SIPAZ Activities (June – August 2002)

Accompaniment

• The SIPAZ team made visits to various communities in the municipalities of Tila and Sabanilla, both in the Northern region of Chiapas. Since the changes in the federal and state governments, the situation has quieted, but distrust persists among some groups. SIPAZ has relationships with various political and religious actors to promote opportunities for dialogue, mutual respect and distension. In El Limar, groups confronted in the past gave us testimony of their hopes and fears after the reopening of the local temple. We spoke with displaced people and Zapatista bases of support in different communities. We interviewed local authorities in Tila and Sabanilla and government civil servants in Yajalon, who also serve the municipalities of Tila and Sabanilla.
• At the request of the Miguel Agustin Pro Human Rights Centre, SIPAZ regularly visits the NGO’s lawyer in Palenque. After the assassination of Digna Ochoa in October 2001, various human rights defenders received threats.

Contacts and information

• SIPAZ held meetings in Mexico City with consultants, NGOs and embassies.
• In San Cristobal the team received various delegations, journalists and other international visitors to acquaint them on the situation in Chiapas and the work of SIPAZ.
• Also team members participated in the National Encounter for Peace with Justice and Dignity, which was held July 5-7 in San Cristobal de las Casas.

Inter-religious dialogue

• We had meetings with religious actors from San Cristobal de las Casas and the municipality of Chenalho, and with the Plural Ecumenical Group.
• The Peacebuilding Exchange Project continues to develop among religious leaders from Chenalho and the Nicaraguan Peace Commissions. In the last months, the delegates who went to Nicaragua in September 2001 (Presbiterians and Abejas from Chenalho, an evangelical missionary, a catholic nun and SIPAZ) visited 10 communities in Chenalho to present and discuss the project in public assemblies. We shared our Nicaragua experiences and listened to testimony from the communities. Approximately 700 men, women and children of various Christian denominations and political trends took part in these meetings.
• SIPAZ attended a meeting of the Diocesan Commission of Women (CODIMUJ) of the Catholic Church to present the same project.
• SIPAZ also participated in the Forum on the Right to Freedom of Worship, a national event, organized in Chiapas by the state government’s secretary of Religious Affairs.
• The team attended a conference on Christianity and Islam organized by the United Mission for Chiapas of the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico.
• SIPAZ continues taking part in the preparation of ecumenical prayers for peace in San Cristobal de las Casas.

Peace Education

• SIPAZ co-facilitated a series of workshops on conflict transformation for students of the Centres of Community Development (CEDECOS) in San Cristobal de las Casas and Las Margaritas. The majority of the participants were primarily indigenous young people, who receive professional training in the CEDECOs.
• The team facilitated training sessions on conflict transformation for members of Melel Xojobal, a local NGO. These workshops were requested to strengthen their work with street children who suffer from many forms of violence.
• SIPAZ continues to take part in the Network for Peace, a space for exchanging on action and reflection that seeks to support peace and reconciliation processes at the community and organizational levels in Chiapas.

International

• SIPAZ attended the 7^th International Congress of Peacemakers, organized by the Regional Network of Justice and Peace (Mexico, Central America, Colombia and the Caribbean). El Salvador, August 8-10.