zapatistas given up?

[kylie]

i just read the latest(well i think it is) communique from Subcommandante Marcos, and well it sounded as though they had given up. It talks about them resigning from their position as 'revolutionary vanguard', and the whole thing sounds pretty downbeat, as if they're accepting defeat. hopefully ive just misunderstood what it says, heres the link if you wanna check it out:
http://www.counterpunch.org/marcos01252003.html

i like what he says about people taking themselves seriously though:
Because he who takes himself seriously ends up thinking that his truth ought to be everyone's truth, always. And, sooner or later, he dedicates himself not to labors so that his truth will be born, grow, give fruit and die (because no earthly truth is absolute and eternal), but to killing all those who do not pay homage to that truth.

[Larissa]

I think we should read that part within its proper context:
"Seventh.- We know that in the (dis)concert of the revolutionary and vanguard organizations in the world, we the zapatistas have no place, not even in the rearguard. That does not make us feel bad. To the contrary, it satisfies us.

We are not ashamed to recognize that our ideas and proposals are not geared toward an eternal horizon, and that there are other ideas and proposals better developed than ours.

So we have resigned from the role of vanguard, and from obliging anyone to accept our way of thinking with any other argument than the force of reason.

Our weapons are not to impose ideas or ways of life, but to defend a way of thinking and a way of seeing the world and to build relationships with those who have much to learn from other thoughts and lives, but also have much to teach.

It is not us from whom you need to demand respect. As you can see, as a "revolutionary vanguard" we are a failure, so our respect doesn't do you a bit of good.

The respect you need is that of your people. And one thing is "respect" and quite another is "fear."

We know that you are angry because you think we do not take you seriously, but that is not your fault.

We don't take anyone seriously, not even ourselves.

Because he who takes himself seriously ends up thinking that his truth ought to be everyone's truth, always. And, sooner or later, he dedicates himself not to labors so that his truth will be born, grow, give fruit and die (because no earthly truth is absolute and eternal), but to killing all those who do not pay homage to that truth.

We do not see why we should ask you what to do or how to do it. What are you going to teach us? To kill journalists because they speak badly of the struggle? To justify the death of children for reasons of the "cause?"

We neither need nor want your support or solidarity. We already have the solidarity and support of many people in Mexico and in the world.

Our struggle has a code of honor, inherited from our warrior ancestors, and it contains, among other things: respecting the life of civilians (even if they occupy posts in the governments that oppress us); not resorting to crime to gather resources (we do not steal, even from the corner store); and not responding to words with fire (regardless of how those words might hurt us or lie about us).

Some might think that to renounce these traditionally "revolutionary" methods is to renounce advancing in our struggle. But, in the tenuous light of our history, it seems we have advanced more than those who resort to such arguments (more to demonstrate their radicalness and their willingness to follow through, than because it is so effective for their cause).

Our enemies (more than a few, and not just in Mexico) wish we would resort to those methods. Nothing would please them more than if the EZLN were to become the Mexican indigenous version of the ETA. In fact, since we have used the word to refer to the struggle of the Basque people, they have accused us of being just that.

Unfortunately for them, that's not the way it is. Nor will it be. "

Besides, the letter is a response to a previous letter from ETA and IMO the Zapatists have not given up and will never give up fighting.

The original Spanish version is at their official website:
http://www.ezln.org/documentos/2003/20030112.es.htm


(Edited by Larissa at 12:05 pm on Feb. 3, 2003)

[Pete]

I have heard of a Ceasefire between the Zapitistas and Mexico, and the ETA and Spain. Is this true? For the debates on the Canary Islands, that is why it is happening I hear, but I am not sure of this.

[Larissa]

Quote: from CrazyPete on 12:17 pm on Feb. 3, 2003
I have heard of a Ceasefire between the Zapitistas and Mexico, and the ETA and Spain. Is this true? For the debates on the Canary Islands, that is why it is happening I hear, but I am not sure of this. Actually, the Zapatists asked ETA for a Ceasefire but ETA rejected their proposal.

[TXsocialist]

I'm sorry, but I must plead ignorance here...

They don't tell us much about Communistic movements in school :)


Can someone explain the situation? What are the Zapatistas? etc...

[Larissa]

TXsocialist, try their official site at:
http://www.ezln.org/
and other related sites at:
http://www.ezln.org/links.htm
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/mexico.html
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/mexico.html

[Larissa]

I also strongly recommend you this link: http://www.zmag.org/chiapas1/index.htm

[MEXCAN]

To understand correctly,you would have to read the first letter sent by MARCOS to the ETA,then the ETA's response,after read the one you posted !!!It will make a bit more sense !!!

[sin miedo]

The EZLN never claimed to be a vangaurd.

[MEXCAN]

Quote: from CrazyPete on 3:17 pm on Feb. 3, 2003
I have heard of a Ceasefire between the Zapitistas and Mexico, and the ETA and Spain. Is this true? For the debates on the Canary Islands, that is why it is happening I hear, but I am not sure of this.


The EZLN has been on a ceasefire since January 12 1994 !!!!

[Larissa]

You are absolutely right Mexcan, thanks.

[kylie]

TX i'd recommend reading 'our word is our weapon', its a collection of Marcos' letters up to 2000/2001. you could probably find it in a large library, or on the internet(i remember someone saying about this).

[antieverything]

The Zapatistas Break Their Silence

The Nation

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20030210&s=hayden

[Dench]

I must say that i was extremely surprised when i heard about "the EZLN surrender",mostly becouse they (Marcos) stated that they would newer surrender, that they were allready dead...
But now it seems that the "surrender" never existed ?
I belive that the EZLN (or Marcos atleast) had an "silent period" (2 years?), which was broken a while agoe. Is this right ? If it is maybe this has something to do whit the psuedo "retreat" ? I mean, the mexican governement isn´t cheap when it comes to disinformation!

[kylie]

they are surrounded by a far larger mexican military force. i dont think they had a silent period, the letters have kept on coming. but now because their situation, they cant really act.

[MEXCAN]

Yes the zapatistas have had several "silent periods"!!!But i don't know where you heard that they surrendered???They never did !!!

[Dench]

No, i didn´t think so...i just read the topic!
But on a swedish Chiapas-site i read that Marcos had broken a 2 year silence, when he started a letter correspondance whit Baltazar Garzón...