Worldwide Campaign: “Juan Vázquez Guzmán lives! The Bachajón struggle continues!” vivabachajon.wordpress/en-ingles/ Preparing for the Week of Worldwide Action: “Juan Vázquez Guzmán lives! The Bachajón struggle continues!” from 25th June to 2nd July, 2013 Preparations have begun in Southern England for the forthcoming Week of Worldwide Action “Juan Vázquez Guzmán lives! The Bachajón struggle continues!” The purpose of the week is to remember the assassinated defender of the land, territory and human rights of his people, Juan Vázquez Guzmán, and to offer solidarity to the continuing struggle of the adherents to the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandón Jungle from San Sebastián Bachajón against the theft of their ancestral lands. The Mexican government and its allies from transnational corporations aim to dispossess them in order to construct a luxury tourist development. It was as a leader of this struggle that Juan Vázquez Guzmán met his death. Members of the Dorset Chiapas Solidarity Group, who have joined with Movement for Justice in El Barrio and the Committees of the True Word from Kolkata, India and Alisal to convoke the week of solidarity, decided to hold an Information-sharing Session, in order to better inform themselves and to make others aware of the history of this indigenous Tzeltal community in Chiapas, South-East Mexico. The event started with everyone viewing a series of videomessages sent from the communal landholders of the community (ejido) of Bachajón in 2011. The murdered community activist is prominent in these short films, and it is clear how he inspired his compañeros. After this, the participants heard a summary of the ejido’s struggle, read some of the press articles and the communiqués from the ejido, and started a process of discussion of the implications of what is happening in Bachajón, how best to offer solidarity, and what actions can be undertaken during the week. The Group was very happy to welcome members of the Committee of the True Word from Southwest England to the meeting. The good news is that the Committee has now decided to join the week of action. One theme that emerged during the discussions, clearly of great interest to all the participants, was that of how we can all link our struggles, wherever in the world we may be. It is remarkable that this week of action has been convoked by groups from below and to the left from 3 continents. In many parts of the world indigenous people are dying, have died, and will die defending their land and territory and the future of their Mother Earth from the greed and violence of those who seek to destroy all that gives purpose and meaning to life. Part of the group’s plan for the Week of Action is to try to make short presentations about San Sebastián Bachajón and Juan Vázquez Guzmán at conferences, seminars, workshops, forums and meetings already taking place in the area. Members have already attended a forum on the adverse effects of tourism on communities and environments, and discussed with some very responsive participants the planned “ecotourist” megaproject at Agua Azul, the theft and plunder of Bachajón’s common lands, and the murder of Juan. They plan to attend a meeting on Latin America next week. It is hoped that many people from different corners of this planet will join together to mark the Week of Worldwide Action: “Juan Vázquez Guzmán lives! The Bachajón struggle continues!” from 25th June to 2nd July, 2013 “Juan Vázquez Guzmán, your voice will not be silenced, nor will the work of your heart be ended.”
Posted on: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:28:27 +0000
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