"God forgive me if what I say is not true," said one of our hosts in
Majomut, a village dwarfed by the surrounding military base -- the largest
base in the highlands. Mexican army Lt. Colonel Luna introduced us on July
6
to two community leaders, Norberto and Juan Gutierrez Guzman, and then
departed.

Norberto and Juan led us through corn fields and took us past several small
homes before welcoming us in a small office. As we followed them, some of
us wondered what exactly we might be getting ourselves into. Our hosts were
extremely friendly, yet we were not entirely sure of our safety. We knew we
were entering an area from which some of our friends had fled due to
paramilitary violence.

Juan and Norberto spoke to us of 18 people who they argue have been killed
by Zapatistas over the last several years. They spoke of people being tied
up and thrown over cliffs, and even claimed that one victim had been eaten.
They spoke with emotion and were clearly saddened by the loss of these 18
people. Yet we suspected that our hosts had been influenced by others. They
often told us, "Well, we weren't there, but we heard . . ."

Although according to recent estimates, 18,000 indigenous people have been
violently displaced by paramilitary groups in Chiapas, Juan and Norberto
said there were no paramilitary groups, just some people who had armed
themselves in self-defense.

We asked them about the paramilitary massacre of 45 unarmed indigenous
people at prayer in Acteal December 22, 1997. The said what they had heard
was that the 45 were caught in a cross-fire by Zapatistas and civilians
"armed to protect themselves." However, all major news reports as well as
eye-witness accounts say otherwise: that paramilitary members intentionally
attacked the 45, hacking some to death with machetes.

When we returned to speak with members of Las Abejas (The Bees) in Acteal,
we learned additional information about our acquaintances in Majomut. The
Bees, like CPT, have attempted to make contact with "the other side" and so
they were supportive of our visiting Majomut. However, Abejas leader
Agustin knew Norberto and Juan from his village and he told us that these
two individuals were not only paramilitary members but major leaders.

Abejas leaders told us that Juan and Norberto were among the first people in
Los Chorros (Majomut is an extension of that village) to purchase arms. More
than a year ago, CPTers met with members of Las Abejas who were chased from
their homes in Los Chorros, possibly by some of these very people, over a
conflict regarding a sand and gravel pit. Displaced members of Abejas
complained at that time about homes being burnt, death threats and hearing
shots fired at night.

During the meeting with Norberto and Juan, I recall thinking, "Is it
possible that these two could have killed someone?" With the horrific
stories we hear of paramilitary violence, it becomes all too easy to
demonize their members. Yet this meeting made clear one of the truths of
the conflict: that even the paramilitary members are in many ways victims.
They come from low-income, indigenous families and communities and have
faced racism and discrimination. Although clearly responsible for their
activities, they are manipulated through offers of small monetary gifts and
by warnings of the "dangers" of opposition groups.

Both Juan and Norberto and displaced people we talk to bemoan the fact that
they used to live as neighbors and family members yet now are in conflict.
The violence inflicted by paramilitary members is horrific-particularly as
culminated
in the massacre of men, women and children at Acteal. Yet I was reminded of
one displaced woman CPTers met about a year earlier. Despite all the
violence she encountered at the hands of paramilitary members, she was still
sympathetic to the poverty and the difficulties they, like she, faced, as
she said, "Those poor people."