SIPAZ Activities (February – April 2001)

VISITS AND CONTACTS

• Visits to the northern region of Chiapas to speak with political and religious leaders about the impact of the new political situation on the conflict.
• Meetings with several North American delegations; presentations on the political situation in Chiapas and on the work of SIPAZ.
• Meetings with several European reporters in order to inform them about the conflict in Chiapas; assistance with their trips to the rural areas.
• Visit to Mexico City in order to meet with European Union embassies in the context of the Zapatista caravan.
• Assistance with the visit of the Dutch ambassador to Chiapas.

INFORMATION

• Publication of an article on indigenous youth and low intensity warfare in Fellowship, the magazine of the U.S. Fellowship of Reconciliation.
• Publication of a news bulletin: “The Zapatista March to Mexico City.” (See the SIPAZ webpage.)
• Publication of an article on the Zapatista march in Central America and Mexico Report, the publication of the Religious Task Force on Central America and Mexico (USA).

INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE

• Meetings with religious leaders in the county of Chenalho and with the Pluralistic Ecumenical Group.
• Agreement on the part of Evangelical and Catholic groups in Chenalho and the Board of Directors of SIPAZ for a peace and reconciliation project in the Chiapas highlands, to be conducted in collaboration with the Nicaraguan Peace Commissions.
• Participation in the strategic planning process of the Bible School of Holistic Formation (EFBI).
• Meetings with state government officials in charge of religious affairs.
• Presentation of a speech as part of a seminar on “Religious Tolerance and Diversity” organized by the state government.

PEACE EDUCATION

• Participation in the Peace Network, a state-wide initiative of action and reflection on the theory and practice of community reconciliation.
• Initiation of a series of workshops with the Community Development Centers of the state government
• Facilitation of workshops on conflict transformation for the Latin American Women’s Center for Research and Action and RICAA, a network of women artisan cooperatives.