The middle of this month, the Zapatistas broke a long silence about the communities located within the Montes Azules Biosphere.  

The communique identified seven Zapatista communities, about 50 families, that will be relocated and concentrated into one village so that they will be less vulnerable and will have greater access to health and education services from the Caracol of Realidad. The Zapatistas request assistance and solidarity from national and international civil society to support the movement of the families and establishing of the new community.

The communique is an interesting development as previously the EZLN had refused to identify Zapatista affiliated communities, in hopes of not singling out or dividing the communities in the Biosphere. Also Zapatistas had refused to negotiate relocation so long as the government did not comply with the San Andres Accords. However, due to the great isolation of Zapatista support bases in Montes Azules, it is thought that combining the communities will provide them with greater protection and strength. Zapatistas reaffirm that if any of their communities are forcibly relocated using violence, they will respond in kind. Some 26 other communities in Montes Azules have now stated (in contrast to statements made at the end of September) that they have reached agreements with Agrarian Reform to be relocated and that dates are currently being finalized. More information: www.fzln.org.mx