The displaced decide to return to our community

Caravan of the Color of Blood

TO THE PEOPLES OF MEXICO AND THE WORLD
TO THE DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATIONS
TO THE OTHER CAMPAIGN
TO THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

Compañeras, compañeros:

Those who are speaking to you, issuing a call for solidarity, are the children, elders, women and men who on January 1, 2007 declared the autonomy of our community, San Juan Copala, which without doubt was the reason behind the fury unleashed by the powerful who badly govern this, our country.

For that act we were attacked in the cruelest way until they succeeded in displacing us and seizing our homes.

More than 22 compañeros were murdered by paramilitary groups financed and advised by the disastrous government of Ulises Ruiz Ortiz with the conceit of the federal government.

Because of that, last September 19, the remaining compañeros fled our town, which remained in the hands of those criminal groups.

And the inhabitants of San Juan Copala had to take refuge in some of the other communities of the Autonomous Municipality, in the encampments in Oaxaca and the Federal District and in some of the states in this country in order to save our lives.

Compañeras, compañeros:

It is not easy to live in the conditions in which we, the displaced of Copala, are living in, and because of that we have decided to return to our community, no matter the cost, as we see that as the days pass the governments weave their web of lies and defamation through the media and through their corrupt officials, as happened in recent days when the delegate of the National Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples (CDI) and the state secretary of education had the gall to go be photographed with the paramilitaries who now occupy our town and to send the message that it is we who are lying, because Copala is a PARADISE.

For several days we waited for an explanation from the state government regarding the provocative and disrespectful stance of its cabinet secretary, as were we there that would not have happened.

This has made us decide to return to our land and may whatever happen remain in the conscience (that is if they have any) of those government officials.

Because of this we call on all those persons who during these months of pain have walked alongside us; that apart from the solidarity that they may have with us by accompanying us and providing us with supplies, that they stay alert so that in case of any aggression by these paramilitary groups, immediate condemnations are made.

On this march, which we have called THE COLOR OF BLOOD, we will send our greetings to several other struggles in the country, of sisters and brothers who like us walk from below and to the left, as San Juan Copala well knows that it is from the word amongst equals from which the relief for so much pain can come. To those who generously wish to accompany us to take back our land, we add the below path of the route we will take until we arrive at our town.

WE WILL RETURN TO COPALA NO MATTER THE COST

COMMUNAL AUTONOMOUS COUNCIL OF SAN JUAN COPALA

 

copala-march

Itinerary and activities of the March-Caravan The Color of Blood, from the Autonomous Municipality of San Juan Copala

Date Time Place Activity
Sunday 22 12 am March-Caravan leaves from the communities Departure to the city of Oaxaca. Visits to various communities.
Monday 23 2 pm Arrival in the city of Oaxaca MARCH. From outskirts to the city center
Monday 23 5 pm Zócalo of Oaxaca Gathering in the Zócalo
Tuesday 24 7 am Encampment of the Displaced. Zócalo of Oaxaca Departure for Chila de las Flores
Tuesday 24 Noon Chila de las Flores, Oaxaca Visit to the cemetery where the remains of Beatriz Cariño rest.
Tuesday 24 4 pm Zócalo in the city of Puebla Reception by several organizations
Tuesday 24 9 pm Autonomous University of Chapingo Arrival and reception by students, workers, professors of UACH and social organizations. Overnight stay and dinner
Wednesday 25 8-9 am Autonomous University of Chapingo Breakfast
Wednesday 25 9-11 am Autonomous University of Chapingo Press conference together with the UACH union, students, the FPDT and solidarity organizations. Political event.
Wednesday 25 11 am Autonomous University of Chapingo MARCH OF THE CARAVAN OF THE COLOR OF BLOOD, WITH STUDENTS AND WORKERS FROM UACH TO THE CENTER OF TEXCOCO
Wednesday 25 1-5 pm San Salvador Atenco Struggle and Solidarity Encuentro with the MASJC caravan and the FPDT. Lunch.
Wednesday 25 8 pm Encampment of the Broad Front Against the Supervia. Magdalena Contreras Reception, dinner and overnight stay
Thursday 26 9 am – 1 pm Encampment of the Broad Front Against the Supervia. Magdalena Contreras Proposed visit to UPN and/or a solidarity march in the area.
Thursday 26 3 – 8 pm Encampment of the Broad Front Against the Supervia. Magdalena Contreras Struggle and Solidarity Encuentro of the march of the Color of Blood with workers, students and social movements.
Friday 27 10 am – 1pm National Autonomous University of Mexico (Island, on the side of Rectoría) Struggle and Solidarity Encuentro of the march of the Color of Blood with workers, students and social movements. Political-cultural event
Friday 27 4 pm Independence Angel to the Zócalo MARCH OF THE COLOR OF BLOOD AND SOLIDARITY
Friday 27 9 pm Encampment in the Zócalo of Mexico City Departure for San Juan Copala
Saturday 28 8 am San Juan Copala, Oaxaca Entry of the caravan.