Las Abejas: Pacifist Resistance and Syncretic Identities in a Globalizing Chiapas (Outstanding Dissertations on Religion in History, Society, and Culture, 1)

Las Abejas came to be known by the international community as the civil counterpart to the neozapatista movements and as a Christian pacifist movement. This book presents the voices of Las Abejas and of numerous collaborators alongside an innovative theoretical analysis of the dynamics of identity construction. The uniqueness of this study is the analysis of the role of international human rights observers in relation to indigenous communities in resistance. In this fascinating study, Marco Tavanti explains how cultural, religious, political, human rights and nonviolent frameworks combine in a syncretic identity of resistance. Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Table of Contents 8 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 12 SERIES EDITORS' FOREWORD 14 PREFACE 16 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 26 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 28 CHAPTER ONE Las Abejas and the Acteal Massacre 32 The 1992 Formation of Las Abejas 33 On the Violent Path to Acteal 35 December 22, 1997: Bury My Heart in Acteal 38 The Three Acteals: A Paradigm for Las Abejas Identity 43 Developing a Syncretic Organization 44 CHAPTER TWO Methodological and Theoretical Frameworks 50 A "Syncretic" Standpoint 50 Doing Fieldwork in Dangerous Places 53 Research as Collaboration and Bridge Building 55 The Open Fields of Chiapas Research 57 Syncretic and Other Types of Identity Constructions 59 Religious Collective Identities 64 Cultural Identity in Movement 66 Resistance to Neoliberalism in Mexico 67 CHAPTER THREE The Struggle for Land and Dignity in Chiapas 70 A Double Marginalization: Poor and Indigenous 70 Understanding Chiapas, the Highlands and Chenalhó 72 The Tzotziles and Indigenous People of Chiapas 80 Neoliberalism Effects on Land 84 A Double Root of Identity: Land and Dignity 88 The Land Is Our Mother: How Can They Sell Our Mother? 90 We Resist Because of Our Dignity! 92 CHAPTER FOUR The Juxtaposed Meanings of Acteal 98 The Intercommunitarian Conflict Interpretation 100 The Counterinsurgency Interpretation 103 Violent Meanings of Acteal: Paramilitary Presence 106 Political Meanings of Acteal: Military Presence 111 Cultural Meanings of Acteal: Tierra Sagrada 117 Religious Meanings of Acteal: Los Mártires 120 Gender Meanings of Acteal: An Attack Against Life 125 Nonviolent Meanings of Acteal: Civiles as an Easy Target 127 Global Meanings of Acteal: Mirror and Center of the World 129 CHAPTER FIVE The Cultural and Religious Frameworks of Las Abejas 134 Cultural Framework: Las Abejas as a Maya-indigenous Movement 134 Religious Framework: Las Abejas as a Progressive Religious Movement 140 Inculturation Dimension: Toward an Autochthonous Tzotzil Church 143 Ecumencal Dimension: Costumbristas Católicos y Evangélicos 150 Participation Dimension: Catechists' New Role and Method 154 Liberation Dimension: The 1974 Indigenous Congress 156 Mobilization Dimension: The Formation of Pueblo Creyente 160 CHAPTER SIX The Political and Human Rights Frameworks of Las Abejas 164 Political Framework: Las Abejas as a Neozapatista Movement 164 Twenty Years Later: The Same Demands 167 Las Abejas as a Neozapatista Movement 170 Las Abejas as a Civil Society 174 Human Rights Framework: Las Abejas as an Indigenous Rights Movement 177 CHAPTER SEVEN Las Abejas' Construction of Nonviolent Resistance 188 Nonviolent Resistance as Political Contention 190 Memory of Resistance: Continuing 500 Years of Resistance 194 The Presence of International Human Rights Observers 201 The Accompaniment of Christian Peacemaker Teams 207 Developing Nonviolent Consciousness and Strategies 211 The Gender of Resistance: Women's Double Front of Resistance 221 CHAPTER EIGHT Las Abejas' Syncretic Identity of Resistance 232 Bringing Syncretism Back In 