Several times since mid-June, CPTers have visited Polho, a Mayan refugee
community of nine different settlements. About a year ago, after the massacre
at Acteal (located a few kilometers up the road from Polho), Polho's
population more than quadrupled as thousands of indigenous people fleeing
paramilitary violence in their home communities sought refuge there.

These refugees have attempted to build a model village, as a response to the
abandonment of the indigenous communities by the Mexican government which is
reflected by their high rates of illiteracy, malnutrition, poor housing, and
poor health care.

The decision to become autonomous is both an act of resistance to unresponsive
local officials (often appointed by the ruling party rather than elected) and
of assuming for themselves the responsibilities that the government has
neglected.

The indigenous community is working out its declaration of autonomy by
choosing its own leaders and making its own decisions about resources and
conflict resolution.

On-going visits by CPTers provide a window on the dramatic changes that have
taken place over the last thirteen months in Polho.

SECURITY - The soldiers stationed in 19 military camps surrounding their
village are threat to the residents of Polho. For eight months, community
members taking three hour shifts have created a 24-hour-a-day unarmed human
peace belt around the community, that provides an early warning and a barrier
against military incursions.

HOUSING - The temporary shelters with plastic walls and tar-paper roofs have
been largely replaced by substantial wooden homes with metal roofs. After
just one year, Polho looks like an established community.

PUBLIC HEALTH - Two months ago the construction of composting toilets was only
an idea. Today most toilet holes in the ground are being replaced by these
well-constructed latrines. The toilet waste and composted kitchen garbage
renew the soil and replace expensive fertilizers that create economic
dependency.

The old clinic is being expanded many times over. It will serve all nine
settlements of Polho. Health promoters are extending health education and
services into the schools, women's groups, and local gatherings.

A large water tank is being completed that will sustain the community
through the dry periods that often force people to use contaminated water.

EDUCATION - The school in Polho was not being used until this fall. Now the
school is serving six of the nine communities of Polho with bilingual
education. Leadership is being expanded through a mentoring process that
teaches new skills and provides the necessary oversight for passing on new
roles. Women, actively included in this process, are moving more and more
into positions of public responsibility and leadership.

Clearly, the people of Polho continue to face many severe problems related to
their displaced status, including stress-related illnesses, soil erosion and
deforestation.

However, the attitude of the people of autonomous Polho is that problems do
have answers when people work together.