From April 12^th to 15^th, the Critical Reflection Seminar “The Walls of Capital, the Cracks of the Left” convened by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) was held at Cideci-Unitierra in San Cristobal de Las Casas. Zapatista speakers, national and international intellectuals, and delegates of the National Indigenous Congress (CNI in its Spanish acronym) participated.

© NoFM Radio

The participations were based around the faults and gaps in the neoliberal capitalist system today and in the future, the resistances and the possibilities opened by the proposal to form an Indigenous Council of Government and to name an indigenous woman candidate for the presidential elections of 2018, given that, with the current situation, “we have no other option than to make the land shake its centers”, according to the journalist Gilberto Lopez y Rivas.

From the first day, EZLN spokesman Subcomandante Insurgene Moises explained why the capitalist world resembles a walled estate: the government structure that finds itself subordinated to the world of capital, the “Master,” invokes slavery on the estate with its structure of Master-Foreman-Servant-Overseer over the “enslaved” workers.

Regarding the current migratory phenomenon, he emphasized that, “the migrants did not leave because they wanted to, but because they could no longer be on their estate, better known as a country.” He announced that after “emptying their pockets and not finding euros, the Zapatista communities agreed to work collectively to raise a total of 3,915.5 kg. [3,915.5 kg] of clean and roasted coffee to be sent to our migrant brothers, so that they may organize themselves there and see how to make coffee resistant and rebellious.” He clarified: “Those from below need to help each other to show that we do not need those who give conditional support”, referring to the programs and gifts of government and political parties.

Critical Reflection Seminar “The Walls of Capital, the Cracks of the Left,” San Cristobal de las Casas, April 2017 © SIPAZ

For his part, Subcomandante Galeano made a call to organize and fight collectively because “the storm is coming and what is seen now is not even remotely the highest point”, because “the worst is yet to come and individualities no matter how bright and able they may feel will not be able to survive unless it is with others.” He added that “Zapatismo as libertarian thought does not recognize the rivers Bravo² and Suchiate³ as limits of its aspiration for freedom”, because “the struggle against capital is worldwide”.

Referring to the coming electoral context in Mexico, he reiterated that “among the options, our position has been and is clear: there is no good foreman but we understand that most of the time someone draws a distinction between the bad guys and the worse, as a comfort therapy. (…) We do not want to choose between a cruel and kind master, plainly and simply we do not want masters.”

He added: “I would recommend that you take advantage of what the National Indigenous Congress (CNI) will do from May this year. We truly hope that the CNI will fulfill its own mandate and not fall into the search of votes and posts, but rather lend a brother’s ear for those who below is pain and loneliness, that it relieves that with the call to the organization.” He said “Come together as a sister, a brother, brothers, because when the time comes when nobody knows where to go, these indigenous, those who are despised and humiliated today will know where the passage and the gaze [go], they will know the how and when. In short, they will know how to answer the most urgent and important question at that time: What next?”

At the end of the event, Subcomandante Insurgente Moises concluded, “You listened to our words. It is now up to you to discern which ones serve you to organize, work and fight where you live. (…) We have only to organize and go for everything (…) People from below: organize, fight and work in resistance and rebellion.”

© México Evalúa