As Mexico redeployed a massive number of troops in the Chiapas region, around the 1111 villages declared to be in self-government with the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), communiques released on June 19 and 20 by EZLN leader Subcomandante Marcos announced a "Red Alert", the closure of the Zapatistas' self-governing councils, and its radio station, in order to allow for a consultation about steps forward and a restructure of the politico-military organisation of the EZLN.
In a 3000-word letter released on June 21, Marcos clarified that the Zapatistas are not planning renewed combat, and hinted at a change of direction. Explaining that during broad marches in the late 1990s the Zapatistas had seen and heard about the injustices suffered by "campesinos, workers, students, teachers, working people, homosexuals and lesbians, young people, women, old ones and children", the letter continues: "We were touched by a pain and fury, and indignation ... which is ours. But now we were touched by it in the other. And we heard the 'we' that inspires us wanting to become larger, to make itself more collective, more national. But no, we had said just the indigenous, and we had to honour that. Now we are consulting with our heart in order to see if we are going to say and do something else."
The communiques are all available in English at <http://irlandesa.blogspot.com>.
From Green Left Weekly, June 29, 2005.
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