Sad News From Mexico - Zapatistas Morn The Death Of Subcomandante Ramona

[DistressedAmerican]

Just got back from A trip to Yucatan, Mexico. Soaked up a lot of news from outside of our gringo bubble. Fox is facing a strong challenge from a far more liberal candidate in this year's elections. Many Mexicans are very displeased that Fox is as close to Bush as he is. They are particularly alarmed by talk of a wall being built along the border. There is also much discussion of Hugo Chavez and Evo Moralez and Latin America's move to the left in reaction to Bush in general.

The saddest news is of the death of Zapatista leader Subcomandante Ramona. Romana is widely respected in the area for her strong and deliberate negotiation and leadership skills and admired for her brave actions during the Zapatista uprising 12 years ago.

Her diminutive stature belied the enormity of her courage. She will be missed...

==============================================


http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20060107100552969

Zapatista leader Ramona dies
Saturday, January 07 2006 @ 10:05 AM PST
Contributed by: Admin
Views: 380



A Maya Indian rebel leader and women's rights champion who became a Mexican heroine to anti-globalization activists has died after a battle against cancer.

Zapatista leader Ramona dies

Saturday 07 January 2006, 9:35 Makka Time, 6:35 GMT
Aljazeera.Net

A Maya Indian rebel leader and women's rights champion who became a Mexican heroine to anti-globalisation activists has died after a battle against cancer.

Comandante Ramona, a diminutive Tzotzil Maya woman and the first Zapatista rebel to appear publicly in Mexico City after a brief but bloody uprising in 1994, died on the way to hospital in the southern state of Chiapas, said Marcos, the Zapatista chief, on Friday.

"Mexico has lost one of those fighters that matter, and a piece of our hearts has been ripped out," Marcos told supporters during a speech in Chiapas.

Marcos left his jungle hideout last Sunday to start a nationwide tour that seeks more support for Indians and the poor before July's presidential election.

He put the tour on hold to attend her funeral in the rebel stronghold of Oventic.

Women's rights champion

Always seen in the black ski mask worn by Zapatista leaders to protect their identity, Ramona was one of the main promoters of women's rights in the rebel group, which has ditched armed struggle in favour of political activism.

The rebels burst out of the jungle on New Year's Day 1994, taking over towns and attacking army positions in Chiapas, Mexico's poorest state, in clashes that claimed about 150 lives.

Ramona won the hearts of many Mexicans after media showed fellow Zapatista commanders towering above her during a first round of peace talks with the government in February 1994.

There has been no fighting in recent years but the Zapatistas control scores of small villages across Chiapas, which they govern under a separate system of laws based on Indian traditions.

Many senior Zapatista commanders are women.

Ramona received a kidney from her brother in a 1996 transplant paid for by supporters who sent in cash after an internet campaign.

Along with Marcos figures, dolls of Ramona complete with rifle and ski mask are popular with tourists visiting Chiapas.

[toddaa]

1. Huge loss to the Zapatista cause

The women of ELZN are its strength. It's sad that most Americans are completely ignorant of the history of Mexico and the ELZN, especially with all the ridiculously lopsided coverage of immigration that dominates the output of the corporate propoganda factories. Ramona was a striking figure and a true hero to women everywhere. Very sad.

[DistressedAmerican]

2. Enormous. A True Leader. We Could Learn Much From Her Example.

Here are more links for those who want to know more:

http://www.narconews.com/Issue40/article1542.html

Legendary Zapatista Leader Comandanta Ramona Has Died

She Struggled with Cancer for Ten Years; “Other Campaign” Temporarily Suspended for Her Funeral


By Andrew Kennis
Special to The Narco News Bulletin
January 7, 2006

TONALÁ AND SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LAS CASAS, CHIAPAS, MÉXICO: After a decade-long bout with cancer of the kidney, Zapatista leader Comandanta Ramona died early yesterday morning. Choking back tears and with a wavering voice, Subcomandante Marcos made the public announcement of Ramona’s death in the midst of the Chiapas segment of the nationwide six month Zapatista led “Other Campaign.”



Comandanta Ramona, 1959-2006

“I want everybody to listen to what I am about to say without any interruptions. Comandanta Ramona died yesterday… The world has lost one of those women it requires. Mexico has lost one of the combative women it needs and we, we have lost a piece of our heart,” said Marcos. The self-nicknamed “Delegate Zero” went on to say that the activities planned for the next few days would be cancelled and that the Other Campaign delegation would be immediately travel to Oventic for funeral activities that were closed to the public. The emotional announcement came around 4pm central time yesterday, after an abrupt hour-long pause to a nearly six-hour long town-hall like meeting in the small coastal town of Tonalá.

An advocate for women’s rights and artisanship, Ramona woke up yesterday feeling weak, but still traveled from Oventic to San Cristóbal de las Casas. During the course of the trip, she passed away.

The last public appearance by Comandanta Ramona came this past September, when she spoke in front of the plenary sessions that were held to plan the Other Campaign deep in the Lacandon Jungle, in the heart of Zapatista territory.

[DistressedAmerican]

3. Kicker For The Interested

[DistressedAmerican]

4. ...