IRSP: SOLIDARITY WITH THE EZLN ON THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR ARMED RISING

international | anti-capitalism | press release Thursday January 01, 2004 22:54 by IRSP - Irish Republican Socialist Party irsp at netwiz dot net

IRSP: SOLIDARITY WITH THE EZLN

The International Department of the Irish Republican Socialist Party issued
the party's first statement of 2004 for the purpose of expressing
solidarity with the Zapatista movement in Chiapas, Mexico.

The International Department of the Irish Republican Socialist Party issued
the party's first statement of 2004 for the purpose of expressing
solidarity with the Zapatista movement in Chiapas, Mexico. New Year's Day
2004 is the tenth anniversary of the EZLN armed uprising, which took the
Mexican government and Chiapas officials by surprise and ultimately focused
the eyes of the world on the oppression of Mexico's indigenous peoples and
the revolutionary movement whose new approach to politics caused their
rising to be called "the first post-modern revolution."

IRSP spokesperson Peadar Baile said: "The Irish Republican Socialist Party
wishes to express its solidarity with the Zapatista National Liberation
Army on the tenth anniversary of its armed uprising in 1994. In a year
that the Mexican ruling class had sought to be noted for its entry into the
North American Free Trade Agreement, the Zapatistas instead focused the
eyes of the world on Mexico's lack of democracy, that nation's continued
exploitation by imperialism, and the severe oppression of the indigenous
peoples within Mexican society.

"Like the people of Ireland's occupied six counties, the people of Chiapas
were forced to take up arms because the ruling class had closed all other
avenues that might have been used to redress the wrongs suffered by the
impoverished indigenous peoples of Chiapas. The EZLN's unilateral
suspension of offensive military actions within six months of having
launched its war against the oppressors of the people of Chiapas
demonstrated their humanitarian ethos, but it seems to have been treated by
the Mexican ruling class as though it were an expression of weakness.

"We in the IRSP understand the growing frustration that must exist in
Chiapas today, when ten years after throwing down the gauntlet, most of the
problems confronting the people there in 1994 remain in place today.
Recognising this, we want the Zapatistas to know that you have our sympathy
and solidarity. These are small gifts to offer, in the face of so much that
is wanting in Chiapas, but we understand how important it can be to a
people in struggle to know that others are cheering them on. The IRSP
support the struggle of the EZLN, whether it remains peaceful or they are
compelled to resume a military offensive."

In concluding the statement, the spokesperson said: "We in the IRSP
recognise that, whether in Ireland or Mexico, a national government which
cedes its sovereignty to a powerful neighbor loses the legitimate right to
rule, a people deprived of social justice must seek it though any means
necessary, and a system of exploitation must be forced to give way to one
that puts the needs of the masses above all else. Accordingly, we send the
EZLN our heartfelt solidarity and best wishes for the coming new year and
salute them for ten years of defending the working masses of Chiapas and of
Mexico as a whole. Your struggle is our struggle; your victory is a victory
for us as well."

ENDS