[Lasnetmail] Mexican Military Repositions in Zapatista territory: Important to keep an eye on this

Mon Jul 23 01:30:54 UTC 2007

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Mexican Military Repositions in Zapatista territory: Important to
keep an eye on this
From:    "Erika Del Carmen Fuchs" <erikasdream at yahoo.ca>
Date:    Thu, July 19, 2007 10:22 am
To:      "Cafe Ramona" <caferamona at yahoo.com>
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  Dear Friends / Querid at s Amig at s:
I am sending the following article (translated into English and in its
original Spanish), because of the extremely precarious and dangerous
situation that Mexico is going through. There have been recent attacks in
Oaxaca, and others anticipated throughout the country, against social
movements. It is very important for those from abroad to act, to exert
pressure, to be alert to what happens in Mexico.
I know that there has been widespread interest and support of the
Zapatistas over the last decade or so. Well, it is important to note that
among other groups targetted, the Zapatistas face an immense pressure
(military and otherwise) from the Mexican state. They have started a new
process called the Other Campaign last year, a national process of
building a unified movement.

Just recently over the last few days, they have had a public forum with
other campesino organizations from the world--to build international
unity--with the Brazilian MST, an Indian campesino organization, South
Korean campesino organization--(you can hear the forum in Spanish--at
http://enlacezapatista.ezln.org.mx/comision-sexta/778.

For more information on the Zapatistas, go to www.narconews.com, or
http://otravancouver.resist.ca, http://www.zeztainternazional.org/.

Erika

                         ***                 ***               ***        
        ***

"They're going for everything," concludes a study by a civil organization
  The Mexican Ministry of Defense unleashes elite force in Zapatista zone
  The State continues to consider the indigenous as enemies

 HERMANN BELLINGHAUSEN
  La Jornada, July 17, 2007

  San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. July 16. In a silent manner, in
recent months, there has been an important transformation in the
military positions and strategies with regards to Zapatista territory.
On the one hand, the Federal Army has withdrawn barracks and camps; on
the other hand, a new "elite" force has arrived, with greater offensive
capacity, directly coordinated with Military Camp Number One in Mexico
City (infamous for being the site of numerous state torture sessions and
disappearances), and not with the usual officials in the military zones
of Chiapas, which had been the case until 2006.

  In the indigenous territory of Chiapas "the Ministry of National Defense
(Sedena) unleashed special elite forces in an indiscriminate manner.
This reality has a clear message: they're going for everything,"
concludes a study carried out on the presence of the Army in indigenous
regions. It is signaled, that the withdrawals, "far from lifting the
military pressure on the Zapatista communities and the EZLN, are
accompanied by an impressive military re-composition."

  The document, entitled Face of War: A Federal Mexican Army, a Few
Indigenous Peoples, their Territory, presents results, that "show
serious concern about the new composition of an Army occupying
indigenous territory, where for the State the enema continues to be an
internal one: the indigenous peoples of Chiapas, the indigenous peoples
and campesinos (peasants) of Mexico, the social movements."

  The Centre for Political, Social and Economic Analysis and Studies
(Capise), responsible for the study, considers that "the imposed
government of Felipe Calderón has militarized virtually all of the
public institutions of justice, handing over control of the country over
to the military institution." It signals that in Chiapas the Sedena
withdrew "quantity" and brought in "quality" in troops. That is, it
"practically dissolved the conventional military units, introducing in
their place specializes elite forces of the highest level."

  This happens within the context of the supposed control over the
territory and the administration of natural resources by the government,
displacing those who live on the lands. For the government, the document
adds, the Zapatistas are the "internal enemy."

  The new counterinsurgent strategy is "supported and covered up by
Federal institutions, like the Office of the Attorney General for
Agrarian Matters, the Ministry of Agrarian Reform, the agrarian unitary
tribunals, the Sedena and the federal, state and municipal institutions
of Public Security, all tightly coordinated between them." This has
permitted that since 2006 that paramilitary groups linked to the Army in
the jungle and Northern zones, regain some ground.

  The study describes that in Mexico there are 12 military regions.
Chiapas and Tabasco make up the seventh region, with five zones. Of
them, four are in Chiapas (36, 31, 38 and 39). In the last three
(Highlands, Northern and Jungle), that are within indigenous areas, the
Army has recently changed its character and number of positions; now
they are more specialized and offensive.

  In the jungle, in 2006 and 2007, Capise identified in situ the
withdrawal of 16 positions. First, it was San Jerónimo Tulijá,
Ocotalito, Ibarra, Río Corozal, Santo Tomás, Francisco Villa, El
Vergelito, Chocoljaito y
 Amatitlán. Then, between March and June of this year, Las Tacitas, La
Soledad, Nuevo Orizaba II (where there were two camps and there is only
one left, relocated to Loma Bonita), Quiringüicharo, Zamora Pico de Oro,
Cintalapa (Ocosingo) and San Caralampio.

  So, in the last months the government of Vicente Fox withdrew nine
military positions in the jungle and, in the first seven months of
Felipe Calderon's government, seven more. In the same period the
withdrawal of four bases in the Northern zone were identified: Xhanil,
Jolnixtié, Nuevo Limar and Bachajón. The withdrawal of some military
positions in the Highlands were in 2005, without anymore being
registered.

  Thirty permanent positions were withdrawn between May 2005 and July
2007. "A military position is not a permanent or intermittent
check-point, nor is an intermittent camp," it clarifies.

