SKA for Chiapas - fundraising concert for San Marcos Aviles

With wild skaning on the rhythm of the band SKA2-D2 and solo concert by S. J. with his banjo, the Zapatista Solidarity Group - Essex continued its fund raising initiative for the community San Marcos Aviles in Chiapas. The gig kicked off in the Colchester bar "Tin Pan Alley" where more than 100 visitors came to listen to the music and support the indigenous struggle in the south of Mexico. 

The community San Marcos Aviles was attacked by paramilitary groups earlier this year in a large government-backed attempt to crackdown Zapatista support bases in the region. The intensified attacks provoked huge international campaign in defence of the victims of government, paramilitary and corporate aggression, including the political prisoners - Alberto Patishtan and Francisco Santiz Lopez. The Essex group participated with making a solidarity video, organising a protest in front of the Mexican embassy in London and two fundraisers. 

Facebook page of SKA2-D2: http://www.facebook.com/ska2d2

Video from the Event:

Essex fundraising for San Marcos Aviles

Under the slogan "Not charity - solidarity" the University of Essex Zapatista team fundraised more than 140 pounds for the community of San Marcos Aviles. The activists were selling burritos and Zapatista coffee as part of their efforts to support the attacked by paramilitaries communities in Chiapas. 

Earlier the group from Essex organized a protest in front of the Mexican embassy and filmed a solidarity video, condemning the terror against the autonomous indigenous communities. The fundraiser is part of a larger campaign, backed by the Latin American Society which is also fundraising for the same cause on 30 Nov. The last fundraiser will be a SKA gig in Tin Pan Alley in Colchester on 14 December.

Article on YoSoy132's blog

A brilliant article on our protest against the repressions by the paramilitatires and the Bad Government on the page of our friendsYoSoy132 - Londres, who were there with us:

"Despite the initial YS132 focus was on the fight against the imposition of an illegitimate president and the blatant use of mass media to mislead the population, our stand in solidarity to the groups in resistance in Mexico such as Atenco, Cananea, the SME and the Zapatistas and other indigenous (or Nican Tlaca) groups in resistance, is clearly stated in our manifesto. This is why the movement participated yesterday with Essex Zapatista Solidarity Group and will continue to do so in similar actions, such as to oppose and make life impossible to the oncoming PRI rule in December.
“If we don’t strike up together, who will illuminate this darkness?”
¡ Basta ya !"

The whole article - here!

"Zapata vive" echoed in front of the Mexican embassy

With chants "Zapata vive, la lucha sigue!" and "El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!" a group of supporters of the Zapatistas gathered to protest in front of the Mexican embassy against the repressions on the communities in resistance carried out in the last few months. The protesters demanded end of the attacks and release of the political prisoners jalied by the Bad Government.
"Our words are our weapon and the our bullets are flying towards Mexico in this moment" said Petar Stanchev from the Zapatista Solidarity Group - Essex. "We are here for the light of tomorrow, for a world in which many worlds fit, for a world where capitalism doesn't threaten us with complete destruction and being indigenous, homosexual, migrant or woman is not a crime". The protest was part of the global campaign "Worldwide Echo in support of the Zapatistas".

In addition, numerous solidarity groups from London such as the Tawantinsuyo Nation group and the Yosoy132 cellulé group took part in the demonstration in support of the recently attacked zapatista communities. Alberto, from the Yosoy132 reminded us of Subcomandante's Marcos words on the indigenous struggle and the recognition of the Other as an equal. Amaru from Tawantinsuyo Nation spoke about the importance of our indigenous roots and identity in the struggle for world recognition and economic redistribution, as well as the liberation from our colonized mentalities and the eurocentric ideas that we have about the justice.

A petition, signed by hundreds of Zapatista supporters was handed to the embassy with a clear message condemning the paramilitary attacks and the government that stays behind them. 

In the last few months a violent campaign of several paramiliraty groups, backed by the Mexican state resulted in attacking, threatening and intimidating peaceful Zapatista communities. Meanwhile, the state itself continued the policy of holding political prisoners and caged with fake alegations new companer@s whose only guilt is rejecting the neoliberal system of opression, poverty and exploitation and creating an alternative to it.

Solidarity video with the Zapatista communities under attack

Zapatista Solidarity Essex talks at Occupy London

With a short talk on the Zapatista movement, Petar Stanchev from the University of Essex patricipated in the Global Noise Day in London. The event was on the first birthday of the Occupy London Stock Exchange and focused on the ongoing global austerity pillage and its effects on different parts of the world. Speakers from Greece, Portugal, Spain, Quebec and other places talked about the devastating effects of neo-liberal policies in their countries and the resistance against them.

The Zapatista struggle couldn't be but one of the examples for the attrocities of neo-liberalism and the struggle for another world. In his speech the activist from Essex emphasized on the ideological and practical similarities between Occupy and the Zapatistas. The "story of dignity and rebellion", as he defined the movement in Chiapas is a lesson for all the activists around the world of how people themselves can make a difference through self-organization, direct democracy and rejection of any concessions by a corrupt and criminal system:

"We are not here to fight for concessions from the government. Not even for free education, healthcare or social benefits, because even if we get a proper welfare state in the margins of the Capitalists system, that would just mean exploitation in another corner of the planet. We are here to fight for a complete overthrow of the Capitalist system!"

The Global Noise Day challenged the surrent system with various events around the world. Thousands of people, carrying pots and pans, gathered in London, Madrid, Lisbon, Mexico City and many other cities to protest on the austerity measures and the bailouts of the banks. Photos from the events here.

A place called Chiapas - screening

20 people attended the first screening for this year and introduction to the Zapatista Solidarity Group at the University of Essex. The group presented the documentary "A place called Chiapas" by the Canadian journalist Nettie Wild. The movie was accompanied by a short talk on several issues related to the struggle of the Zapatista communities and especially on the paramilitary attacks and threats carried out in the recent months.

For those who couldn't attend the screening on Friday, the full movie can be found online: