Mexico!
Thank you, comrades!
What we did in 1994
was yet another battle
in the war of the bottom against the top,
against their world,
in the war for humanity
and against neoliberalism.
This war gave us a chance
to reach the ears and hearts
of near and distant geographies.
This is an insurgent movement.
Our organization is called
Zapatista Army of National Liberation.
The majority of its commanders come
from indigenous ethnic groups:
Tzotzil, Tzeltal, Ch'ol, Tojolobal,
Zoque, and Mam.
We used to be isolated in the past.
While in the rest of the world peoples were fighting
dictatorships, or what seemed as dictatorship,
this country's dictatorship
was flourishing.
15 thousand indigenous people
are dying in Chiapas each year.
The same amount of people
died during the war in Salvador.
Yet, here, all those who died were on the same side,
and what is even worse,
the majority died of diarrhea
and other curable diseases.
Previously, the indigenous
did not have rights.
They were not a part of society.
There were a lot of caciques.
Caciques owned the land
and employed the indigenous
for seasonal work.
Chiapas had been living like that
for decades.
In the past, they would come on foot
caring sacks with corn and other goods.
Back then there were four or five roads
that peasants could use to come to the town.
They were humble, did not speak Spanish,
only their own languages.
And town dwellers
were setting the price for their goods.
What could be more unjust?
How could they know the real price?
Previously, only mestizos were allowed
to walk on pavements.
And that is how it worked everywhere.
A lot of bad things were happening
back then.
In 1994,
there spread a rumor in the town
that there appeared some people
who were preparing for guerilla.
And the people from our circle
began to talk about a revolution.
We participated
in forcing Zapatistas back
into the jungle.
They occupied the town
and the government sent us.
We were just following orders.
We were sent to Chiapas,they said
there was an armed conflict there, and that was it.
We were asked to walk the streets
of San Cristóbal and Ocosingo,
and we walked them.
Yes, there were casualties in Ocosingo,
bodies were being found,
both civilians and Zapatistas.
The army forced Zapatistas
back into the mountains.
Chiapas has had this since the old times,
the element of repression.
The whole of Mexico was one big fiefdom
with its wardens and stewards.
It was a feudal structure,
in which a president and a governor
are regarded as commanders.
They rule the country
and make people work for others' profit.
Back in the 1960-s there were attempts to find a new form of relations.
They materialized in 1974, at the Indigenous Congress.
And this is an ongoing process.
20 years had passed from 1974 until 1994
when people banded together.
We would like to speak
on behalf of our peoples.
We see that it does not matter,
whether we are informed, or are given voice by the rulers.
We must claim our rights,
we need to consolidate from within,
consolidate in fight and solidarity.
Since 1974, when the indigenous national consciousness
was only awaking,
since then, the indigenous people's self-perception
has radically changed.
They acquired dignity.
The rights violations are still taking place,
but they are being concealed, and this is not normal.
Ultimately, all the conflicts
and rights violations
are connected to land and territory.
Based on the territory, they revive
politics, society, culture,
economy and ecology
of the indigenous peoples.
We will give our lives for our land,
but we will protect it
from the ambitions of governments
and money owners,
who want to build expensive hotels,
golf courses and highways.
This colonization has been going on
since Creoles,
Spaniards, then liberals,
and now - neoliberals.
We are still forced
to make decisions that harm people.
There will be no more Mexico without us!
Comrades, brothers and sisters,
thank you!
Brothers and sisters
from Zapatista Army,
from the General Headquarters,
we thank you!
We, Zapatista Army
of National Liberation
are telling about everything
that is taking place
in all corners of our motherland,
Mexico.
We must protect ourselves
regardless of any consequences.
This military conflict
was never resolved.
And I believe that many participants
may have no idea about this.
The war generates new threats
of repressions and prosecution
of indigenous activists,
who are seeking
their own methods of resistance.
I had a feeling
that we have friends in resistance
that, in spite of pain and sufferings
from oppression and indignation,
there are many active people
moving forward.
We hope to leave this place,
having turned into real
revolutionary soldiers,
whose weapon is
justice and honesty.
See you tomorrow at two.
Usually this meeting is organized
for the orientation of international observers,
the participants of civil brigades.
So, you come here to learn
basic facts, right?
I can provide you
some general information
about the conflict in Chiapas.
This zone was considered as
Zapatistas' sphere of influence.
