CPTnet
13 July 2007
BORDERLANDS: Lomas de Poleo

[Note: People wishing to follow the progress of Christian Peacemaker Team's
Borderland's Witness drive may do so at
http://cptborderlandswitness.blogspot.com/]

We drove into Lomas de Poleo under darkening skies. The ominous clouds
hanging low over the hills seemed symbolic of the forces mounting against
the residents of the tiny agricultural settlement on the outskirts of Ciudad
Juarez. Despite a wealthy landowner's hostile takeover of their land, the
community remains resolved to stand firm.

The neighborhood sits atop a hill overlooking Sunland Park, New Mexico,
making it prime real estate for developers who would blanket the land with
factories for corporations interested in the cheap labor and close proximity
to the United States. The land just north of the Lomas de Poleo has already
been excavated. Plans include opening a new border crossing to facilitate
product exportation--indicating complicity at national and international
levels.

Pedro Zaragoza, one of the most powerful men in Juarez, began his takeover
by erecting fences with barbed wire encircling the entire community. Guards
staff the gate--the only entrance to and exit from the community.
Zaragoza's men then cut off the community's electricity. Next, they started
demolishing homes, striking while families were away at work or late at
night when no one was awake.

The community fears for their two schoolhouses, which sit empty for the
summer break, and has formed groups to guard the buildings during the night
when they are most likely to be destroyed. Residents rebuilt their chapel
after Zaragoza had it torn down. However, guards prevent building materials
from entering the neighborhood, so saving existing buildings has become a
high priority.

The residents have a legal claim to the land under Mexico's agricultural
laws, which state that settlers who live on agricultural land for five years
or more gain legal title as long as no disputes arise. The community
settled the land over thirty years ago, and has been farming there ever
since. Zaragoza holds no claim to the land. Nonetheless, his stranglehold
over the town tightens.

The residents of Lomas de Poleo filed a legal case against Zaragoza, which
still languishes in court after three years. Meanwhile, more houses come
down and four residents have died. One man attempted to defend his house
from destruction and Zaragoza's men shot and killed him. Two children also
died in a house fire, set to destroy their home. Yet, the community
instinctively knows that their response must be nonviolent. Ignacio, * a
twenty-five year resident of Lomas de Poleo, shared with us his staunch
commitment to continue this struggle nonviolently. He told us that he has
had many opportunities to respond with violence but did not because doing so
would only give their aggressors license to retaliate even more harshly.

The dark clouds portend trials and suffering to come, but Lomas de Poleo
hunkers down, prepared for the worst. As Ignacio reminded us, the residents
have truth and the law on their side. And what does Zaragoza have? Only
money.

* Name changed