Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved
By Krista Lord, Delegation Participant CPT
Copyright © 2000 CPTnet
CHIAPAS, MEXICO - Corn gives life. Weapons destroy life. Simple words, but a fundamental truth here in Chiapas. For a brief hour in a Mexican Army camp, the value of guns versuscorn was put on trial, as CPT's February 2000 delegation and Chiapas team members processed to to the camp near the Las Abejas community of X'oyep, bearing 15 demands Las Abejas are making on the Mexican government.
Las Abejas are a group of about 4000 pacifist Mayan Christians who have been engaged in a campaign of nonviolent resistance to the Mexican government's economic exploitation and on-going military occupation of the state of Chiapas.
As they sang, "Marching in the light of God" team members and the delegation, including two people dressed as corn, walked under a canopy of trees inhabited by soldiers and their gadgets. The corn costumes were used because Mayan culture has been built on and depends largely on corn for its sustainability.
School of the America's graduate, Major Christosdomo, rather flustered, met them a few meters past the entrance where he prohibited them from going any further, but he expressed a willingness to hear what the team had to say. The delegation responded by inviting him into prayer before meeting. He and the other officers respectfully declined, explaining that they are not allowed to participate in religious activities. During the prayer Rick Polhamus stated "I pray for the soldiers who are also displaced. I pray that they can return to their homes and not study war."
Following the prayer the two corn, personified by Krista Lord
and Keith Young, accompanied by Alexandra Kedrock and Lynn Stoltzfus, approached the Major and what seemed to be his advisors. Christosdomo initially seemed at a lost for words when they engaged him in conversation, but then implied that the Abejas were Zapatista supporters and that yes, some people are afraid of military, but that others are afraid of the Zapatistas. He justified the armed presence surrounding the communities, saying, "We are trying to provide health care. These people don't want our care. We don't use our guns to hurt anyone, the military uses guns as a rule."
Near the end of the conversation Major Christosdomo mentioned a need for communication between the conflicting parties in Chiapas. This comment opened up a space for CPTers lay out the Abejas demands. Initially he seemed quite curious, but pulled back after hearing the demands: that the 15 remaining people responsible for the Acteal massacre, in which 45 of Las Abejas died, be incarcerated and that the government compensate them for the damages done to their homes and other belongings. This was out of his jurisdiction, he explained, and therefore he could not do anything about it. The group, in turn, asked him to pray about the Abejas demands.
Throughout this meeting the remainder of the group continued to sing and talk with other soldiers. They handed out free coupons reading, "Exchange your rifle for 5340 kilos of tortillas". One soldier relayed to delegation members that he was going to quit his job with the military.
Everyone gathered together for a final prayer, including some of the soldiers, whom Christosdomo motioned away from the prayer circle. Nevertheless, the prayer for peace continued, in the center of the military base, right next to a cabin with "materials of war" written on the door.
Delegation Participants:
Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative among Mennonite and Church of the
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