'Spirit of Garberville II - CHIAPAS'

Chapter 22's schoolbus named "Spirit of Garberville II" was included in the western route of the November 1998 Pastors for Peace Caravan to Chiapas, Mexico. The bus, purchased from the Fairfield School District with a loan from our community credit union, is a 1969 Gillig with a factory rebuilt Catapillar V8 engine and rebuilt transmission.

Pastors for Peace has organized a series of human rights observer delegations and material aid caravans to the south central highlands of Mexico. It has noticed, that when observers are present, the army attempts to mitigate its worst tendencies. Caravans also provide emergency support to some of the estimated 30,000 plus internally displaced refugees, mostly Mayan Indians, who live without access to their lands, medical attention and housing.

The international community, sensitive to the just demands of the Indian peoples of Mexico, has seen with horror, the war which the Mexican government is making against the first inhabitants of those lands. It has been mobilized demonstrating its repudiation of the killings, demanding respect for human rights, and demanding a just and dignified peace for Mexico.

In joining 'los Pastores por la Paz' caravan, we continued with the local custom of a shared dinner for all the caravanistas on the evening prior to departure. Our focus for this trip was material aid for the displaced women, children and elderly. Towards that end members, families, friends and neighbors of Chapter 22 had purchased and assembled donated tarps, roofing, and agricultural tools such as hatchets, rakes, hoes, shovels and of course seeds, valuable commodities, because war tactics include eliminating methods of food production. "Spirit II" carried these and donated equipment from other communities on route. Our intention for joining was successful, the Caravanistas made their presence known in the war zones and "Spirit II" delivered the materials during the round trip and brought our crew back safe and sound.

Garberville Vets for Peace continues to call for ALL individuals of the world community especially those of France, Germany and the U.S. to place pressure on their governments and that of Mexico in support of the indigenous people's demands for cultural equality. All who live within Mexico ought to live in peace with rights and dignity. A model similar to that of the US Native American and in others nations of autonomy of the tribes within the state of Mexico can be implemented.

MEETING THE ZAPATISTAS

The EZLN did not pick up arms to conquer some political position, nor to take over the country. In fact, despite the mobilizations against them, the EZLN remains determined to seek a peaceful solution to the armed conflict. It continues with its peace initiatives and with its demands of liberty, equality and respect for the indigenous peoples of Mexico.

THEIR DEMANDS:
End the foriegn govetnments role in Chiapas violence.
End the persecution subjected upon the excluded of Mexico.
End the training of Mexican soldiers, at the School of the Americas and in similar schools in France and in Germany, to kill their countrymen.
End the war of extermination.
Demand respect for differences.
Demand the recognition of Indigenous Rights of Mexico.

Further, in your Email message to President Clinton, protest the unlawful diversion of US helicopters and other military equipment, intelligence gathering and combat training from drug interdiction as designated by congress to use against the Mayan Indians of Chiapas.

Excluded people do not just suffer their existance in Mexico, persecution, imprisonment and death are on all the five continents. The power of money has decreed that certain peoples disturb them, and decreed those ones be eliminated. Millions of human beings are pushed aside and excluded from well being and the future. Demand a world where all worlds fit.

Consider supporting this ongoing ('til there is justice) Chapter 22 project with donations of money, labor or goods. If you would like to join us in a future Pastors for Peace caravan to Chiapas, or can help us WAGE PEACE in any way, please call, fax or email us at: