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Comandanta Esther

December 02, 2023

Comandanta Esther is the nom de guerre of a revolutionary in the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) of Chiapas, Mexico, created for indigenous people's rights.[1] She is considered a high ranking woman in the EZLN. Military "commanders" have no actual military or governmental power and are simply spokespeople for the movement.[2] Comandanta Esther is best known for her March 2001 speech to the Congress of the Union at the San Lazaro Legislative Palace in Mexico City, in which she spoke for constitutional recognition of indigenous people[3] and the difficulty that indigenous women face in Mexico, demanded that their rights be acknowledged.[4] Her work has helped inspire women activists to speak up in and join leadership roles in their communities in Mexico.[5]

Zapatistas depicted in a mural.

Biography edit

Comandanta Esther endured a difficult childhood as her family suffered from poverty and hunger. She lived with her mother and several siblings, four of whom died from lack of food or from illness. They did not have enough money; they ate tortillas and occasionally beans. Additionally, Esther did not know how to speak Spanish. She had gone to school as a child, but she did not learn because she did not understand the language. In her words, she learned how to speak and write in Spanish upon joining EZLN.

Later, as Esther grew up and started to become aware of the poverty around her, she began to attend indigenous meetings where they talked about the state of their community. She gradually started increasing her political participation, but was not met without obstacles due to being an indigenous woman living in a region where inequality is common. [6]

Political participation edit

 
EZLN flag

Comandanta Esther became known for her role as the spokesperson relaying the official message from the Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous Committee (CCRI) of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation in the Congress of the Union, located in the Legislative Palace of San Lázaro on March 28, 2001. Her position as an EZLN representative brought much attention to the speech because up until that point, Subcomandante Marcos had been the only and main spokesperson that represented the organization.

Her speech was broadcast live on all Mexican television channels[7] and was additionally published on March 29 under the Profile segment of La Jornada, a Mexican newspaper. The published piece reported that the Commission for Concord and Pacification (Cocopa) needed to recognize the need for indigenous rights, especially rights for indigenous women, since their demographic faced much more gendered targeted violence, have less reproductive and health rights along with employment opportunities and freedom of expression.[8]

In her Congress of the Union speech she is recorded saying, "That is how we Zapatistas want Mexico to be. One where indigenous people will be indigenous and Mexican, one where respect for difference is balanced with respect for what makes us equals. One where difference is not a reason for death, jail, persecution, mockery, humiliation, racism. On where, always, formed by differences, ours is a sovereign and independent nation."[9] which ultimately summed up the sentiment of the EZLN at the time.

Although Comandanta Esther's involvement in the March 28, 2001, speech to the Congress of the Union is the most well-known speech, she is also recognized for her work as a speaker during International Women’s Day in Chiapas on March 8 of the same year. She presented the need of women solidarity and unity:

“To women throughout the country, we tell them to fight together. We have to fight more because as indigenous we are triply despised. As an indigenous woman, as a woman and as a poor woman. But women who are not indigenous also suffer, that is why we are going to invite them all to fight so that we no longer suffer. It is not true that women do not know, that nothing else is useful to be at home, that not only happens in indigenous communities but also in cities."[10]

Additionally, she also recounted the difficulties that she and other women have had in order to participants in politics:

"At first, it was really difficult for me, the men did not understand, although I always explained to them that it is necessary to fight so that we are not all the time starving. Men did not suit them, they say women were only good for having children and they should take care…”[10]


Comandanta Esther also participated as a speaker in following events during the year 2001:

And in 2003, in Oventic, Chiapas, on August 9.

In most of her speeches, Comandanta Esther highlights the importance of the unity between indigenous and non-indigenous individuals, and between men and women, in the search for a better country:

"It is our word as a woman, let's walk together with men. Just They will not be able and we alone cannot. Let us put more effort, consolidate our social fighting organization. Let us all fight together, men and women, for the rights that the powerful deny us and build a Mexico where there is no racial mockery, color and tongue. Brothers and sisters, let us not loosen our conscience, we are very important because without women there would not be a country nor would humanity multiply. We as women feel the pain, we give birth and we are a foot of the men, only men fighting will not make the change. "[10]

During the Fiesta de los Caracoles in Oventic, Chiapas, in 2003, Comandanta Esther harshly criticized political parties, pointing out that they did not represent Mexicans. "We cannot stop being Indians to be recognized as Mexicans. Never again. They will be able to finish us or betray us (referring to the PRI, PAN and PRD) ... they agreed to deny us our rights. "[11]

