In September 1997 a latent conflict exploded in the municipality of Chenalho in the Chiapas highlands. As a result, thousands of indigenous fled their communities in the face of intimidation, violence, and the burning of houses by paramilitary groups. The conflict reached horrific level on December 22 when dozens of members of a paramilitary group massacred 45 displaced indigenous persons in the village of Acteal.

Background

The conflict is between members of the ruling PRI and “Cardenistas” (members of the Cardenista Front for National Reconstruction Party) on one side and Zapatista sympathizers on the other. A third actor that has been a victim of these confrontations but is not viewed as part of either side is a group called “Las Abejas” (the Bees), which has goals similar to the Zapatistas but which does not support armed struggle.

The violence has been concentrated in communities around Polho, the center of the autonomous municipality of Chenalho. This area includes important natural and economic resources. The conflict began in May, 1997 with a dispute between PRI members and the Zapatistas over a gravel quarry and collaboration on the building of a road.

The situation deteriorated in the middle of September after the Zapatista march in Mexico City (see SIPAZ Report, Vol. II, No. 4). This display of Zapatista political strength at the national level incited the local PRI and Cardenistas of Chenalho to begin a violent campaign against the Zapatistas. In the communities of Puebla and Los Chorros, the PRI authorities demanded financial support for purchasing arms and ammunition in order to prepare an attack against the seat of the autonomous municipality in Polho. Those who refused to contribute were rounded up and beaten. Fourteen houses were burned and 60 families fled from Los Chorros.

The violence continued in the following months (burning of houses, robberies, attacks on women, killing by both sides) and an increase in arms trafficking was noted. At the end of October, there was a significant increase in the number of indigenous families (PRI members among them) who fled their homes out of fear of new confrontations. By the end of November, estimates of the number of displaced ranged from 2000 to 4500 people, the large majority of them either Zapatista supporters or members of Las Abejas.

All of these events appear to be not so much coincidental as part of a strategy of weakening civil society, especially any groups opposed to the government. According to the refugees, the majority of the acts of violence are the work of paramilitary groups that are tolerated and at times supported by state police. In some cases the army apparently collaborated in the aggression. The violence appears to follow the same pattern as we have seen in the northern region of Chiapas.

Displaced flee to the hills

At the end of November, an observation mission (in which SIPAZ participated) visited the region. In just a few hours of traveling between Yabteclum and Polho, the group met 800 internal refugees from Los Chorros, Yibeljoj and Majomut. In a public statement, the group declared,

” Sixty per cent are children; there are elderly, youth, and adults from a variety of political parties and churches. The conditions of health, clothing, housing and nutrition are critical. They have only torn plastic sheeting to protect them from the constant rain, and they only have the clothes on their backs…They don’t have food or clean drinking water.”

The observation group also documented that in the community of Pechiquil, dozens of members of Las Abejas were being held against their will in conditions of virtual slavery. The group presented a complaint on their behalf to the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH).

On December 3 the Undersecretary of Government, Uriel Jarquin stated that “in Yibeljoj there are no houses that have been burned and neither has there been any aggression.” However, faced with the serious situation of the displaced in Chenalho, the Chiapas CNDH office asked Governor Ruiz Ferro to adopt “immediate” precautionary measures for the hundreds of displaced from Chenalho and to guarantee their security.

A glimmer of hope

At the beginning of December, the constitutional municipality of Chenalho and the autonomous municipality of Polho began talks with the assistance of CONAI, CNDH and other organizations. They agreed in principle to a halt to the violence, mutual tolerance, support for the displaced from all sides, rebuilding of houses that were burned, and the creation of a Verification Commission. However, within a few days the work of the commission faltered because of a lack of security. CONAI observed that in addition there had been “difficulties in the negotiations, given the interlacing of state interests and a counterinsurgency strategy.” Citing the lack of favorable conditions, the Polho authorities decided not to attend the dialogue meeting on December 19. As a result, the Chenalho authorities suspended the talks.

The Acteal Massacre

On the morning of December 22, dozens of men dressed in black uniforms and carrying high-powered weapons drove into Acteal, a village close to Polho. Two to three hundred displaced persons, mostly members of Las Abejas, had sought refuge in Acteal. Many of them were gathered in prayer in the chapel. The paramilitary group opened fire on the unarmed worshipers, killing some immediately and chasing others through ravines and into caves, shooting as they went. Witnesses testified that the bodies were mutilated and even the wombs of the pregnant women were torn open. The butchery went on for five hours. In the end 45 were dead and another 25 lay wounded.

Witnesses who managed to flee called Gonzalo Ituarte, Justice Vicar of the Diocese of San Cristobal de las Casas, an hour after the attack began. Immediately he informed the Chiapas Secretary of Government, Homero Tovilla Cristiani. Some time later Mr. Tovilla called back to say that everything was normal in the area. During nearly the entire massacre, state police were in Acteal, a few hundred meters from where the attack took place. Even after local neighbors and fleeing victims informed them of the bloodshed, they did not intervene.

Interior Minister Emilio Chuayffet later denied that the federal government had any responsibility, “not even by omission,” for the massacre. However, Raul Vera, Coadjutor Bishop of San Cristobal, said that on October 18 he wrote the minister saying: ”We have information that paramilitary groups are multiplying … former soldiers and police are training civilians to fight their brothers, ruling party congressmen are sponsoring the sale and the trafficking of weapons, acting as protectors and coordinators of the various paramilitary groups.”

Vera said the government never responded to the letter. After the massacre, Chuayffet acknowledged receiving the letter but added, “Those who commit such acts have two advantages in their favor: surprise and secrecy….It is very difficult, practically impossible, to prevent all incidents of violence like this in the world simply by being aware that an atmosphere of violence exists.”

On December 23, President Zedillo condemned the attack and announced that the federal government would take over the investigation. Subsequently, 46 suspects with PRI and (Cardenista) affiliations were arrested. The PRI Mayor of Chenalho, Jacinto Arias Cruz, was also arrested and charged with being the instigator.

In the days following the massacre, 5000 more soldiers were sent to Chiapas, including 2000 more to Chenalho. The authorities of Polho issued a formal protest regarding the heavy army and state police presence around Polho, arguing that it was making the people fearful and that it had not been requested.

In a rescue operation on December 27 under the protection of the Red Cross, CNDH and non-governmental organizations, 3500 displaced persons were transported from X’Cumumal to Polho. The refugees had been threatened for several weeks by unknown armed groups. That same day, with the assistance of the army and the federal Attorney General’s office, 500 persons who had been held against their will by PRI supporters in four communities were freed and transported to Polho. As a result, the number of refugees in Polho has risen to 5,000, making it the largest refugee camp in Chiapas. The number of refugees in San Cristobal also grew to around 500.

Speaking about the cause of the conflict, Attorney General Jorge Madrazo Cuellar commented, “The massacre occurred because of inter-communal and inter-familial conflicts.” However, the President pro tem of COCOPA, Carlos Payan Velver, observed that the president of Mexico and the governor of Chiapas bear a very high degree of responsibility. The EZLN issued a statement blaming the state and federal governments for the massacre.