2nd Intercontinental Encounter of Peoples against Neo-liberalism
WORDS OF THE EZLN DELEGATION AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE SECOND INTERCONTINENTAL GATHERING FOR HUMANITY AND AGAINST NEOLIBERALISM.
Compañeros and compañeras:
We have brought our word from very far away, the word of the peoples we have come here to represent.
It was a great pleasure for us to meet you and to hear your word I feel very happy at having met you, at having seen many companions in struggle.
Since the 1st of January 1994 you have supported us in different ways. We are returning to our communities bearing your word, and all you have shown us.
I feel happy that we Zapatistas have a house here in Europe. I want to tell you, compañeros, that you also have a house of your own in our communities.
Some of you have already visited us, others not. We invite you all to come and visit us in the State of Chiapas, your house. We want to thank you for having supported us in our efforts for peaceful dialogue, so that there will be no more bloodshed.
With your strength, compañeros, we see that we are not alone. Neither are you alone. You are in the hearts of the Mexican indigenous peoples.
You can feel happy, and calm. Together, you and we are alright. We will continue struggling to achieve a new world. We want to ask you to continue firm, fighting together.
We see that all of us suffer under the same rulers there are in the world. We see that some compañeros suffer for land, food, justice and freedom.
We see that they do not recognise you as workers and do not respect your dignity, like the brothers and sisters of this farm, El Indiano. They set an example to all of us because they fight for their dignity. Borders do not separate us, and neither does the sea.
We, the indigenous communities, resist in war because we are willing to do so. And you support our resistance with your word and by helping us to build schools for our children.
Our struggle - which is also yours, men and women of the world - is going to triumph.
That joy of yours, that great commitment, bears out the truth of our struggle.
We would like to have listened better to your word, to the valiant sound of your thoughts, compañeros. We did our best, as we always do. We tell you that we women resist and struggle with dignity, so that like you we may attain respect, democracy, freedom and justice. You have held a beautiful fiesta of the word. We will carry it in our hearts.
Thank you, compañeros. We will see each other again soon in the world. That is all, compañeros and compañeras.
Yours,
(Signed)
Compañera Dalia and compañero Felipe,
support bases of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN).
