First Joint JEM/Casa Jubileo Delegation to Chiapas
What a delegation! It was a lot to pack into 3 days which exhausted all of us but everthing from the appts., to transport and meals to inter-personal dynamics and reflections went superbly. We were 7 from San Mateo (Pastor Nacho and daughter, Berenice, David, Mariana and three young women from a local community group). Amazingly the $500 fee from Marcus, David & Daniel from the US helped to subsidize the Puebla folk as they each paid an average of about $50. That also is solidarity economics in the Jubilee way!
Here's my summary of the delegation so capably organized for us by our Chiapas partners:
Early Sunday morning walk in the mountain behind our home hearing about causes of the water shortage, plans to modernize a canal system to channel rain to a large holding bin to an impromptu interview with a man who grows agave to make the alcoholic drink known as "pulque" and hearing the ancient legend of the cave we stumbled upon. Sunday evening was our worship time with delegation member Daniel Easton Bayer bringing the word about the craziness of the cross.
Monday's drive to Chiapas went smoothly with our usual stop for fresh fish as we entered Chiapas. The entrance to San Cristobal was blockaded to protest government repression so the last 15 minutes was by the scenic route. The same one we used to take on our first delegations 15 years ago.
Tuesday was described to us as our "setting the historical context day" with interviews at Sipaz & Frayba (human rights centers, the first started by mostly Protestant groups from the US and Europe and the second by the Catholic diocese led by Samuel Ruiz). After a delicious meal at the Zapatista Cafe known as TierrAdentro, we visited Cideci/Unitierra where we are always amazed at the vision of providing free theoretical and practical education to young indigenous people from the countryside.
Wednesday was "indigenous community day" in the mining area known as Simojovel where the first Indigenous man ever ordained as a priest in Chiapas has his parish. Father Marcelo inspired us all in his ragged T-shirt, torn sandals and simple way to explain his ministry of accompaniment, announcement of the Gospel and denouncement of the evils of drug and arms trafficking, injustice and corruption which has placed him on a hit list by the powers that be offering a million pesos for his life. A group of young Swedes are tasked with his protection from the Swedish branch of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. A brief stop on the way back at one of the Zapatista administrative bases called Oventic with only a walk through.
Upon returning to San Cristobal the road to the central park was blocked and we saw smoke rising from a couple stores. Seems the police with the help of civil militias (paramilitaries) broke up the blockade at the entrance to the city and a few hours later two convenience stores were torched in the central square. It is unclear still who is responsible but things were cleaned up by the next morning. Amazing how the revolution and tourism can co-exist so easily!!!
On Thursday we visited Acteal once again but now with the added Indigenous voices as well of those opposed to the Zapatista/Abejas philosophy since we have learned of the importance to hear all the stories from the people of the region. So we visited Estela, the Tzoltzil woman, who organized the family members of those imprisoned eventually convincing the Supreme Court to release them. After a brief stop at the Mayavinic coffee co-0p and their ecological center we stopped by Acteal of Las Abejas. We were greeted rather angrily by 4 young guys for taking pictures of the sculpture without asking permission first. So we walked down the steps and engaged in further conversation which eventually ended well. They even offered us a mini concert by their chorus. They may have been aware of our visit with Estela and were eager to make sure we knew their side of the story.
Friday morning we left early to get Marcus and Dave to the airport in Tuxtla but once again the entrance was blocked so found an alternative "trail" to link with the hwy. We made it to David's home in Veracruz where they fed us with a huge late breakfast and then arrived back in San Mateo around 7pm.
Please continue to check the blog on the JEM website for further reflections from participants and consider joining us on future delegations next year.