The army came here
and adopted offensive disposition.
They set up military camps,
which are still there.
At the same time
various paramilitary groups
appeared in different regions.
This became obvious
after the murder in Acteal.
On 22 December 1997,
a group of armed people came to Acteal
and killed everyone who stayed there.
Acteal was a refugee camp.
People were leaving their villages,
because the were facing an ultimatum:
either join paramilitaries,
or die.
This is why people were seeking shelter.
Previously, there were no houses here,
just this church.
Those are bullets.
They were hiding there.
Both men and women,
everyone who stayed there
were shot dead.
They were left there, all 45 people.
There were 45 people:
men, women and children.
At that time there were around
14 thousand refugees,
and this is only for the north
and the state's highlands.
The victims were the members
of a civil society group called "The Bees".
This organization had always declared
their adherence to pacifism.
They were agreeing with EZLN's demands,
but did not accept
their militarized methods.
Back then dialogues with the government
were taking place
here in San Cristóbal,
in the cathedral.
Here it was decided to consider
EZLN demands.
It was decided
to have another round of talks.
And EZLN prepared a location
for meeting the government delegation.
They called this place Aguascalientes.
There is a town in Mexico
called Aguascalientes.
The resolution of the 1910 Revolution
was adopted there.
This name was chosen
to indicate a place where
compromise can be achieved.
Instead of a compromise, however,
the federal government
ordered arrest
of EZLN's General Command.
Lots of soldiers came,
they occupied schools
and municipalities,
those places
where people usually gathered.
And the people began to leave.
It became necessary to organize
civil brigades
that would help people
return to their homes.
Eventually,
after 4 months
of intensive negotiations,
the San Andrés agreements
were signed.
Papers were delivered
to the federal government
and returned in a month,
with "minor amendments."
In response, EZLN said:
"this is not a game",
"this is not what we signed."
And that is how the opportunity
of a dialog with the government was lost.
At that time San Andrés agreements
began to be implemented
on the territories
controlled by the resistance.
EZLN presents five Aguascalientes to the world
1 - La Realidad, Border Jungle Zone
2 - Oventic, Highlands Zone
3 - Roberto Barrios, North Zone
4 - Morelia, Northern Jungle Zone
5 - La Garrucha, Jungle Zone
They were creating
autonomous municipalities,
which was in accordance
with San Andrés agreements.
In 2003, EZLN announced
the end of Aguascalientes.
This marked a change in their policy.
They said that Caracols would be created
in the same locations as replacements,
they would become the meeting points
of EZLN with the civilian population.
Caracol, or Snail,
is a place not only for Zapatistas,
but also for visitors.
For example, you are in one
such Caracols right now.
This is the place from which
our words spread around the world
Those words originate
in this tiny village,
but you will disseminate it
and the Caracol will become bigger.
We have chosen the name of this little animal.
It moves very slowly,
but it moves forward.
This is what we have borrowed
from the snail.
Our resistance is similarly unhurried,
but we are moving only forward.
Formerly, this area
did not require any observers.
But now the situation
has become complicated.
That is why we are here.
The topic of indigenous population's rights
in Latin America
has always interested me.
In San Cristóbal it is possible
to get closer to this cause.
I like this kind of lifestyle.
I would also like other people
to know about it.
I think one taxi should fit
all three of you.
I got interested in this topic,
because Zapatism is similar to utopia.
So much time has passed,
so much struggle,
and such permanency
trying to implement an idea.
They will tell you
where to spend the night.
Then they will pick you up
and bring you to the village.
Observers, please,
come this side,
then families will be presented.
This is how we are going to make groups
I am a displaced person.
I've spent 6 months in Acteal
Right now we are
in the community called Puebla
We used to have problems
while living here.
Two commune houses
were burnt
together with the walls
of our new building.
We had to leave,
we couldn't stand
so many threats to our lives.
We couldn't stand the pain.
Could you tell me what happened?
They came to Juan's home,
broke in,
grabbed him and beat him.
Juan's son
was pressed behind the table.
Then, community's commissar came.
He told Juan
"If you join us, you will be OK.
If not -
we'll throw you behind the bars,
since you are a part
of the organization."
I was told: "You are on Catholics' side,
on Zapatista's' side,
let's burn them,
pour petrol over them,
throw them in jail."
This is when I started crying.
Maybe they told you about this already,
and this is important,
don’t walk alone,
neither you, nor him.
