Thirteen years ago, on December 31, 1993, the Zapatista Nacional Liberation Army (EZLN) took up arms and said, “Enough is Enough!” It was time to stop being robbed of a life without dignity. Today, Mexicans from Chiapas, Atenco, Oaxaca, the rest of Mexico, as well as those living on the other side, unite with the Zapatista demands for our right to work, land, housing, food, health, education, independence, democracy, justice, and peace. Danza Mexica Cuauhtemoc invites you to celebrate the Zapatista New Year 2007 - Sunday December 31st at 6PM until 6AM on January 1st. Parque de México (Corner of N. Main St. Y Valley Blvd.-Lincoln Heights.) There will be videos, food, music, and Aztec Dance. For more information, e-mail: dancuauhtemoc@yahoo.com. ¡Zapata Lives! ¡The Struggle Continues!

William Booth wrote a brilliant critique of Gibson’s film for the Washington Post, titled Culture Shocker: Scholars Say Mel Gibson’s Action Flick Sacrifices the Maya Civilization to Hollywood. The December 9, 2006 article reveals what archaeologists and scholars of the Maya are saying about the Hollywood version of Mesoamerican history - and by all accounts, Apocalypto gets failing grades. To read the full article, visit the Washington Post, in the meantime, here are a few excerpts:

“Apocalypto depicts the Maya as a super-cruel, psycho-sadistic society on the skids, a ghoulscape engaged in widespread slavery, reckless sewage treatment and bad rave dancing, with a real lust for human blood. Think: Caligula of the Yucatan. Follow the bouncing heads! This is a problem because most scholars, while acknowledging the violence of this pre-Columbian society, universally applaud the Maya as among the New World’s most sophisticated and subtle civilizations. They were, especially at their height around A.D. 800, remarkable Stone Agers who erected avant-garde cities and towering pyramids in the jungles of Mexico and Central America, created sumptuous art, practiced a precise astronomy and (yes, there’s more) developed not only a written language, but a heady cosmology of time and space, built around a complex, ordered society of maize, kings and gods. The Maya flourished for a thousand years. They were winners.

But Apocalypto’s focus on the more, shall we say, extreme hobbies of the Maya (i.e., removal of still operating body parts) is giving the community of Maya researchers the fits. The archaeologists are shouting: slander! They’re circulating statements and editorials and e-mails. ‘It is a shocking movie to us,’ says Stephen Houston, professor of anthropology at Brown University, and like the other Mayanists quoted in this article, a scientist who has spent years excavating sites in Mexico and Central America. (…) The main gripe, says Houston, is that Apocalypto will make a bad impression on the general public. ‘For millions of people this might be their first glimpse of the Maya,’ he says. ‘This is the impression that is going to last. But this is Mel Gibson’s Maya. This is Mel Gibson’s sadism. This is not the Maya we know.’ Some of the scientists have seen the movie, others have watched the trailers, read reviews or summaries. David Stuart, professor of Mesoamerican art and writing at the University of Texas, saw a rough cut of the film with Gibson and penned an unpublished editorial with Houston that suggests Gibson’s Maya are so evil that they were “a civilization . . . that deserves to die.”

Arthur Demarest, anthropology professor at Vanderbilt University, says, ‘I don’t care about some minor historical inaccuracies. That’s Hollywood. What I’m very worried about is how the Maya themselves will perceive the film.’ As Demarest points out, the Maya are not a extinct lineage. Their descendants, 6 million or more, are still living in Mexico and Central America. (The film does not open south of the border until next year). ‘I can promise you that there will be a massive repudiation of this film, not only as a work of fiction, but as a systematic and willful misrepresentation of the Maya,’ says David Freidel, archaeology professor at Southern Methodist University.”

The multi-million dollar promotional campaign waged for Apocalypto by Disney, the film’s distributor, has made much of the fact that Gibson employed Richard Hansen as the film’s consultant. An expert in Maya studies and a professor of anthropology at Idaho State University, Hansen helped promote the movie when he appeared on TV with Gibson on ABC’s Primetime special with Diane Sawyer (Disney owns ABC). William Booth’s Washington Post article makes note of the fact that Hansen is the president of the Foundation for Anthropological Research and Environmental Studies, which does preservation work and study in Guatemala. Interestingly enough, “Gibson, a generous contributor to the group, now serves on its board of directors.”

But lately, even Hansen has been distancing himself from Apocalypto. Booth’s Washington Post article quotes the anthropologist as saying, “there were things I didn’t like that they went ahead and did anyway,” and that “there was a lot of artistic license taken.” In the greatest of understatements, Hansen acknowledges the depiction of endless bloody human sacrifice by the Maya in the film does “give the feeling they’re a sadistic lot,” and adds, “I’m a little apprehensive about how the contemporary Maya will take it.”

Zachary X. Hruby, Ph.D., is a Maya expert, lecturer and research affiliate in the department of anthropology at UC Riverside. He divides his time between Southern California and Guatemala. National Geographic asked Hruby to pre-screen Apocalypto for them, and he gave it a thumbs down, saying, “The film feeds into old stereotypes about the Maya being savages. If it’s a hit, it could have a lasting effect on the way the public views the ancient Maya, and by extension, the modern Maya.” Hruby notes that in Apocalypto, “They are showing murals from the time of Christ, and saying that they were current in 1524. In the trailer for the film they actually repaint the famous Bonampak murals to show the king holding a human heart, instead of making a simple hand gesture.” Hruby’s comments are to be found on the National Geographic website in an article titled, Apocalypto Tortures the Facts, and in Apocalypto: A New Beginning or a Step Backward? published on mesoweb.com, a website dedicated to the scholarly exploration of the ancient cultures of Mexico and Central America. