Since the beginning of April of this year, 23 indigenous regions of the Selva Lacandona in the municipality of Ocosingo, Chiapas, announced publicy in demonstrations and through a recent communiqué dated on June, “ELECTIONS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN OUR REGIONS AND WE PLANT RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE STATE AUTHORITIES FOR EVERYTHING THAT WILL HAPPEN IN OUR MUNICIPALITY”, as a democratic response to the obstacles and mockeries that the state government of Chiapas has committed to its demands for the creation of electric power projects, the implementation of potable water and compliance with the human right to basic services, which, being scarce or simply lacking in the municipality as a whole, makes these regions one of the most precarious regions of the state and the country.

In the mentioned statement, it is narrated that the community movement had a ‘working reunion’ with delegates and relevant officials of the government of Ocosingo on June 5th, in which the approval of “favorable responses” for 6 electric power projects was signed. However, on June 7th, which was the agreed date to make official the projects, no personnel attended, “mocking us as indigenous peoples and communities.” Immediately, a telephone call was made to ask the reason why no official attended, to which they responded “if we want, we’re able to measure forces to see who is who”, which is interpreted openly as a repressive threat against this movement.

Failing to receive a favorable response from the three levels of government in the 24-hour extension given by the communities, they affirm that it was a serious mistake to continue the discrimination and abandonment gap they have historically suffered and describe their resolution to boycott the elections as “a fuse lit for July 1st, 2018″.

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With these 23 regions of the Selva Lacandona, the map of towns in search of their self-determination increases considerably in Chiapas territory, having at the same time the municipalities of Oxhuc, Sitala, Chilón and Tila that have won their respective legal battles to be self-governed by uses and customs in order to strengthen the pluricultural nature of the native peoples who reside there; to the city of San Cristóbal de Las Casas that began an exercise of citizen participation since October 2017 with the Citizen Council for a Good Government that managed to apply for the Mtro. Esteban Morales as an independent municipal candidate, who is already in the 3rd place of electoral preferences and could represent a new expression of urban self-government without the need for a “state of conflict”; and of course, adding to all the Rebel Autonomous Zapatistas Municipalities (MAREZ) of the EZLN that have been exercising their political autonomy and economic self-management for more than 15 years.

FROM THE SOUTHEAST STATE OF CHIAPAS 23 REGIONS OF THE ZONE SELVA LACANDONA, OCOSINGO, CHIAPAS.

To the National Commission of Human Rights:

To the State Commission of Human Rights:

To the national and international media:

To the Human Rights Defenders Organizations:

To popular, democratic and independent organizations:

To the people in general:

We have always privileged the path of dialogue, respect, however, until now we have only found discrimination and neglect on the part of the three organs of government.

As 23 regions of the Selva Lacandona Ocosingo, Chiapas, through dialogue and consultation, we have made progress in some areas of roads etc.

On June 5th, 2018, we had a working meeting with Ing. Baldemar Navarro Guillen -Delegate of the Government of Ocosingo-, Mr. Marco Antonio Morales Liévano -Director of Social Organizations of the General Secretary of Government- in the city of Ocosingo, Chiapas. At this meeting, the needs of 6 electric lighting projects for 6 communities were raised, they were formally left that by today, June 7th, 2018, favorable responses would be brought for said projects, which is reflected in a minute of job.

In which we as 23 regions go to said place agreed for the meeting, nevertheless; no government personnel deigned to attend, mocking us as indigenous peoples and communities. We did a telephonecall  to Mario Carlos Culebro asking what was the reason for not complying with the agreement to give us answers. His response was in a threatening tone telling us that “if we want we can measure forces and see who is who”.

In that sense, we do not want to create a SOCIAL DESTABILIZATION IN THESE TIMES, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE IN ELECTORAL TIMES WHERE WE WILL CHOOSE OUR MUNICIPAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES, BUT DUE TO THIS PREPOTENCE TO TREAT US WITHOUT ANY RIGHT, WE ARRIVE TO THIS AGREEMENT: ELECTIONS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED IN OUR REGIONS AND WE PUT RESPONSIBILITIES TO STATE AUTHORITIES FOR ALL THAT WILL HAPPEN IN OUR MUNICIPALITY.

IF IN 24 HOURS WE DO NOT HAVE ANSWERS TO WHAT IS EXPOSED, THIS WILL BE A FUSE LIT FOR JULY 1, 2018.

“Damn those who with words defend the people, but with their deeds they betray it”.

Sincerely: 23 Regions of the Selva Lacandona Zone, Ocosingo, Chiapas.

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