Chiapas is now the third Mexican state to adopt a statewide alliance of popular organization with the aim of establishing parallel power on the model of the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca, following Guerrero [1] and Oaxaca [2] itself. The launching of the "Popular Assembly of the People of Chiapas" (APPC) was announced in a statement by 15 social and labor organization, including local Section 7 of the national teachers union, local Section 50 of the health workers union, and the Frente Campesino y Popular de Chiapas, whose leader Romero Farrera Vicente pledged to hold meetings to build the new organization in every region of the state.(Cuarto Poder [3], Chiapas, Oct. 17)
In other Chiapas news, on Oct. 15, International Day of the Rural Woman, some 300 campesina women from throughout the state marched in San Cristobal de Las Casas to demand equal rights, and especially their right to posses land. They charge women are effectively barred by village political bosses from a stake in the local ejidos, or communal argicultural lands (La Jornada [4], Oct. 16)
Fears are raised of an impending massacre at Chol de Tumbala, Palenque municipality, where pro-Zapatista campesinos have reclaimed traditional lands in defiance of a court ruling in favor of the "official" owners. The military is reported to have established a presence nearby, with planes and helicopters making frequent overflights. The local Fray Bartoleme de Las Casas Human Rights Center has issued an alert warning of the potential for deadly violence and urging the government not to use force to evict the Zapatista campesinos. (Infoshop [5], Oct. 14)
In Chenalho municipality, eight are confirmed dead and at least 12 missing following torrential rains and flooding. (EFE [6], Oct. 17)
All sources archived at Chiapas95 [7]
