The Good Government Council of Caracol 10 informed the AJMAQ network that last night, 13 October 2021, a strongly armed group of the paramlitary organization ORCAO (Regional Organization of Coffee Growers from Ocosingo) once again attacked the Zapatista community of Moisés y Gandhi, in an armed aggression that lasted 7 hours and that resulted in the forced displacement of several zapatista families.

This takes place slightly over a month after two Zapatista autonomous authorities were kidnapped by the same group. After that event, and in the context of the lon history of paramilitary violence by ORCAO against Zapatista communities, the Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous Committee – General Command of the EZLN published a communiqué warning that Chiapas is on the verge of civil war and callingfor national and international solidarity. That call resulted in expressions of solidarity and mobilizations throughout Mexico and the world. AIn spite of all this and the repeated demands to the three levels of the government to stop paramilitary aggressions against the communities that organize peacefully in defense of life, the ORCAO continues to enjoy complete impunity in its criminal actions.

Below, the communiqué by Red de Resistencia y Rebeldía AJMAQ:

 

Jobel, Chiapas, México
14 October 2021

To the people of the world
To the National Indigenous Congress
To the Indigenous Government Council
To the National and International Sixth
To the Networks of Resistance and Rebellion

Brothers and sisters, compañeros and compañeras,

The Good Government Council “Nuevo Amanecer en Resistencia y Rebeldía por la Vida y la Humanidad”, Caracol 10 “Floreciendo la Semilla Rebelde,” informed Red de Resistencia y Rebeldía AJMAQ that, slightly over a month after the arbitrary detention of the autonomous authorities José Antonio Sánchez Juárez and Sebastián Núñez Pérez, by the paramilitary group of the Regional Organization of Coffee Growers from Ocosingo (Orcao).

That same group, last night, 13 October 2021, at approximately 20:30, once again attacked the bases of support of the EZLN of the autonomous community of Moisés and Gandhi.

At 1:25 this morning, the gunfire increased, reaching the Autonomous Middle School. At 2:20, the strongly armed group were positioned only 90 feet from the homes of the families bases of support of the EZLN, who were therefore forcefully displaced in search of a safe shelter.

The aggressions of the paramilitary group ended at approximately 3:30, according to information from the Good Government Council.

We demand respect to the land and territory of the Zapatista peoples, their autonomy and free determination.

No more criminal actions by the ORCAO paramilitary group!
No more harassment against the autonomy and life built by the EZLN!
Red de Resistencia y Rebeldía AJMAQ