1st UK Speaking Tour of New York’s ‘Movement for Justice in El Barrio’ – May 2008
‘Movement for Justice in El Barrio‘ (MJB) are a community organisation fighting the effects of neoliberalism and discrimination in all their forms, particularly fighting against the gentrification of their neighbourhood where multi-millionaire multi-national property developers want to force them from their homes. Having allready grown in three years from just a few members to 400+, kicked out the biggest landlord in East Harlem, held a massive and succesful consultation with the neighbourhood and organised the first NYC ‘encounter’ against gentrification and for humanity, attended by over 27 organisations, MJB are now taking on their London based landlord, Dawnay Day Group.
Recognising that their enemy is transnational, MJB aim to make their resistance the same, by uniting with others around the world and especially across the UK, to fight against Dawnay Day and gentrification and for social justice. To this end, Juan Haro from MJB is touring the UK in May, speaking about their organising model, their fight against gentrification and their links with Mexican rebels, the Zapatistas. He also hopes to hear from other communities and activists fighting similar struggles and to swap experiences. So, Juan hopes to meet you in your town soon!
See below for all events confirmed so far, donations VERY gratefully received at all events! Thanks!
Sheffield
- Wednesday 7th May, 7:00pm at the SADACCA Centre, 48 The Wicker, Sheffield.
- Thursday 8th May, 7:30pm at the Town Hall Tavern, Tib Lane.
- Friday 9th May, meeting local anti-gentrification campaigners and touring their areas in afternoon, followed by meeting with Liverpool Social Centre Collective, then public event in the evening (details TBC)
- Sunday 11th May, 7.30pm at Bridewell Police Station, Entrance on Silver Street (don’t worry, its not a cop shop anymore!)
Brighton
- Monday 12th May, 7.30pm at Cowley Club Social Centre.
Cardiff
- Wednesday 14th May, Details TBC
- Friday 16th May, at Aberdeen University in New Kings Building, Room 11 at 7pm.
- Saturday 17th May, 2-4pm at Pearce Institute, 840 – 860 Govan Road. G51 3UU (100 metres from Govan Underground). As part of wider ‘radical bookfair’ collaborative event: http://www.ribproject.org/
- Sunday 18th May, 7pm at Quaker Meeting House, Victoria Terrace (off Lawnmarket at top of Royal Mile in city centre) venue fully accessible (ramp and lift)
- Tuesday 20th May – Details TBC.
- Wednesday 21st May, 7pm at RISC, 35-39 London Street (www.risc.org.uk for directions)
- Saturday 24th May, 7pm at ‘Passingclouds’, Richmond Road, Dalston, Hackney, London followed by latin bands ( will update with full details ) organised by Movimiento ( pay in probably £5 ). Contact hackneysolidarity@hotmail.co.uk for more info.
For info about the tour, email rgacollective@hotmail.co.uk. Cheers and solidarity!
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UK Oaxaca Demonstration – Tuesday 30th October 2007 (4.30pm)
There is a demonstration at the Mexican Embassy in London this Tuesday (30th October) 4:30pm-6:30pm to protest the violence in Oaxaca one year ago (and since) which resulted in at least 4 deaths – including an independent documentary film maker Brad Will from New York who was an activist for many years, squatting during the 1990s and subsequently doing work with Indymedia Centres in NYC, Brasil and Bolivia. He was shot with his camera in his hand, video rolling, and the footage is extremely harrowing. Many others were injured and/or arrested, with state snatch squads taking people away in ambulances and helicoptors, and over 10,000 police and military invading the town.
The state repression has continued over the past year and the murderers of 26+ activists walk free.
THE PROTEST STARTS AT 4:30 pm @ the Mexican Embassy:
16 St. George Street
Hanover Sq.
London
W1S 1LX
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UK Chiapas Demonstration – Monday 10th December 2007 (1pm)
PROTEST AGAINST RECENT REPRESSION IN ZAPATISTA COMMUNITIES – OCTOBER 2007
The increase in militarisation and civil repression throughout Mexico since Felipe Calderon became president last year is reflected in Chiapas under new state governor Juan Sabines, where the federal government strategy to promote conflicts over land is fully supported by the state government. In Mexico as a whole many people believe a new ‘dirty war’ is under way with detentions and disappearances, while in Chiapas acts of violence, intimidation and aggression towards indigenous Zapatista support base communities have become a daily occurrence.
