March-protest, 12 October in San Cristóbal (@SIPAZ)
Some 10,000 persons from different social organizations, unions, and adherents to the Other Campaign marched through the principal streets of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, to observe the commemoration of the 519 years since the arrival of the Spanish to America, a day that is at times referred to as the “Day of la Raza.”
During a protest in the Cathedral plaza, those present denounced that despite the works that have been developed among indigenous peoples, their living standards have not risen, nor has inequality been reduced or respect for the diversity and identity of the peoples of the state been had. They expressed that there is nothing to celebrate now but rather that it is a time to struggle for the rights of all Mexicans without distinction, to demand once again that the federal government cease the violence provoked by the war declared on narcotrafficking.
“On this 12 October, 519 years have passed since the Spanish invasion of our lands and territories. It is against forgetting that we march and protest, when the basic history as basic right has been erased from the official texts given to our youth, while the rights that have been secured have been dismantled by the neoliberal system […]. The wars of Independence and Revolution did not result in the restitution of the rights of indigenous peoples who today confront a war of capitalist looting and extermination which, in its neoliberal phase, is applied against the indigenous peoples and communities throughout the world,” indicated members of the Other Campaign among the Peoples of Chiapas in a communiqué made public that day. At this same space, there was also made a call for a Meeting of Struggles and Resistances that will be held on 11 October in CIDECI-Unitierra.
Indígenas conmemoran Día de la Raza en 2 estados, La Jornada, 13 October 2011
MARCHAN INDÍGENAS POR EL DÍA DE LA RAZA, Diario de Chiapas, 13 October 2011
Día de la raza: a 519 años, noticiasnet, 13 October 2011
Megamarcha de maestros en Chispas este 12 de octubre,http://www.pozol.org, 13 October 2011
Convocatoria al Encuentro de Luchas y Resistencias y Marcha-Mitín (La Otra de los Pueblos Chiapas, 7 October)
Pronunciamiento de La Otra de los Pueblos Chiapas, 12 October
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