Words for all.

Originally published in Spanish by the EZLN ************************** Translated by irlandesa, based on transcription of recording [Words of Comandanta Rosalinda in Oventik, August 9, 2003] Very good afternoon to all the compañero and compañera support bases. Men, women, children, young persons, old ones, of all the peoples and all the municipalities of zapatista areas. We are gathered together here today in this place of encuentro, and I would like to speak a few words to you, compañeros and compañeras. Today we are demonstrating, one more time, that we - those of us who are here, and also those who could not come - that we are strong enough to fight. We realize that we have already been resisting in this struggle for ten years. Even though we have suffered, we are indeed willing to continue fighting, because we know we can. All the zapatista municipalities and communities have been demonstrating this for ten years, and they are good, marvelous, because they know how to fight and resist. And we must go on demonstrating, through our struggle, our resistance. Even though the bad government wants to defeat us, they cannot, because we, the zapatistas, know now how to organize and work. We have the strength to continue fighting for our rights and to build our autonomy. That is why I want to tell all the compañeros and compañeras of all the zapatista areas, of all the peoples and cities of all of Mexico and of the world: do not be discouraged, do not be frightened by the threats and persecution of the bad governments, because our struggle, our resistance, has already grown greatly. There are compañeros and compañeras throughout the world. Our main weapon now is our resistance and our organization of all the peoples. That is why we are learning to build our autonomy. We have already been able to build our Autonomous Municipalities everywhere, and now we have the Good Government Juntas. With this, we have taken one more step. That is why it is the moment to be motivated. Now is the time to be even more motivated to do all the work, because that is the way we shall move forward in our resistance and be able to build our autonomy. The bad government ignores us. So let them just have their stupidity. Because a bad government is never going to let us. The only way to achieve what we need is to organize ourselves well, to be strong in our resistance in Autonomous Municipalities. But, in order to do that work, all of us need to participate, we must all be self-motivated. The women cannot be left behind. Only in that way will our struggle be able to triumph. Those are all my words. Democracy, Liberty, Justice. From the mountains of the Mexican southeast. By the Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous Committee - General Command of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation. Mexico, August 9, 2003. Muchas gracias, compañeros.