Educational Media Reviews Online

Through embracing globalization and adapting to the international free market Mexico had been seen by many as an economic success story. However in the early 1990’s thousands of marginalized indigenous people, who came from a forgotten region of Mexico called Chiapas, rose up in arms to contest this image, creating the Zapatista Army of National Liberation. At first it seemed that there could be a peaceful resolution to the rebellion but by 1997 the conflict had transformed into a war, terrorizing the people of Chiapas. In the name of development many Indian communities were under attack by the Government. Churches were burned, people were murdered in the most brutal manner, and whole entire communities were terrorized and displaced.

Then on December 22, 1997, 9 men, 15 children, and 21 women (five who were pregnant) were viciously murdered. All the victims were members of the civil society Abejas. The Abejas were an indigenous community from the village of Acteal, who with some success originally organized to combat agrarian and land use problems in their town. When the militarization of their region began many people fled to the mountains and caves but the Abejas remained believing that the land belonged to them. It was given to them by God to live and to work. As fellow Indians the Abejas shared the same plight of the Zapatistas, and understood the strength of unification. Nonetheless, while they were sympathizers and supported the agenda of the Zapatistas, the Abejas could not join them. Simply put, the Abejas did not condone violence. They did not want war. They did not want anyone killed. In the end this did not matter.

A Massacre Foretold is an uncomplicated intense documentary that uses news footage and interviews from a human rights activist, an anthropologist, the Bishop of Chiapas, and family members and survivors of the massacre, to trace and document the historic beginnings of the Zapatistas movement. Included are the failed San Andres peace talks where the Federal government recognized the debt owed to its indigenous population but would not negotiate state reform, the 12 day Zapatista uprising that left 145 people dead, the government pursuit into Chiapas of Subcommander Marcos and the Zapatistas and the eventual violent military sanctioned murder of the 45 residents of Acteal by paramilitary troops.

Because the documentary does not stick to a straight forward timeline and frequently interchanges events it can be confusing to the viewer, still it is a very revealing and compelling work.

Awards

• 2007 WACC/Signis Prize, Best Human Rights Documentary