Wednesday, March 10
CPTer CK traveled to Polho early this morning. At the Chenalho immigration
checkpoint he noticed 14 soldiers and
six immigration officials, including three in training. CK was threatened with
a citation for suspected violation of his tourist visa. However, he did not
receive one after explaining that he already had an appointment a few weeks
hence with the immigration office in San Cristobal. He continued CPT's Lenten
prayers, lighting a candle at the checkpoint, citing John 1:5, and praying for
peace.

Friday, March 12
CK continued work on the building of a hospitality house in Acteal. The
community was preparing for the arrival of two delegates who will be based
there in connection with the National Consultation on Indigenous Rights and
Culture.

The Consultation, sponsored by the EZLN (Zapatistas) is a referendum to be
held in each county in Mexico. 5000 delegates plan to travel throughout the
country beginning March 14 to prepare communities for voting on Sunday, March
21. Other preparations in Acteal included clearing brush, installing cook
stoves that will carry the wood smoke out of the
kitchen, and educational activities.

Three hundred people met to talk about plans for a "Peace Belt" around the
community. A rope will be stretched across
the entrance to Acteal and encircle the community. People will be stationed
there 24 hours a day as a deterrent to military or paramilitary attempts to
enter. A second belt will surround the meeting area and housing for the
delegates inside the camp.

Saturday, March 13
CK helped staff the Peace Belt around Acteal and counted 40 military/security
vehicles passing on the road during his 9 hour shift. He continued periodic
shifts during the next several days. About 8:45 p.m. six Zapatista delegates
arrived, rather than the two who were expected.. About 2000 people turned
out for the festive welcoming ceremony.

In San Cristobal, CPTers led the 4 p.m. Prayers for Peace service that was
started at the Ecumenical Bible School a few weeks before. They focussed on
Deut. 30:15-20: "Choose life, that you and your descendents might live!"
Buttons depicting a broken gun symbolized death, and a handful of corn
symbolized life.

Saturday, March 14
The Zapatista delegates met with the Acteal community to
process in traditional manner the questions being voted on in the
Consultation.

Tuesday, March 16
The rest of the team traveled from San Cristobal to
join CK in Acteal. There were now a total 16 Zapatista delegates based here.
Festivities celebrating the Consultation ran each afternoon after the
delegates' return from outlying communities and on into the night, with
speeches, chanting, music and dancing. An international theatre troup
performed also.

March 19, Friday. CPTer CK accompanied the Zapatista delegation from Acteal to
X'oyep, a nearby community containing about 1100 persons who have been
displaced by government and paramilitary violence. On that on the
way up the dirt trail to X'oyep the 16 Zapatista delegates, accompanied by
members of the pacifist group the Bees (Abejas) from Acteal and several
internationals, was met by six soldiers across the path.

The Zapatista delegates, leading the procession with the Mexican flag, were
forced to stop. One of the Bee leaders called for cameras to be brought
forward to document this halting of the Mexican flag and the interference of
the government in the Consultation process. The soldiers melted from the
trail and the group proceeded.

In the evening, 20 Zapatista delegates who were staying in nearby Polho
traveled to Acteal to join the 16 delegates already there.

Saturday, March 20
It poured down rain overnight and into the day, making
the Acteal camp a sea of mud. That didn't deter activities connected with the
Consultation. The afternoon featured a fiesta with music, presentations, and a
procession of men in the dress of various indigenous groups of Mexico.

A homemade "bull" bedecked with ribbons vanquished a
"soldier" to the cheers of the crowd. On a sober note, the survivors of the
martyrs who were massacred December 22, 1997, greeted each of the Zapatista
delegates, who embraced them. There were many tears. CPTers were invited to
join other internationals and the delegates in sitting at the front of the
meeting place.

Sunday March 21
It poured down rain again overnight and into the day. The Consultation vote
took place about 10:30 a.m. The Mexican and Paz (Peace) flags and an icon of
the Virgin of Guadeloupe faced the crowd. The 16 Zapatista delegates sat in
front, and the women and men of Acteal lined up in rows. On each point of the
Consultation, leaders called for two voice votes and a show of hands. The
points of the Consultation all passed unanimously in Acteal, with 469 people
voting.

All Mexican citizens present, including the delegates and a few journalists
and other Mexican accompanists, voted. (The Associated Press later reported
that some 2.5 million people throughout Mexico voted on these questions, with
each question passing with over 95% "yes" votes.)

Monday, March 22
The Zapatista delegates led an early prayer service
before leaving Acteal by 8 a.m., with members of the community lining the road
to say good-bye. CPTers were in attendence, as well as at the monthly memorial
mass for the victims of the Dec. 1997 massacre that was held later
in the morning.

CPTers discussed plans for the team's upcoming Holy Week vigil with the
Acteal Bee leadership. They reacted enthusiastically.

Late in the afternoon CPTers left Acteal for Polho. This community is one
which under Zapatista initiative has eschewed the Mexican governmental
authority and declared itself "autonomous."

Wednesday, March 24
CK left for X'oyep, a smaller community of displaced persons not far from
Polho. He met with the catechists and
representatives of the six barrios of X'oyep to explain the Easter week
actions in more detail. The group was deeply moved and very supportive with
commitments to participate.

In Polho, a Zapatista delegation which had been in another municipality for
the Consultation process, returned home to festivities. The three CPTers still
in Polho went to nearby Majomut to meet with the military officer in charge of
a "Social Labor Camp" there.

This camp, which purports to give social services such as health care and food
distribution, is run by the military and appears to be a thinly disguised
cover for the heavy military presence in the area. Brigadier General Smith
who spoke
with the team admitted that the population of the area is hesitant to take
advantage of the services offered "because they aren't used to seeing us
here." He said that the military would leave when the people want them to
leave, but he clarified that he did not see the Consulta as that kind of
mandate.