  "At first glance, it seems as though the Sedena has relaxed the
counterinsurgent hold against the EZLN, the autonomous government and
their support bases. It's exactly the opposite." Capise counts that
there are 29 military camps in the 39th Military Zone, 22 in the 31st,
14 in the 36th, and 13 in the 38th.

  This adds up to at least 78 permanent positions, 56 of them in the
indigenous zones. That's how "relaxed" the military occupation of
indigenous communities and territories in Chiapas is with the Calderon
government.

  "Van por todo", concluye estudio de organismo civil
  Suelta la Sedena cuerpos de elite en zona zapatista  El Estado sigue
considerando enemigos a los indígenas
  HERMANN BELLINGHAUSEN
  San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chis. 16 de julio. De manera silenciosa, en
los meses recientes, se ha dado una transformación muy importante en las
posiciones y el dispositivo militar en torno al territorio zapatista.
Por un lado, el Ejército federal ha retirado cuarteles y campamentos;
por el otro, arribaron nuevos cuerpos "de elite" con mayor capacidad
ofensiva, coordinados directamente con el Campo Militar Número Uno de la
ciudad de México y no con los habituales mandos de las zonas militares
de Chiapas, como había sido hasta 2006.
  En el territorio indígena de Chiapas "la Secretaría de la Defensa
Nacional (Sedena) soltó cuerpos especiales de elite en forma por demás
indiscriminada. Esa realidad tiene un mensaje claro: van por todo",
concluye un estudio actualizado de la presencia del Ejército en las
regiones indígenas. Los retiros, "lejos de distensar la presión militar
sobre los pueblos zapatistas y el EZLN, vinieron acompañados de una
recomposición militar impresionante", se señala.
  El documento, titulado Cara de guerra: un Ejército federal mexicano,
unos pueblos indígenas, su territorio, presenta resultados, que a su vez
"arrojan una seria preocupación sobre la nueva composición de un
Ejército en ocupación de un territorio indígena, donde para el Estado el
enemigo sigue siendo interno: los pueblos indígenas de Chiapas, los
pueblos indígenas y campesinos de México, los movimientos sociales".
  El Centro de Análisis y Estudios Políticos, Sociales y Económicos
(Capise), responsable del estudio, considera que "el gobierno impuesto
de Felipe Calderón ha militarizado prácticamente todas las instituciones
públicas en materia de justicia, entregando el control del país a la
institución castrense". Señala que en Chiapas la Sedena retiró
"cantidad" y trajo "calidad" de tropas. Esto es, "prácticamente disolvió
las unidades militares convencionales, introduciendo en su lugar cuerpos
especiales de elite del más alto nivel".
  Esto se da en el contexto del pretendido control sobre el territorio y
la administración de los recursos naturales por parte del gobierno,
despojando a quienes habitan estas tierras. Para el gobierno, añade, los
zapatistas son el "enemigo interno".
  La nueva estrategia contrainsurgente es "respaldada y encubierta por
instituciones federales, como la Procuraduría Agraria, la Secretaría de
la Reforma Agraria, los tribunales unitarios agrarios, la Sedena y las
instituciones de Seguridad Pública federal, estatal y municipal, todas
estrechamente articuladas entre sí". Esto ha permitido que desde 2006
recobrara cierta dimensión el carácter paramilitar de grupos
oficialistas vinculados al Ejército en la selva y la zona norte.
  El estudio describe que en México hay 12 regiones militares. Chiapas y
Tabasco conforman la séptima, con cinco zonas. De ellas, cuatro están en
Chiapas (36, 31, 38 y 39). En las tres últimas (Altos, Norte y Selva),
que corresponden al área indígena, el Ejército ha cambiado recientemente
el carácter y número de sus posiciones; ahora son más especializadas y
ofensivas.
  En la selva, en 2006 y 2007, Capise identificó in situ el retiro de 16
posiciones. Primero fueron San Jerónimo Tulijá, Ocotalito, Ibarra, Río
Corozal, Santo Tomás, Francisco Villa, El Vergelito, Chocoljaito y
Amatitlán. Luego, entre marzo y junio del presente año, Las Tacitas, La
Soledad, Nuevo Orizaba II (donde había dos campamentos y quedó uno,
reubicado en Loma Bonita), Quiringüicharo, Zamora Pico de Oro, Cintalapa
(Ocosingo) y San Caralampio.
  Así, en los últimos meses del gobierno de Vicente Fox se retiraron nueve
posiciones militares de la selva y, en los primeros siete meses de
Felipe Calderón, siete más. En el mismo periodo se identificó el retiro
de cuatro bases en la zona Norte: Xhanil, Jolnixtié, Nuevo Limar y
Bachajón. Los retiros de algunas posiciones militares en los Altos
fueron en 2005, sin registrarse ninguno más.
  Treinta posiciones permanentes fueron retiradas entre mayo de 2005 y
julio de 2007. "Una posición militar no es un retén fijo o intermitente,
como tampoco lo es un campamento intermitente", aclara.
  "A simple vista, pareciera que la Sedena relajó la tenaza
contrainsurgente implementada contra el EZLN, los gobiernos autónomos y
sus bases de apoyo. Es exactamente lo contrario". Capise enumera que hay
29 campamentos militares en la 39 Zona Militar, 22 en la 31, 14 en la 36
y 13 en la 38.
  Esto suma cuando menos 78 posiciones permanentes, 56 de ellas en la zona
indígena. Así de "relajada" está con el calderonismo la ocupación
militar de comunidades y territorios indígenas en Chiapas.

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