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Interfaith
Delegation to Chiapas
January 11-18, 2003
Sponsored by
Mexico
Solidarity Network and Chiapas Peace House Project
Information: 773-583-7728
Email: [email protected]
The Mexico
Solidarity Network and the Chiapas Peace House
Project invite you to join an interfaith delegation to
Chiapas from January 11-18. The delegation is open to
participants of all religious and non-religious
backgrounds and will not be focused on any particular
faith. Participants will be challenged to consider how
they translate their spiritual and humanist drives into
work for justice.
As Zapatista
communities approach the eighth anniversary
celebration of their historic struggle for indigenous
rights and autonomy, the situation is tense across
Chiapas. Recently the Supreme Court upheld a federal
indigenous law that was opposed by nearly every indigenous
community in Mexico. Increased activity by paramilitary
groups and the army calls into question the government's
commitment to peace. Human rights abuses are increasing,
and the need for international presence is more pressing
than ever.
The delegation
will:
- Provide
an international presence in communities that
are under threat of attack by paramilitary groups, putting
the paramilitaries on notice that the communities can
count on international support.
- Examine
the role faith plays in the conflict.
Delegates will meet with members of the Catholic Diocese
of San Cristóbal de las Casas, protestant groups,
indigenous medical practitioners and human rights groups.
- Develop
strategies to deepen solidarity work in the
United States. Delegates will meet with sister
organizations in Chiapas to discuss medium and long term
strategies for international solidarity work.
Scholarships
are available,
especially for members of
religious communities and youth of color. Please contact
[email protected]
for more information.
Schedule:
January
11: Travel to San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas.
Evening orientation and reflection.
January 12: Meetings with members of religious
communities, human rights
organizations, environmental groups, economic and
political analysts and/or indigenous medical
practitioners. Background orientation on the current
situation in Chiapas.
January 13-16: Travel to threatened autonomous Zapatista
communities.
January 17: Further meetings with members of religious
communities, human rights organizations and/or
indigenous medical practitioners. Debriefing/reflection.
January 18: Depart for home.
The cost of
the delegation is $400, covering ground
transportation within Chiapas, meals in the communities,
hotels, translation, background materials, and program.
Delegates are responsible for their own travel
arrangements to Chiapas.
Most delegates
will fly to Mexico City, then either catch a
public bus (about $160 round trip to San Cristobal) or a
connecting flight to Tuxtla Gutierrez (about $275 round trip).
Those who fly to Tuxtla will be provided ground transportation
to
San Cristobal. We encourage you to use our travel agent for
plane reservations: Scott at 800.328.1332.
To reserve
a space on the delegation, please complete the
application and return it with a $100 deposit to Mexico
Solidarity Network, 4834 N. Springfield, Chicago, IL
60625.
Name:
Address:
City, State,
Zip:
Home phone:
Work phone:
E-mail:
Emergency
contact:
Organizational
affiliation:
Two References
(Name, Phone, E-mail, Organizational
Affiliation):
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