Tenejapa, Chiapas. August 30. Amid a festive atmosphere at Caracol VII Jacinto Canek in Winikton, the Art, Resistance, and Rebellion Gathering—ResignArte or OrganizArte—came to a close today in the Highlands of Chiapas. Poetry, song, dance, theater, and other artistic expressions took place on the stage and the sports field, along with workshops and chess tournaments. This marks the conclusion of a month of political and cultural activities organized by and featuring communities from across the country and around the world, during which the leading role of the younger generations—supported by their elders who lived through the 1994 uprising and have not given up—was highlighted. On the contrary, they have made progress in health, education, justice, communication, and now what they call “the Common.” In the words of a young rapper from the Caracol de Garrucha, “Yes to the Common, no to private property because it does not serve humanity.”
“We believe that now, with this arts gathering, it gives us more strength, more resilience, and a clearer idea of how we, the Zapatistas, need to organize ourselves from here on out. Let’s hope this is the case for our compañeroas, compañeras, compañeros.” said Subcomandante Insurgente Moisés at the closing ceremony.
“We Zapatistas no longer believe even a little bit in those who will continue to say that they are going to govern the people of Mexico. Various governments have come and gone, with so many promises that they’ll finally solve the problems—we’re sick of hearing that, and they’ll never do it,” Moisés explained to those present.
“We Zapatistas are fully convinced of the need for men and women to organize here in this country called Mexico, called Chiapas, and called indigenous communities and peoples,” the Zapatista leader added.
Faced with the agonizing plight of the indigenous peoples, the EZLN asserts that they do not need to ask anyone’s permission to organize, Moisés stated before Zapatista Support Bases and guests from different parts of the world.
The atmosphere at the Caracol Jacinto Canek was one of reflection but also of mixed feelings as the gathering came to a close, since this month of artistic activities organized by the EZLN allowed people of different nationalities to learn a little more about the autonomous organization of the indigenous people of Chiapas.
The next public event planned by the Zapatista rebels is a presence in Mexico City throughout the month of December, where they will meet with the “mothers searching for the disappeared,” as well as with independent collectives and organizations…
Article in progress…
Original text published by Radio Pozol on August 30, 2026.
Translation by Schools for Chiapas.