Zapatistas reclaim "Mother Earth"

On 6th February 230 civilian Zapatistas took part in an action to retake control of their "reclaimed lands" at Bolon Ajaw, Chiapas, Mexico, which had been invaded and taken over since 20 January by the paramilitary group OPDDIC, report the human rights group Fray Bartolome de Las Casas. The 25 Zapatista families of Bolon Ajaw, part of autonomous municipality Comandanta Ramona, were given solidarity by Zapatistas from further afield in Chiapas.

Fray Bartholomew (Frayba) confirm that the OPDDIC member killed and those wounded were shot by mistake by fellow OPDDIC members, as two different OPDDIC groups opened fire on the inhabitants of Bolon Ajaw, from opposite sides of the village. OPDDIC, linked to the PRI - the Institutional Revolutionary Party which governed Mexico for many decades - have been involved in numerous attacks and harassment of Zapatista communities over recent years.

Frayba give a detailed account of the several clashes which occurred during the day. Actions included the Zapatistas repulsing an attempt by OPDDIC to retake the land, and the Zapatistas breaking out of an armed ambush and encirclement by OPDDIC in order to go to the aid of the inhabitants of Bolon Ajaw, who were being shot at by OPDDIC gunmen.

Article continues here.