Both of you are in danger.
You can't continue living as you used to.
That is why you have here
friends who share your views.
Civil brigades,
national and international,
accompany indigenous farmers' families
that temporarily returned to their lands
after being forcefully displaced.
Puebla community,
Chenalhó municipality, Chiapas, Mexico
99 people, indigenous farmers,
men, women and children
abandoned these lands
in June-August 2013
threatened by prosecution
and manifest aggression.
They are coming back
to their Puebla community,
Chenalhó municipality, Chiapas,
for harvesting coffee.
This is the product
that supports me and my family.
Profit from harvest is used
to sustain the family,
to buy maize, beans
and clothes.
I was away for six months
and could not take care
of the plantation.
It needs to be cleaned
three times a year,
three times a year
it needs to be looked after.
If this is done,
the harvest will be good.
The coffee turns out to be
of a higher category.
Instead,
I lost around 15 sacks of coffee.
Each sack is 60 kilos - 900 kilos all in all,
that's how much I lost.
The price for coffee is
30 peso.
900 kilos multiplied by 30 is…
I don't even know
how much is it...
On behalf of the law enforcement
we guarantee political intention
to achieve peaceful resolution
for Puebla community.
This looks like a celebration.
They think there is
no violence in this community.
We will build the peace together,
for the benefit of our community,
because "Chiapas unites us,"
as the governor likes to say.
I am in a different community right now,
and I see all the violence
that is taking place here.
Because almost the same
was happening in 1997,
when they murdered people in Acteal
Everything started here,
in Puebla community.
A man called Jacinto Arias
headed the paramilitaries,
who killed 45 people in Acteal.
We know that
the government only talks
and does not deliver on its promises.
"... masks cuase nice ideological effect
and correspond to our conception
that Revolution
must not be individualized."
They killed him,
ruthlessly, with unprecedented hatred,
teacher Galeano.
After this the Councils of Good Government
decided that violence
had crossed all acceptable limits,
and handled the problem over
to EZLN General Command,
which is stationed at La Realidad right now
for investigating the incident.
You should not pay
too much attention to me.
As the last 20 years have shown,
I don’t understand anything
about mass media.
The thing is that "Sup"
began to attract too much attention.
The character has been created
and now we, Zapatistas, its creators
decided to get rid of it.
We began to wait
for a suitable moment
- an exact calendar date
and geography -
to show who we really are for those, the real ones,
who would understand us.
And just now Galeano pointed
at this geography and calendar with his death:
"here and now, in La Realidad,
in pain and revolt"
EZLN cannot interfere
in community's life
at its own discretion.
Here, the people rule,
while the government merely obeys!
That is why we, Zapatistas,
do not fight for power,
neither at elections, nor with arms.
We exist because the people decided
to live without politicians,
who only lie and disrespect.
And we are protecting our own people.
The most important for us
are our comrades Zapatistas,
men and women.
They are our strength,
our subsistence,
our fate.
They are us.
Comrades, we have come here
to resurrect teacher Galeano.
Soon you will know how.
Our commitments and our practice tell us
that for a struggle
there is no need in leaders, caudilhos,
messiahs or saviors.
One merely needs a bit of shame,
some dignity
and lot of good organization
for putting up a struggle.
We believe that one of us must die,
so that Galeano could live.
That is why we decided that Marcos
will cease to exist today.
When the world was asleep
and did not want awake,
the great gods gathered
to discuss their business.
That is when they decided
to create the world,
and to create men and women.
The gods wanted to make people
beautiful and long-lived,
that is why they made people
out of gold.
But the golden people
neither moved nor worked,
because they were too heavy.
Then the gods gathered again
to resolve this problem.
They agreed to create other people.
The made them out of wood.
They were of wooden color,
they walked and worked a lot.
And the gods were pleased,
and almost started to celebrate,
when they noticed
that the golden people
make the wooden people
work for them.
Thus, the gods decided
to make people out of corn,
good people,
the real men and women.
The corn people
had their own language,
they could negotiate
and come to agreements.
And these people went into the mountains
to find the right path for all mankind.
I asked old man Antonio
"What was the color of the corn people?"
He showed me different kinds of corn
of various colors
and told me that they are of all colors,
no one knows which for sure,
because the corn people,
real men and women,
did not have faces.
if you want to see
who's hidden behind the mask,
then take a mirror and look at yourself.
