CPTnet
27 December 2007
CHIAPAS LETTER: "I will remember what happened at Acteal"

[Note: CPTer Rusty Curling sent out the following letter to his friends and
supporters on 21 December 2007. It has been edited for length and clarity.
For further information on the Acteal massacre, see 22 December 2007 CPTnet
release, "CHIAPAS, MX: In Acteal the struggle against impunity continues."
CPT had a project in Chiapas 1998-2001, providing accompaniment for the
Abejas.]

Friends, Sisters, Brothers,

I write today with a mixture of sadness and hope. Tomorrow, December 22,
2007, is the tenth anniversary of the martyrdom of forty-five Christian
pacifists belonging to a group called Las Abejas (the Bees) in Chiapas,
Mexico.

From the chapel in their refugee camp many of them could look across the
valley and see the homes and land they had fled because of the paramilitary
violence, homes they were afraid to return to. As they gathered to pray,
paramilitaries were preparing to attack the refugee camp-- They moved down
the hillside, came to the little chapel, and started killing people-- The
lucky ones were shot in the chapel. Others, mostly the children, ran and
hid in the thick tropical forest. Paramilitaries hunted them down and hacked
many to death with machetes. --

I had met the Abejas during a CPT delegation three weeks before the
massacre. A few years later, when I returned to Chiapas, I went to the
monthly memorial service the Abejas had at Acteal. I realized that I had
needed to grieve for several years and the time was extremely emotional for
me. I also met relatives of those who had been killed. Later I returned to
Chiapas once again for an extended period, and got to know some of those
relatives better. I got to know their courage and hospitality, their
determination and most of all their faith.

Stories abounded of that horrible time. Stories of people who sacrificed
everything they had to help their neighbors fleeing the violence, giving
homes, food, and clothing from what little they had. One gave up his seed
corn for the next planting season. He was asked if he was worried about
feeding his own children when he was feeding others from his stock. His
response was surprise that the question would even be asked. He asked,
"Where is your faith?"

After the murders of their friends, the Abejas met to decide if they should
reconsider their stance of Christian pacifism. They decided they would
remain pacifist. When asked why, one Abejas leader responded, "Jesus would
not want us to hurt anyone." These were not people who were reclusive and
unengaged with the world. They wanted the same political goals as the
Zapatistas--autonomy to live a more traditional Mayan way of life, justice
for the poor of Chiapas, a more equitable sharing of the rich resources of
Chiapas with all the people there. They would work for these things; they
would die for them. They would not hurt another human being for them though.

On December 22, I will pray and fast for peace. I will probably remember
what happened at Acteal and weep. I will also remember my Abejas sisters
and brothers and be filled with hope! I will remember my Abejas sisters and
brothers and be inspired to live for peace and justice in the world. I can
think of no better way to honor those who died that day.

Merry Christmas!

Rusty Curling