Ataque a La Realidad
Words of the EZLN’s General Command in the voice of Subcomandante Insurgente Moisés
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WORDS OF THE GENERAL COMMAND OF THE EZLN, IN THE VOICE OF SUBCOMANDANTE INSURGENTE MOISÉS, IN HOMAGE TO COMPAÑERO GALEANO.
MAY 24, 2014 IN LA REALIDAD, CHIAPAS, MEXICOO
Compañera and compañero comandantes, compañera and compañero bases of support, militia, and insurgentes.
Compañeras and compañeros of the Sixth. Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening to all of you, wherever you may be.
Compañeras and compañeros, brothers and sisters:
Through my voice speaks the voice of the Zapatista Army for National Liberation.
Through my voice speaks the pain and rage of hundreds of thousands of indigenous people, men, women, children, and elders of the Zapatista Army for National Liberation.
We are here with the compañer@s of La Realidad, to support them with all of our dignified rage.
The compañeros and compañeras of the Sixth must understand something: the EZLN cannot involve itself in the affairs of the communities and the autonomous governments anytime it wants to. Because when we as the EZLN say “respect,” it isn’t just talk, it is our practice. The EZLN, as a force of the people, can only become involved in an issue in the Zapatista communities if the autonomous authorities request this. This is so because an army, of whatever kind, should always respect and serve the people, the civilians.
Adiós, Subcomandante
“Hey, it’s very dark here, I need a little light.”
Then he stopped talking and straightened the papers on the table. The lights went out. In the penumbra, illuminated just by the faint light of a video camera, he stood up.
He walked a few steps toward the rear of the stage.
Walking slowly, he crossed the threshold.
He began to go down the wooden stairs.
And he slowly faded into the darkness.
And he ceased to exist.
Then a silence spoke out charged with gratitude and so many other things from thousands of hands clapping in unison, and the faces holding back tears, and the hearts repeating: Farewell, Subcomandante. “One, two, three,” the voice of Comandante Tacho was heard talking on the radio. The lights went on again. And Subcomandante Insurgente Moisés, military leader and now also spokesperson of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation, said: “Compañeros, compañeras, we are going to listen now to the voice of another compañero.”
From the speakers came the voice which until a few minutes ago, for the last twenty years, belonged to Subcomandante Marcos, now coming to life anew, mocking death. “Have a good pre-dawn, compañeras and compañeros. My name is Galeano. Subcomandante Insurgente Galeano. Is anyone else called Galeano?”
Thousands of men and women responded together: “My name is Galeano!” “We all are Galeano!” “We all are Galeano!”
“So that’s why they told me that when I was reborn, I would do it collectively. So be it then. Have a good trip. Take care of yourselves, take care of us. From the mountains of the Mexican Southeast. Subcomandante Insurgente Galeano.”