This organization is standing out
not only because of their
motives or ideological commitments.
They implement their ideas in practice.
Productive autonomy.
Capability to sustain life
through autonomy.
Productive autonomy seems
to be a key to Zapatista's organizations.
They can be totally independent
from both the government
and the market.
They themselves can
create everything,
they bring forward as a demand.
I understood another thing here.
We still have a lot of work
and self-organization ahead of us
to keep up with Zapatistas
on our path towards so ambitious happiness.
To make a different world possible,
a world, which can fit
many more worlds.
These are, of course,
some very ambitious expectations.
Our private desires
are tiny in comparison.
We want a stable job,
an apartment and a car.
Those desires
are so down to earth.
We are having a special offer:
If you buy 2 bottles of soda,
you get a pack of rice, water and a bucket
as presents.
The strategy of autonomous town projects
anticipates the refusal to participate
in state activities and the market,
it creates new forms of relations,
it demands daily
creative response to challenges,
alternative thinking,
which transcends the borders
of predetermined logic,
the rejection of consumerism,
imposed by market society,
a new perspective on our life,
to have a possibility to reject
that what we don't like
and to recreate
what we love.
Most of the people here are not locals.
Oftentimes, they are attracted by the forms,
and not the meaning,
which is not always visible.
Attractive forms
become the protection
from the governments'
military aggression,
be it in Mexico or Chile.
Zapatism cannot be exported.
That's what they say themselves.
Everyone has to fight in their own locality.
In any kind of struggle, one could use
the example of Chiapas' resistance,
organization and the fact that
people can actually unite
and fight for their rights.
If everyone is here,
let's call the comrades.
Is everyone here?
Yes!
OK, we'll call them now.
Here we will meet the people in charge
from all three levels
of Zapatista's autonomous government,
while we are here at school.
Very good afternoon,
comrades, men and women
from different countries
and states
I am happy to share
with you.
Bad capitalists are telling us,
that women are useless.
But this is not true.
Sometimes our women
don't know how to read or write,
don't speak the second language,
Spanish.
But we still can
carry responsabilities
and find new ways
to improve women' participation.
One important achievement
of the armed rebellion
was the freedom for all Zapatistas
to build our own autonomy
and self-government
with both men and women.
We declared
that we would no longer depend
from the corrupt system.
And there emerged a need
to form three levels of government.
We are referring to three echelons:
local government,
municipal government,
and zonal level.
The first, local level
is a group of comrades.
The local level is a group of families
living in a particular locality.
Yes, there are villages,
where only 2-3 comrades are living,
while the majority is party-affiliated,
we don’t consult with them.
Those who participate directly
in EZLN's internal proceedings
are called "support bases."
So, they choose their representative,
and that is what we call
local government.
The local representative coordinates
and promotes people's will.
Then, there follows municipal government.
Autonomous insurgent municipalities.
Every municipality
has a he adquarters,
where its employees meet,
and where one could come
to raise issues and bring suggestions.
Those who work at the municipal level
are resolving the problems
that were not resolved in the villages.
And every issue requires consultations.
If necessary, the village representative
goes back to the village
to consult with village-mates
regarding municipality's suggestions.
Representative says:
"we decided so and so,
but we are not sure
if the villagers would agree with us.
And the next level is
the Councils of Good Government
the most advanced one.
This level is formed by
groups of autonomous municipalities.
Some zones have 5 municipalities,
some - 4, 7 or 9,
depending on the size of a zone.
This is the structure of our government:
local, municipal and zonal levels,
the latter being
the Councils of Good Government.
All the government
at all the three levels
must operate in strict accordance
with seven principles
called "Govern, while obeying".
Suggest, but do not impose;
Represent, but do not replace;
Build, but do not ruin;
Obey, but do not dictate;
Descend to the people, but do not dominate;
Persuade, but do not defeat;
Serve the others, but not yourself.
These are the principles
that any government must comply with.
A - autonomy
E - education
I - ideas
O - organization
U - unity
Many people are joining resistance here,
but it needs to be serious.
We must reject government's help.
Many people receive pensions here.
500 or 1000 peso.
They fight for other things,
because they are paid,
and they are happy about it.
We are different.
If we have money,
it is for our work on the land.
This is where prosperity comes from,
from constantly working on the land.
In villages,
in municipalities,
at the zonal level,
all Zapatista's zones.
We organize collective work.
