On July 6, Christian Peacemaker Team members met with
military personnel at the largest military base in the highlands Majomut.

The CPTers raised some concerns they heard from displaced indigenous
people, such as security conditions for the displaced people to return home
and soldiers' behavior toward indigenous communities.

Two-Star Brigadier General R. Mej a Ramirez, Captain Sanchez, Colonel
Villalobos, and Lieutenant Colonel Luna met with the CPTers. Despite
earlier relaxed meetings with the General and an offer during this meeting
of something to drink, Mejia's posture was stiff as he and the other
officers remained standing during the conversation. His responses to the
CPTers' questions seemed to brush off their concerns and at times his tone
was sarcastic.

One of the main concerns the CPTers raised with the General was the lack of
security which the displaced indigenous people felt. The team heard reports
that people in refugee communities continue to hear gunshots and see armed
men in the distance when they go to work in their fields. They also heard
reports that several days ago the house of a displaced family was burned in
Yaxjemel and there are reports of people selling the land of displaced
people in Tzanembolom.

Mejia responded that the ones who complain are the only ones who hear shots
and see armed men, and that Mexicans are good business people so of course
they like to sell land. The team also raised the concern of some
indigenous women whose photos were taken by soldiers on June 29 against
their will. General Mejia claimed that the indigenous people don't mind
having their photos taken despite the team's response that even tour guide
books point this fact out.

He also argued that the indigenous people are rude to the soldiers, but
that soldiers treat indigenous people with respect. This runs counter to
CPTers' experience of seeing indigenous people challenge soldiers politely.
There have been times when indigenous women and children have pushed
soldiers away who have attempted to enter their communities without
permission, but they were acting to protect their villages.

As the meeting drew to a close General Mejia encouraged the team to visit
other communities to hear different perspectives, not just those the team
has primarily heard thus far. The team expressed complete agreement with
that suggestion and asked if there were people that they could recommend. He
offered to introduce the team to the authorities of Majomut that very
afternoon and the team agreed (see article, "A Visit to The Other Side.'")

As the CPTers were walking out of the meeting Colonel Villalobos pulled
Lisa Martens and Kryss Chupp aside and said, "These indigenous people are
very, very bad just like the Indians in your country; like the Sioux."