SIPAZ Activities (From mid-November 2019 to mid-February 2020)

INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE AND ACCOMPANIMENT

CHIAPAS

Highlands region

• In November, we participated in an analysis meeting with other civil organizations and with members of the Simokhovel Parish Council, who for several years have suffered threats and aggressions because of their complaints about the social-political situation that has prevailed in the municipality.
• In November, December, and January we accompanied the displaced families of Banavil, municipality of Tenejapa, in various procedures that allow them to advance in their search for justice and return.
• On December 10, we attended the events held in the framework of the 27^th anniversary of the formation of Las Abejas Civil Society; on the 21^st and 22^nd of this same month, we attended events remembering the 22^nd anniversary of the Acteal massacre, municipality of Chenalhó.

Northern Jungle region

• In November, we participated in a space for risk analysis and defense strategies with the Center for Indigenous Rights (CEDIAC AC) and the Jesuit Mission of Bachajón in their accompaniment of indigenous peoples’ movements that seek to exercise their right to self-determination through the constitution of community governments in Chilón and Sitalá.
• In January, we attended the Second Forum in Defense of Territory and Self-Determination, which was convened by various civil and social organizations and held in Ocosingo.

Border region

• In February, we met with several civil organizations and religious actors to discuss the situation prevailing in the Border region of Chiapas.

Gender

• On November 25, we were present at several activities held in San Cristobal de Las Casas in the framework of the International Day for the Eradication of Violence against Women.

Prisoners

• At least once a month, we visit the indigenous prisoners organized in the organizations “Solidarity of the Voice of Amate” and “The Voice of Indigenous People in Resistance,” both groups adhering to the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) in the San Cristóbal de Las Casas prison.
• From mid-November to December, we accompanied members of the Colectivo de Familiares de Presos en Lucha who have received death threats in their efforts to demand justice for their prisoners.
• In February, we attended the press conference in which it was announced that four prisoners in San Cristóbal and Comitán were to begin a new hunger strike in order to speed up the process of reviewing their files.

Events

• In November, we participated in the Assembly of Believing Peoples in San Cristóbal de Las Casas.
• In November, we were present at the press conference in which members of the Mission to Observe the Humanitarian Crisis of Migrants and Refugees in Southeast Mexico reported on the impacts of Mexico’s migration policy on the southern border.
• In November, we participated in Tuxtla Gutiérrez in a workshop organized by the Joint Service for the Characterization of the Internally Displaced Population (JIPS) in which authorities, organizations of displaced persons, and civil organizations participated.
• In November, we were present at the “Mariano Abarca” Environmental Defense Forum in Chiapas, which was held in San Cristóbal de La Casas and in which the first recognition of environmental defense in Chiapas was given to the indigenous organization Movement in Defense of Life and Territory (MODEVITE).
• In December, we attended the press conference in which the Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas Human Rights Center, A.C. (Frayba) denounced death threats against its staff and those who make up the Collective of Relatives of Prisoners in Struggle who received in November and December “death threats, surveillance, harassment, and intimidation, in the context of the struggle for the freedom of prisoners of indigenous peoples, particularly Juan de la Cruz Ruiz.
• In December, we attended the press conference in which members of the parishes of Oxchuc, Tenejapa, and Huixtán, accompanied by the human rights area of the San Cristóbal de Las Casas Diocese, expressed their discontent because the federal government has not consulted them on the construction of mega-projects such as the Mayan train and the San Cristóbal-Palenque highway.
• In December, we attended the press conference in which the release of Juan de la Cruz Ruiz was made public. He was imprisoned from February 28, 2007, to December 9, 2019.
• We attended various activities as part of the “Combo for Life: December of Resistance and Rebellion” to be held in Chiapas in December including the Forum in Defense of Territory and Mother Earth; the Fourth Assembly of the CNI; the Second International Meeting of Women Who Fight; and the celebration of the 26^th anniversary of the beginning of the “war against oblivion.”
• In January, we accompanied the pilgrimage of the Believing People of the Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas organized to honor jTatic Samuel Ruiz García, former bishop of this diocese who died 9 years ago, and to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Diocesan Synod.
• In February, we participated in the Assembly of the Beliving Peoples in San Cristobal de Las Casas.

INFORMATION and TRAINING TOWARDS ACTION

VISITS, DELEGATIONS, AND TOURS

• We received delegations, students, journalists, and members of our coalition interested in knowing or deepening their knowledge of the situation in Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Guerrero, and the work of SIPAZ.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE

• In November, we presented a context analysis at the parish meeting of Indian theology in Teopisca.
• In December, we facilitated a discussion with the Mesoamerican Voices team as part of their annual evaluation and strategic planning for 2020.
• In December, we facilitated a working session with the Commission for Community Reconciliation and Unity (CORECO), in which the team completed its annual evaluation for future planning.
• In January, we facilitated a discussion with the Sursiendo team as part of their strategic planning for 2020.
• In February, as part of the Mother Earth Support Network, we co-facilitated with the Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas Human Rights Center a workshop on integral defense strategies with the Tsotsil zone of the San Cristóbal de Las Casas diocese.
• In February, we facilitated a space for analysis and strategic reflection with various civil organizations on the situation prevailing in the municipality of Chilón.
• In February, we facilitated a space for context analysis with some 30 women artisans from the organization Ixim Antsetic (Women of Corn).

INTERNAL TRAINING

• In December, we participated in the final evaluation of the implementation of measures at SIPAZ, after 2 years of digital security workshops facilitated by the Sursiendo collective.

FORMATION

• We attended the bimonthly meetings of the Network for Peace, a space for action and reflection made up of 10 organizations that seek to support peace and reconciliation processes in Chiapas.
• In January, we participated in the workshop on Good Practices in Protection / Unarmed Civilian Accompaniment convened by the Nonviolent Peace Force in Bogotá, Colombia.
• In January, we were at the Welthaus partners’ meeting held in Oaxaca City. In February we participated in a follow-up meeting in San Cristóbal de Las Casas to discuss security issues in greater depth.
• In January, we co-convened and co-coordinated an assembly of people and groups who have received the Jtatic Samuel Jcanan Lum recognition in the past to share analyses and experiences of work in defense of life and land.