WHERE AM I GOING?This December 30, I will be landing in Cancun, Mexico (see Point A on map). My final destination, however, is San Cristobal de las Casas, located southwest of my landing point (see Point B on map). From Cancun, I'll catch a bus that traverses the southern part of the country, with a ride lasting anywhere from 15-20 hours, depending on road conditions, traffic, checkpoints, etc.
San Cristobal de las Casas is located in Chiapas, Mexico. Chiapas is the southernmost state in the country, and shares a border with Guatemala. It’s also a bit different than what many people imagine when they picture “Mexico.” Its geography includes mountains, valleys, and rainforests, and temperatures can get quite cold during the winter. Moreover, during the summer, there is a rainy season that was so heavy this past year that it resulted in severe flooding in certain parts of San Cristobal.
SO WHY GO TO SAN CRISTOBAL?
For anyone interested in human rights, the state of Chiapas hosts a variety of situations that command attention.
First, there is a substantial indigenous population. The indigenous peoples of Mexico are those who lived in the region prior to the arrival of Europeans. This includes groups such as the Mayans, Zapotecs, and Triques found in southern Mexico – groups who still have distinctive languages, cultures, and communities, apart from the more widespread mestizo culture. Official statistics indicate that Chiapas contains within its borders at least 11 different types of indigenous populations.
These groups include the Cakchiquel, Chol, Jcalteco, Kanjobal, Lacandon, Mame, Mocho, Tojolabal, Tzeltal, Tzotzil, and Zoque indigenous groups.[1] Out of the total population in Chiapas, 28% is indigenous, making Chiapas the state in Mexico with the fourth highest population of indigenous persons.[2] Due to racial, economic, and social tensions between Chiapas’ indigenous and mestizo inhabitants, the human rights violations that occur in Chiapas often directly involve the indigenous population. Thus, to understand human rights in a Mexican context, indigenous rights must be part of the calculus.
Second, there is the presence of the Zapatistas. A grassroots peasant movement comprised of indigenous men and women, the Zapatistas mobilized in 1994, collectively taking up arms and occupying San Cristobal. They mobilized to protest a societal structure that denied them basic resources, such as land, healthcare, and education. After concluding that the national government would never meet their most basic needs, the Zapatistas declared certain areas to be “autonomous.” This means that they reject the presence of any official Mexican government in that territory, and instead use their own local forms of governance to maintain order and provide for the people. While other indigenous movements in Mexico have attempted autonomous actions, the Zapatistas are arguably both the most famous and the most successful autonomous movement in the country.
Third, there is a whole host of environmental issues that directly impact individual human rights. Various foreign companies have set up mines, dams, and other industries throughout southern Mexico, stretching onward through Central America. These enterprises raise serious concerns, including health issues, water and soil pollution, structural damage (both to natural and manmade structures), and damage to food sources such as local crops. Additionally, these industries often give rise to grave security concerns. Tales of death threats to and actual assassinations of community members in resistance against such enterprises seem to be a not infrequent occurrence.
Fourth, there is the issue of immigration. Because Chiapas shares a border with Guatemala, it serves as an entry point for Central American migrants moving northward. In Chiapas, migrants catch trains seeking to bring themselves up to the US border. The journey, however, is perilous and has cost many their lives, particularly due to accidents on the trains and violent encounters with both gangs and police alike.
IN SHORT.....
The list of reasons for traveling to Chiapas could certainly continue. These are but some of the more influential factors that are encouraging the trip that awaits me. I am excited for the adventures ahead, and I look forward to sharing what I learn. Thank you for reading – I hope you enjoy this journey as much as I know I will.
[1]Comision Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indigenas (CDI) (National Commission for the Development of Inigenous People), http://www.cdi.gob.mx/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=758&Itemid=68.