The activist also wrote a letter on January 1, 2003, addressed to the President of the Republic at that time, Vicente Fox Quesada, and Luis H. Alvarez , Commissioner for the Development of Indigenous Peoples, to demand that they acknowledge indigenous peoples and their demands instead of not fulfilling the promises they had made, telling them, among other things: "It is you commissioner of peace. And you are only a commissioner of Fox to provoke division, and deceive the people of Mexico."[12]

References edit

  1. ^ Marcos, Sylvia (2009-10-24). "Mesoamerican Women's Indigenous Spirituality: Decolonizing Religious Beliefs". Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion. 25 (2): 25–45. doi:10.2979/fsr.2009.25.2.25. ISSN 1553-3913. S2CID 145403228 – via Project MUSE.
  2. ^ "A Struggle within a Struggle". International Museum of Women. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  3. ^ "Comandanta Esther in the Congress of the Union" (PDF). Schools for Chiapas. 2001.
  4. ^ Taylor, Analisa (2009). Indigeneity in the Mexican Cultural Imagination: Thresholds of Belonging. Arizona, USA: University of Arizona Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-8165-2718-2.
  5. ^ Blackwell, Maylei (2006). "Weaving in the Spaces: Indigenous Women's Organizing and the Politics of Scale in Mexico". In Speed, Shannon; Hernández Castillo, R. Aída; Stephen, Lynn M. (eds.). Dissident Women: Gender and Cultural Politics in Chiapas. University of Texas Press. ISBN 9780292794337 – via Project MUSE.
  6. ^ . 2018-03-25. Archived from the original on 2018-03-25. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  7. ^ "Aristegui Noticias". Aristegui Noticias (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  8. ^ "Discurso de la Comandanta Esther en la tribuna del Congreso de la Unión". Enlace Zapatista (in Spanish). 2001-03-29. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  9. ^ Hernandez Castillo, R. Aida (2006). Dissident Women: Gender and Cultural Politics in Chiapas. University of Texas Press; Illustrated Edition. p. 19. ISBN 978-0292714403.
  10. ^ a b c . 2018-03-22. Archived from the original on 2018-03-22. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  11. ^ "La Jornada". www.jornada.com.mx. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  12. ^ "EZLN, Enero 2003: Comandanta Esther". chiapas.laneta.org. Retrieved 2021-04-07.