In September 2007 the EZLN 6th Commission took the difficult decision to suspend the second phase of the Other Campaign which was to visit the South and Central parts of the country, and instead to undertake civil and peaceful actions in defence of the Zapatista communities. Their communiqué says:
“At this time, the state government of Chiapas and the federal government are waging a campaign against the Zapatista communities. ‘Official’ evictions, paramilitary attacks, invasions sponsored by officials, persecutions and threats, have become once again part of the surroundings of the indigenous communities who have set upon constructing their own destiny and improving their living conditions, always without losing their indigenous identity….. Just like in the worst times …. the government is attacking the poor and needy, while catering to and benefiting the powerful. …. In contrast to other occasions, these aggressions have been met by the silence of those voices that before rose to protest and demand justice. …….. We will do what we have to do, resist.”
PARAMILITARY ORGANISATIONS
These are ‘peasant’ organisations with names like OPDDIC, ARIC, URIC and UES,which are undercover paramilitary groups going under the names of agricultural organisations. These have been re-activated and armed by the state in order to provoke confrontation with the Zapatistas through land seizures and forced evictions. Using these paramilitary groups, the state agrarian authorities have started a strategy of eviction of Zap communities from the 250,000 hectares of land in the Altos, Selva and Norte regions which were “recuperated” in 1994-5 following the uprising. The authorities are legalising these evictions with official documents making them into ‘ejidos’ (communal landholdings) in favour of the paramilitary organisations. The idea is to make the Zapatistas look like invaders, and to provoke conflicts in order to destroy the movement. They attack the basis of Zapatista autonomy, which is the land. The result is communities living under constant threats of eviction and violence, enduring the destruction of their crops and livestock and the theft of their possessions, and the undermining of any security or stability in their daily lives.
MONTES AZULES AND PLAN PUEBLA PANAMA
This ‘biosphere reserve’ is being plundered of its resources by national and multinational companies. The government expropriation of 14,000 hectares in the Lacandon Jungle in the interests of ‘ecology and conservation’ has recently led to the violent displacement of 2 communities (one of these a Zapatista support base community) and threatens 15 more Zapatista communities. Organisations like Amnesty International have condemned these evictions and called for a halt of expulsions in the area. It is believed by the local NGOs that the motives behind the expulsions, far from being in the interests of the natural environment, are to open the door for businesses to privatise and exploit the natural resources of the area.
There is also the question of ‘eco-tourism’, a highly profitable undertaking. As well as issuing the paramilitary groups with arms and ammunition, the authorities are also giving them permission to develop eco-tourism projects.
THE FEDERAL ARMY
There are now 79 permanent military camps in Chiapas, 56 of which are in the indigenous areas. A recent report by the San Cristobal-based NGO CAPISE states that the nature of the military in these camps is changing to ‘elite special forces’. The government hopes to provoke a confrontation with the army through this ongoing counter-insurgency war in order to finish with the Zapatistas altogether.
THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTEAL MASSACRE
There are fears that the situation of 1997, when the federal army together with armed paramilitary groups attempted to dismantle the Zapatista autonomous communities, is being repeated. On 22 December 1997 the attacks culminated in the massacre of 45 members, mainly women and children, of an unarmed pacifist group . Don Samuel Ruiz, Bishop Emeritus of the Chiapas Highlands, stated recently “in Chiapas repression is being offered, not dialogue. A massacre like that at Acteal could be repeated at any moment”.
ACTION
In a recent report CAPISE has called on people to break the silence. To remain silent is to support the repression.
It is necessary to state our concern and alarm at the recent increase in acts of intimidation and aggression, to condemn the militarisation of the area, and to demand a respect for human rights, a cessation in aggressions, a cancellation of forced evictions, and a halt to the intensification in the counter-insurgency war.
In September 2007, after 22 years, the United Nations General Assembly finally approved the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This gives indigenous people the right to autonomy, to maintain their culture and not to be displaced from their land. Simple, obvious basic rights? Not to the Mexican state.
The Zapatistas continue to endure, as they have endured for 515 years, a war lived day by day which permeates the entire life of their communities. And they continue to resist, as they have resisted for 515 years. Let us again support their call for democracy, liberty and justice.
Demonstrate against the repression in Chiapas at the Mexican Embassy, 1pm Monday 10th October 2007:
16 St. George Street
Hanover Sq.
London
W1S 1LX
