Presidente Calderón

February 1st

We woke this morning to have breakfast with our Mexican family and listen to the news on the radio.  We were told that president Calderon was coming to town. I couldn’t decipherer from the Spanish radio but was told by our other house mate that his purpose was to visit a women’s co-op, speak in respond to a Red Cross campaign on violence against children. According to what was interpreted, it sounded noble. I appreciate the optimistic interpretation or the public relation radio.  I wondered if any media outlet in Mexico was fully delivered for and by the people.  The interpretation was coming from a Dutch man, here studying Spanish. He said that the president was coming to speak to the indigenous communities to show his concern for them. I though that this would be a noble gesture following the death for their primary advocate.   I asked if he believed that that the president did truly care about the indigenous people of the area. He said yes, he believed so. I hoped for his interpretation to be a true assessment, but being the skeptic that I am, I have already critically analyzed the situation otherwise. I still had a piece of me that harbors some hope for the people this country.

We left for the school a little early. Luckily we did, as we got closer to the Santo Domingo church and the weavers market the military presence got thicker and thicker.   Eventually being 3 or 4 soldiers with semiautomatic weapons slung over their shoulders standing on every corner. The weavers market was completely sectioned off.  Each entrance had metal detectors and baggage checks. We must have taken a 5 block detour just to avoid being searched.  There has been no military presence in the city since our arrival. From what I understand this is unusual.  They were not present during the funeral of Bishop Don Samuel Ruiz as they were aware they this would be provocative and likely to insight protests or worst.

There was no point that I felt threatened, but from many faces of the indigenous women that I passed, I could read the trauma. It was apparent that they had a long history of this. This is a familiar sort of in your face oppression meant to intimidate. This is the effect of a low impact war that the people of this area have been dealing with since 1994, probably longer.  So again, what was the purpose of the president coming? I highly doubt it was to form a respectful relationships with the indigenous people of the south, visit the women’s coop, or defend children’s rights. He was there to promote tourism. 

When he arrived at Santo Domingo church a crowd was present to receive him.  My group was among them but we arrived too late to get any pictures. He was able to hear some of the concerns of the people. Calls from the people in the crows addressed them.  According to the local paper "assassin” and “thief” were among them, asking him to leave the area in peace. The priest could not deny him the church, as it is open to everyone. Security however rushed him out the other side. It is the year of the tourist in Mexico. This is what he was there promoting. What a surprise, he was there with financial interests.

What a strong and resilient community. They are not foreign to this presence. 75% of the Mexican military is in the state of Chiapas, the poorest state of Mexico, yet rich in minerals and other profitable resources. This is a frightening fact for the people of Chiapas, who have interest in ejiido land over profitable gain. There was a time that I was grateful for being from a country where we are free from this, however I am starting to realize that we are free as long as we are not opposed to capitalist ideals in which it prospers.  Canada’s track record to not so spotless and our corporations may be the worst human rights violators of them all. Our home and Native land…Our true North strong and free. Free for who? Not our native people. Are they even people yet?