SIPAZ Activities (Between May and July 2001)

Between May and July 2001, SIPAZ activities included the following:

VISITS AND CONTACTS

• Visits to the northern region of Chiapas to speak with a variety of political and religious leaders.
• Meetings with various delegations from North America to inform them about the present political situation in Chiapas and about SIPAZ work.
• Visits from the embassies of France (the Ambassador and the First Political Secretary), Germany (the Vice-minister for Economic Cooperation), and the US (Human Rights Officer).
• Meeting of the Board of Directors of SIPAZ in Chiapas and, in conjunction with it, meetings with national and local NGOs, COCOPA members, federal Peace Commissioner Luis H. Alvarez, the National Indigenous Congress, and Chiapas Governor Pablo Salazar.

INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE

• Meetings with religious leaders in the county of Chenalho and with the Pluralistic Ecumenical Group.
• Commencement of the Peacebuilding Exchange Project in the Chiapas highlands, in collaboration with CEPAD (Council of Evangelical Churches) and the Peace Commissions of Nicaragua; workshop with Evangelical and Catholic representatives and visits to several communities in Chenalho.
• Completion of the strategic planning process of the ecumenical Bible School of Holistic Formation.

PEACE EDUCATION

• Participation in the Peace Network, an inclusive space for action and reflection about processes of community reconciliation.
• A series of five workshops on conflict transformation with pupils of the Community Development Centers (CEDECOs).
• Workshop with the Board of Directors of the Women’s Research and Support Center (CIAM).
• Workshop on “Reconciliation” with communication promoters at Melel Xojobal.
• Workshop on “Introduction to Conflict Transformation” with a Presbyterian congregation in Tuxtla Gutierrez.