To the people of Mexico:

To the peoples and governments of the world:

Brothers and sisters:

Considering:

1. That it is not possible to conceive of a dignified Mexico without a dignified place for the country's indigenous peoples.

2. That the constitutional recognition of the rights and culture of the indigenous peoples is unresolved, and its resolution cannot be deferred any longer.

3. That the people of Mexico and the peoples of the world have been sensitive to the indigenous demands, and they have been in solidarity with them according to their abilities.

4. That the EZLN has supported the importance of the indigenous cause.

5. That everyone is aware of the current federal Executive's commitment to the fulfillment of the San Andre's Accords and to sending the indigenous legislative proposal drawn up by Cocopa in December of 1996 to the Congress of the Union.

The Zapatista Army of National Liberation declares:

First: It calls on the National Indigenous Congress, on national and international civil society, on political and social organizations and on everyone in general, to a great mobilization for the purpose of obtaining the Mexican Congress of the Union's constitutional recognition of indigenous rights and culture, according to the Cocopa proposal.

Second: That it has decided to send a delegation of the CCRI-CG of the EZLN to Mexico City for the purpose of heading this mobilization in order to address the honorable Congress of the Union and to argue the goodness of the so-called "Cocopa indigenous legislative proposal."

Third: That said delegation will be made up of 24 members of the CCRI-CG of the EZLN, these compañeros and compañeras represent the Tzotzil, Tzeltal, Tojolabal, Chol, Zoque, Mame and mestizo ethnic groups, their names are:

Comandante David Comandante Eduardo Comandante Tacho Comandante Gustavo Comandante Zevedo Comandante Sergio Comandante Susana Comandante Omar Comandante Javier Comandante Filemo'n Comandante Yolanda Comandante Abraham Comandante Isai'as Comandante Daniel Comandante Bulmaro Comandante Mister Comandante Abel Comandante Fidelia Comandante Moise's Comandante Alejandro Comandante Esther Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos Comandante Maxo Comandante Ismael

Fourth: That the zapatista delegation will travel to Mexico City in the month of February of the year 2001, on a date that shall be subsequently specified.

Fifth: That we are calling on the National Indigenous Congress, and on all the Indian peoples of Mexico - independent of their political affiliation -to organize themselves, mobilize and come together with our delegation, in order to demand the recognition of indigenous rights and culture from the Congress of the Union.

Sixth: That we are calling on Mexican civil society to organize themselves and to mobilize in order to support this demand.

Seventh: That we are calling on solidarity committees, groups and individuals throughout the world to speak out regarding this demand.

Eighth: The zapatista delegation is calling for, and hoping for, the accompaniment of civil society as a whole, without distinction or preference, for which it will shortly be announcing the program and route of the trip to Mexico City, whose organization will be in the sole and exclusive hands of the EZLN.

Ninth: The trip by a zapatista delegation to Mexico City will take place regardless of whether or not the dialogue with the federal government has been resumed. We are going to address the Legislative Branch, certain that we shall find the sensitivity to be heard.

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.

Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos.