This year, on October 15. and 16., communities and organizations from Chiapas, Guerrero, and Oaxaca gathered in Tlapa de Comonfort, Guerrero, to analyze and condemn the political situation in the southern and southeastern regions of the country.
One of the results of the meeting was that the participants agreed to organize themselves under the umbrella of “Pueblos Organizados en Defensa del Territorio” (Organized Peoples in defense of territory). The organizations also issued a joint statement in which they identify the threats they face, reaffirm their commitment to the struggle for peace, and outline their demands.
The meeting included a visit to Zitlaltepec to celebrate the anniversary of the CRAC-PC and take part in various training activities. In one exercise, the organizations were divided into three groups, sorted by the state they come from, to identify which challenges they face in achieving peace in their region. This exercise revealed the similarities between their struggles and prompted reflections on the importance of uniting in the face of shared threats.
The outcome of the discussions is the Regional Meeting’s statement: “From the heart of the earth, the south-southeast will not be fenced in.” In it, they pinpoint a link between the violence in their communities and capitalist economic projects. The fear that is being sown is intentional. Municipal and state governments, which have ties to organized crime, are working to advance megaprojects to increase their profits. Violence is a tool of capitalism.
The communities reiterated the importance of defending their territory and of community. “For us, territory is not just the ground we walk on, but also our sacred sites, our language, our spiritual practices, and our historical memory,” they explain.
In the document, the participants once again reject megaprojects and outline their appeals. The government must respect the territories and rights of the peoples, including the right to consultation and free, prior, and informed consent. In addition, they demand an end to the criminalization of activists, freedom for those imprisoned for their activism, as well as truth and justice for the victims of forced disappearances and displacement.
“Unlike the state, which is aligned with organized crime and powerful business groups, the communities and organizational processes in this region stand firm with dignity,” they declared in the joint pronouncement.
DESDE EL CORAZÓN DE LA TIERRA, EL SUR-SURESTE NO SERÁ CERCADO (Principal) | 31 años de resistencia: CRAC-PC aprueba cambios en su sistema de seguridad y justicia comunitarias (La Minuta)
