About a thousand people walk towards Acteal for the commencement of the ceremonies marking the fourth anniversary of the massacre that took place there

Acteal, Chenalhó, Chiapas, México: As many as one thousand people from dozens of countries came to Acteal this past Saturday, attending a commemorative ceremony that marked the fourth anniversary of where the worst massacre in Chiapas took place, since the Zapatista uprising in 1994.

The massacre took the lives of 45 indigenous residents of Acteal, the majority of whom were women and children (21 women, 15 children, and 9 men). Since that time, Acteal and neighboring communities have continued to struggle with poverty, refugees and the return of them therein, and a host of a lack of basic needs such as electricity, basic education and health care.

The commemoration, which began at about 10:00 in the morning, was rife with religious proceedings and prayers. Additionally, there was music from child choirs and a small brass band. The themes of the services ranged rather widely, as they varied from political denunciations of the Fox administration and somber prayer proceedings honoring the dead from the massacre, often accompanied by either festive or mournful music.







[Reports and Background from the México City IMC: Click Here for Full Story, as reported on-the-scene by a México-IMC Reporter | A detailed in-depth article backgrounding further, the context and situation in Acteal | A map of Chiapas which is located in rural southeastern México | Chiapas IMC]



[Reports and Background from Global Exchange (a human rights group working in Chiapas): A News Update on the release of previously convicted paramilitary members resonsible for the massacre in Acteal | GX Page on Indigenous Autonomy | GX Report on a call from some political parties to live up to "Indian Rights" Bill | US Government's $2.5 Million Biopiracy Project in Mexico Cancelled: Victory for Indigenous Peoples in Chiapas | GX Chiapas News Archives]



[Grupos de Derechos Humanos de México y en Chiapas (español): Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de las Casas | Enlace Civil]

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