New Years day evening, 2006, left expectators in San Cristobal de las
Casas overwhelmed by watching the caravan departing from the Coca
Cola Company factory, conformed by the first Zapatista ambulance, a
car with speakers encouraging the streets; masked indigenous driving
pick-up trucks, and sub-commandante Marcos walking around all this.
Street lights operated by he Federal Electricity Commision were being
turned off as they passed by. Flags and posters of Che Guevara, Popular
Revolutionary Front, Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, ruled the streets and
the main plaza. Where around five thousand guerilla militants and three
thousand civilians came to participate and witness the beginning of this
fight.
Zapatista leader Comandanta Ramona passed away at the beginning of this campaign.
Choking back tears and with a wavering voice, Subcomandante Marcos made the public announcement of Ramona’s death.
The campaign continued after some days of recovering from this tragic event. Peoples’ voices in Chiapas have explained to Marcos the problematics of their area.
The extremely high electricity bills.
The tragic effects of hurricane Wilma and Stan in the coast of Chiapas and Quintana Roo that have destroyed homes and communities.
The imposed evacuation of rich agricultural land.
The preservation of indigenous culture and their various languages.
The respect of basic human rights towards indigenous people and freedom fighters.