External links edit

  • Transcription of Speech Before the Mexican Congress

December 02, 2023
comandanta, esther, guerre, revolutionary, zapatista, army, national, liberation, ezln, chiapas, mexico, created, indigenous, people, rights, considered, high, ranking, woman, ezln, military, commanders, have, actual, military, governmental, power, simply, spo. Comandanta Esther is the nom de guerre of a revolutionary in the Zapatista Army of National Liberation EZLN of Chiapas Mexico created for indigenous people s rights 1 She is considered a high ranking woman in the EZLN Military commanders have no actual military or governmental power and are simply spokespeople for the movement 2 Comandanta Esther is best known for her March 2001 speech to the Congress of the Union at the San Lazaro Legislative Palace in Mexico City in which she spoke for constitutional recognition of indigenous people 3 and the difficulty that indigenous women face in Mexico demanded that their rights be acknowledged 4 Her work has helped inspire women activists to speak up in and join leadership roles in their communities in Mexico 5 Zapatistas depicted in a mural Contents 1 Biography 2 Political participation 3 References 4 External linksBiography editComandanta Esther endured a difficult childhood as her family suffered from poverty and hunger She lived with her mother and several siblings four of whom died from lack of food or from illness They did not have enough money they ate tortillas and occasionally beans Additionally Esther did not know how to speak Spanish She had gone to school as a child but she did not learn because she did not understand the language In her words she learned how to speak and write in Spanish upon joining EZLN Later as Esther grew up and started to become aware of the poverty around her she began to attend indigenous meetings where they talked about the state of their community She gradually started increasing her political participation but was not met without obstacles due to being an indigenous woman living in a region where inequality is common 6 Political participation edit nbsp EZLN flagComandanta Esther became known for her role as the spokesperson relaying the official message from the Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous Committee CCRI of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation in the Congress of the Union located in the Legislative Palace of San Lazaro on March 28 2001 Her position as an EZLN representative brought much attention to the speech because up until that point Subcomandante Marcos had been the only and main spokesperson that represented the organization Her speech was broadcast live on all Mexican television channels 7 and was additionally published on March 29 under the Profile segment of La Jornada a Mexican newspaper The published piece reported that the Commission for Concord and Pacification Cocopa needed to recognize the need for indigenous rights especially rights for indigenous women since their demographic faced much more gendered targeted violence have less reproductive and health rights along with employment opportunities and freedom of expression 8 In her Congress of the Union speech she is recorded saying That is how we Zapatistas want Mexico to be One where indigenous people will be indigenous and Mexican one where respect for difference is balanced with respect for what makes us equals One where difference is not a reason for death jail persecution mockery humiliation racism On where always formed by differences ours is a sovereign and independent nation 9 which ultimately summed up the sentiment of the EZLN at the time Although Comandanta Esther s involvement in the March 28 2001 speech to the Congress of the Union is the most well known speech she is also recognized for her work as a speaker during International Women s Day in Chiapas on March 8 of the same year She presented the need of women solidarity and unity To women throughout the country we tell them to fight together We have to fight more because as indigenous we are triply despised As an indigenous woman as a woman and as a poor woman But women who are not indigenous also suffer that is why we are going to invite them all to fight so that we no longer suffer It is not true that women do not know that nothing else is useful to be at home that not only happens in indigenous communities but also in cities 10 Additionally she also recounted the difficulties that she and other women have had in order to participants in politics At first it was really difficult for me the men did not understand although I always explained to them that it is necessary to fight so that we are not all the time starving Men did not suit them they say women were only good for having children and they should take care 10 Comandanta Esther also participated as a speaker in following events during the year 2001 Juchitan Oaxaca February 25 Nurio Michoacan March 3 Toluca State of Mexico March 5 Zocalo of Mexico City March 11 National Polytechnic Institute IPN March 16 National School of Anthropology and History ENAH March 18 San Andres Totoltepec and Santo Tomas Ajusco March 19 UAM Azcapotzalco March 20And in 2003 in Oventic Chiapas on August 9 In most of her speeches Comandanta Esther highlights the importance of the unity between indigenous and non indigenous individuals and between men and women in the search for a better country It is our word as a woman let s walk together with men Just They will not be able and we alone cannot Let us put more effort consolidate our social fighting organization Let us all fight together men and women for the rights that the powerful deny us and build a Mexico where there is no racial mockery color and tongue Brothers and sisters let us not loosen our conscience we are very important because without women there would not be a country nor would humanity multiply We as women feel the pain we give birth and we are a foot of the men only men fighting will not make the change 10 During the Fiesta de los Caracoles in Oventic Chiapas in 2003 Comandanta Esther harshly criticized political parties pointing out that they did not represent Mexicans We cannot stop being Indians to be recognized as Mexicans Never again They will be able to finish us or betray us referring to the PRI PAN and PRD they agreed to deny us our rights 11 The activist also wrote a letter on January 1 2003 addressed to the President of the Republic at that time Vicente Fox Quesada and Luis H Alvarez Commissioner for the Development of Indigenous Peoples to demand that they acknowledge indigenous peoples and their demands instead of not fulfilling the promises they had made telling them among other things It is you commissioner of peace And you are only a commissioner of Fox to provoke division and deceive the people of Mexico 12 References edit Marcos Sylvia 2009 10 24 Mesoamerican Women s Indigenous Spirituality Decolonizing Religious Beliefs Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion 25 2 25 45 doi 10 2979 fsr 2009 25 2 25 ISSN 1553 3913 S2CID 145403228 via Project MUSE A Struggle within a Struggle International Museum of Women Retrieved 2017 11 01 Comandanta Esther in the Congress of the Union PDF Schools for Chiapas 2001 Taylor Analisa 2009 Indigeneity in the Mexican Cultural Imagination Thresholds of Belonging Arizona USA University of Arizona Press p 1 ISBN 978 0 8165 2718 2 Blackwell Maylei 2006 Weaving in the Spaces Indigenous Women s Organizing and the Politics of Scale in Mexico In Speed Shannon Hernandez Castillo R Aida Stephen Lynn M eds Dissident Women Gender and Cultural Politics in Chiapas University of Texas Press ISBN 9780292794337 via Project MUSE Enlace Zapatista 2018 03 25 Archived from the original on 2018 03 25 Retrieved 2021 04 12 Aristegui Noticias Aristegui Noticias in Spanish Retrieved 2021 04 07 Discurso de la Comandanta Esther en la tribuna del Congreso de la Union Enlace Zapatista in Spanish 2001 03 29 Retrieved 2021 04 07 Hernandez Castillo R Aida 2006 Dissident Women Gender and Cultural Politics in Chiapas University of Texas Press Illustrated Edition p 19 ISBN 978 0292714403 a b c Comunicado Enlace Zapatista 2018 03 22 Archived from the original on 2018 03 22 Retrieved 2021 04 18 La Jornada www jornada com mx Retrieved 2021 04 07 EZLN Enero 2003 Comandanta Esther chiapas laneta org Retrieved 2021 04 07 External links editTranscription of Speech Before the Mexican Congress Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Comandanta Esther amp oldid 1181252447, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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