WEDNESDAY 18 JUNE*

On Wednesday 18 June, 15 people gathered outside the Mexican Embassy in central Wellington to denounce the Mexican government's violent repression of Zapatista communities. Wellington Zapatista supporters held banners reading "For a world where many worlds fit" and "Justice for the Zapatistas and for all indigenous peoples", drawing attention to the location of the Mexican Embassy, distributing information and inviting passers by to talk about the issues.

In the last month, there has been an alarming escalation of military and paramilitary harrassment of Zapatista indigenous communities in Mexico. Troops have invaded several communities, destroying food crops, cutting off electricity supplies and attacking and intimidating people - some of whom subsequently needed to be hospitalised. After being driven from communities in the caracol of La Garrucha on Wednesday 4 June, the Mexican army threatened to return today, June 18.

Mexican Ambassador, María Angélica Arce de Jeannet passed the protest and offered to pass on information to the Mexican government. One would assume the Mexican government already knows what is happening as it is the organisation giving orders for this repression to be carried out. When challenged about numerous human rights abuses such as political assasinations, detentions, torture and sexual violation occuring in Mexico the ambassador hastily scurried inside the embassy.

For those who would like some background on current events in Mexico, the Wellington Zapatista Support Group will screen two films made by Zapatista communities next Tuesday 24 June at Happy, corner of Vivian and Tory streets. 'We Speak Against Injustice' and 'The Silence of the Zapatistas' *tell the story of th*e popular struggle for the rights of indigenous peoples in Mexico. Military and paramilitary violence against Zapatista communities is seen in the context of globalisation: The state and federal government uses violence to pressure Zapatista communities to leave their land, so that natural resources can be exploited.

Entry to the film night is by koha/donation. All proceeds go towards the provision of health care in Zapatista communities in the caracol of La Garrucha, one of the areas affected by the recent military and paramilitary attacks.

For more information see:

Offical Zapatista web site

www.ezln.org.mx

Wellington Zapatista Support Group blog

http://floweroftheword.wordpress.com

or email zapatistasolidarity@gmail.com

*ENDS*

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