SIPAZ Activities (November 2000 – January 2001)
28/02/2001SUMMARY: Recommended Actions
31/08/2001
VISITS AND CONTACTS
- Visits to the northern region of Chiapas to speak with political and religious leaders about the impact of the new political situation on the conflict.
- Meetings with several North American delegations; presentations on the political situation in Chiapas and on the work of SIPAZ.
- Meetings with several European reporters in order to inform them about the conflict in Chiapas; assistance with their trips to the rural areas.
- Visit to Mexico City in order to meet with European Union embassies in the context of the Zapatista caravan.
- Assistance with the visit of the Dutch ambassador to Chiapas.
INFORMATION
- Publication of an article on indigenous youth and low intensity warfare in Fellowship, the magazine of the U.S. Fellowship of Reconciliation.
- Publication of a news bulletin: “The Zapatista March to Mexico City.” (See the SIPAZ webpage.)
- Publication of an article on the Zapatista march in Central America and Mexico Report, the publication of the Religious Task Force on Central America and Mexico (USA).
INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE
- Meetings with religious leaders in the county of Chenalho and with the Pluralistic Ecumenical Group.
- Agreement on the part of Evangelical and Catholic groups in Chenalho and the Board of Directors of SIPAZ for a peace and reconciliation project in the Chiapas highlands, to be conducted in collaboration with the Nicaraguan Peace Commissions.
- Participation in the strategic planning process of the Bible School of Holistic Formation (EFBI).
- Meetings with state government officials in charge of religious affairs.
- Presentation of a speech as part of a seminar on “Religious Tolerance and Diversity” organized by the state government.
PEACE EDUCATION
- Participation in the Peace Network, a state-wide initiative of action and reflection on the theory and practice of community reconciliation.
- Initiation of a series of workshops with the Community Development Centers of the state government
- Facilitation of workshops on conflict transformation for the Latin American Women’s Center for Research and Action and RICAA, a network of women artisan cooperatives.