While working collectively,
we produce goods.
When we sell them,
we earn money.
Most of the profit
from collective works
goes for representatives' transportation,
for petrol and fees.
For instance, works in corn fields.
If a comrade is a part
of the committee and needs food,
we help with grain.
If a collective is doing handicraft,
their products are being sold,
and the earned money
can be invested into other products.
If there is some profit
remaining from the works,
the representative gathers all the families
of the support base
and they make a decision
how to use that profit,
where to invest it.
My name is Anna Aurelia,
I am a representative of my collective.
We breed cattle.
Initially we bred birds,
but this did not generate profit.
Then, we made a decision to sell all the birds,
and to buy a calf.
But this was not enough.
And then we made another decision
to grow chili.
Having sold the chili,
we bought more cattle.
That's why we have
all those animals.
In the Border Jungle Zone
we have created a bank,
called BANAMAS.
This is an autonomous bank
of Zapatista women.
It supports financially
our women,
who work for the autonomy.
We also have a coffee cooperative.
We have been working for eight years,
renting warehouses and equipment,
paying for coffee transportation.
Then, the zone made a decision
to repair a warehouse
for storing coffee.
Our method of decision-making
is general assemblies.
Our understanding of democracy
differs significantly from
the democracy of the corrupt system.
In the corrupt system, democracy
exists only during elections.
For us, however, democracy
is a daily routine.
This is how we make decisions,
analyze problems,
and eventually come to conclusions
about how our life should be.
Thanks to our organization,
all 5 Caracols could gather here.
When there were no Zapatistas,
we did not know each other.
Tzeltals lived separately,
spoke their own language.
Tojolobals lived separately as well.
This is not how it works here.
Another thank to the organization
for the opportunity to get acquainted,
and to share our experience
of self-organization.
Here we can hear
our comrades speak,
we can learn
how to live differently.
We have to show
good example
And follow our own slogan
That we will live for Motherland
Or die for freedom
And we are going and going
and going forward
To succeed in our fight,
Because the Motherland needs
Zapatistas' efforts.
Attention!
Long live Zapatista!
God!
I've been to a different world, for real!
A beautiful world.
There were gods there.
They performed magic.
They are so heavy!
Walk as you normally would.
I can't!
Bend your knees!
No, I am too old for this.
I saw myself
as a protector of spirits,
And I was shown
how to summon them,
how to help them,
how to protect.
I have an important announcement
for the kids.
Tomorrow at 8:30
they should show up at school
to begin their classes.
I think that they look at me
in the village
as at the most active one.
That is why when there emerged a need
of an autonomous teacher
someone said
"I think Juan would suit us"
Does everyone agree?
Yes, yes. Everyone said yes.
Everyone voted "aye."
That is how I began
to work with children.
Parents wanted a new life
and new future
for the whole San Isidro community.
That is why they proposed to create
an autonomous school.
Before the armed uprising
there were almost no
state schools.
We were forgotten.
Teachers would not come for weeks.
Many of them drank,
and showed up drunk for classes.
Our people began to think
what education should be like.
This is how there appeared a project
involving incoming comrades.
They helped us
to build schools.
Now, there is a school
in almost every village.
We want our children and youth
to think differently,
to appreciate collectivism,
to learn about their reality,
about how people live.
And when they understand the situation,
they stay with their fellows,
they also serve the people.
The corrupt government will perish!
But the people should live!
And the children will be free!
I know that children
are very open-minded,
with them we can create
many things.
That's what happened to me.
I was confused, lost my way,
but, thanks god,
I am again where I should be.
Our organization
is a form of Zapatism.
We are on the same path:
we fight for our rights,
we fight for our tradition,
so we would not lose them.
We are living in accordance
with San Andrés agreements.
We know very well
what was the deal between the government
and the General Command.
Although the government refuses
to admit this,
this is still necessary.
Our ancestors
had similar forms of work,
forms of self-organization.
They were not told by anyone
how they should live.
They did everything on their own.
And not just this.
We have birth certificates,
we issue them
for autonomy
without government's involvement.
Driving licenses as well.
Here we …
fabricate them? Is this the word?
What do we have to ask forgiveness for?
What do we have to be forgiven for?
For not dying of hunger?
For not being silent?
For not accepting humbly the gigantic historical burden
of disdain and oblivion?
For rebelling with lethal force,
while all other alternatives were closed?