232 Syncretic Identity as Resistance 236 Las Abejas’ Syncretic Identity of Resistance 239 Constructing the Circle of Syncretic Identity 243 Contributions of a Syncretic Identity of Resistance 245 Conclusion: Never Again a World without Us 246 GLOSSARY 250 NOTES 254 REFERENCES 266 INDEX 292 Pacifist Resistance and Syncretic Identities in a Globalizing Chiapas Ch. 1. Las Abejas And The Acteal Massacre -- The 1992 Formation Of Las Abejas -- On The Violent Path To Acteal -- December 22, 1997: Bury My Heart In Acteal -- The Three Acteals: A Paradigm For Las Abejas Identity -- Developing A Syncretic Organization -- Ch. 2. Methodological And Theoretical Frameworks -- A Syncretic Standpoint -- Doing Fieldwork In Dangerous Places -- Research As Collaboration And Bridge Building -- The Open Fields Of Chiapas Research -- Syncretic And Other Types Of Identity Constructions -- Religious Collective Identities -- Cultural Identity In Movement -- Resistance To Neoliberalism In Mexico -- Ch. 3. The Struggle For Land And Dignity In Chiapas -- A Double Marginalization: Poor And Indigenous -- Understanding Chiapas, The Highlands And Chenalho -- The Tzotziles And Indigenous People Of Chiapas -- Neoliberalism Effects On Land -- A Double Root Of Identity: Land And Dignity -- The Land Is Our Mother: How Can They Sell Our Mother? -- We Resist Because Of Our Dignity! -- Ch. 4. The Juxtaposed Meanings Of Acteal -- The Intercommunitarian Conflict Interpretation -- The Counterinsurgency Interpretation -- Violent Meanings Of Acteal: Paramilitary Presence -- Political Meanings Of Acteal: Military Presence -- Cultural Meanings Of Acteal: Tierra Sagrada -- Religious Meanings Of Acteal: Los Martires -- Gender Meanings Of Acteal: An Attack Against Life -- Nonviolent Meanings Of Acteal: Civiles As An Easy Target -- Global Meanings Of Acteal: Mirror And Center Of The World -- Ch. 5. The Cultural And Religious Frameworks Of Las Abejas -- Cultural Framework: Las Abejas As A Maya-indigenous Movement -- Religious Framework: Las Abejas As A Progressive Religious Movement -- Inculturation Dimension: Toward An Autochthonous Tzotzil Church -- Ecumencal Dimension: Costumbristas, Catolicos Y Evangelicos -- Participation Dimension: Catechists' New Role And Method -- Liberation Dimension: The 1974 Indigenous Congress -- Mobilization Dimension: The Formation Of Pueblo Creyente -- Ch. 6. The Political And Human Rights Frameworks Of Las Abejas -- Political Framework: Las Abejas As A Neozapatista Movement -- Twenty Years Later: The Same Demands -- Las Abejas As A Neozapatista Movement -- Las Abejas As A Civil Society -- Human Rights Framework: Las Abejas As An Indigenous Rights Movement -- Ch. 7. Las Abejas' Construction Of Nonviolent Resistance -- Nonviolent Resistance As Political Contention -- Memory Of Resistance: Continuing 500 Years Of Resistance -- The Presence Of International Human Rights Observers -- The Accompaniment Of Christian Peacemaker Teams -- Developing Nonviolent Consciousness And Strategies -- The Gender Of Resistance: Women's Double Front Of Resistance -- Ch. 8. Las Abejas' Syncretic Identity Of Resistance -- Bringing Syncretism Back In -- Syncretic Identity As Resistance -- Las Abejas' Syncretic Identity Of Resistance -- Constructing The Circle Of Syncretic Identity -- Contributions Of A Syncretic Identity Of Resistance -- Conclusion: Never Again A World Without Us. Marco Tavanti. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 237-262) And Index. Offering indispensable analysis of Las Abejas this ethnographic account crosses cultural, political and religious terrain to investigate the dynamics of identity construction and the creation of a syncretic identity of resistance. IN NOVEMBER 1999, THE INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATION CALLED Las Abejas (The Bees) organized a celebration of thanksgiving for retiring Bishop Samuel Ruiz in the village of Acteal in the Highlands of Chiapas, Mexico.