SIPAZ Activities (November 2000 – January 2001)

VISITS AND CONTACTS

• Participation in a gathering of base communities in the northern region of Chiapas on the theme of community reconciliation.
• Meetings with a variety of political and religious contacts in the northern region to discuss the implications of the new state and federal governments.
• Meetings with several North American delegations to brief them on the political situation in Chiapas and the work of SIPAZ.
• Organization of a visit to rural areas in Chiapas for the Undersecretary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of Great Britain.

INFORMATION

• Continuation of the tour by a SIPAZ team member in Germany, Belgium and Switzerland, with presentations on the situation in Chiapas and the work of SIPAZ to non-governmental organizations, solidarity groups, and government representatives.
• Publication of an article on indigenous women in the conflict area for the “Women’s Peacemakers Program 2001” of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation.
• Publication of two articles on the situation in Chiapas in Dutch periodicals.
• Interview with a Spanish radio program regarding the new political situation in Chiapas.
• Meetings with three international academics who are studying the role of SIPAZ and other non-governmental organizations in the peace process in Chiapas.

INTER-RELIGIOUS

• Meetings with a variety of church contacts in Chenalho.
• Participation in a strategic planning process at the Bible School of Holistic Formation (EFBI).
• Initiation of a series of meetings of the Pluralistic Ecumenical Group.

EDUCATION

• Facilitation of workshops on Conflict Transformation for educators of the House of Science and the Center for Research and Support of Women (CIAM).
• Together with other organizations, convening of a reflection process on processes of community reconciliation that resulted in the forming of a statewide Interest Group on the subject. Preparation of an analysis of community conflicts in the northern region as part of the Interest Group process.

OFFICE IN MEXICO CITY

• Opening of an office in Mexico City and naming of an Executive Director.
• Participation in the conference “Human Rights, Civil Society, and Military Practices.”
• Meeting with the Undersecretary of the Office of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the US State Department.