On March 7 and 8, the Forum of Zapatista women took place in celebration of the International Women’s Day, dedicated to Doña Concepción García de Corral, “known by the Zapatistas as Mama Corral, the mother of fallen fighters and tenacious fighter for the rights of disappeared people”.
Arriving in Oventik, one noticed the lines and lines of cars parked by the side of the road, with signs indicating that they had come from other Caracoles. Thousands of women came together at the event which was convoked as a political, sporting, and cultural event. Games of soccer, basketball, and volleyball took place, as well as cultural events like dancing, all organized by and for the women.
During the political part, the comandantes of the Indigenous Clandestine Revolutionary Committee- General Command (CCRI-CG) of the EZLN stated: “It is time to break the chains, to break the silence, to say enough to feeling inferior to men. It is time to act, to take hold of our rights with our own hands. It its time to move forward”.
“We do not know how many more celebrations like this we will have, because the war continues. But meanwhile, we will celebrate that we are alive”.
For More Information (In Spanish):
http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2009/03/09/index.php?section=politica&article=020n1pol
Audio:
Palabras de bienvenida y mensaje político de CCRI-CG del EZLN
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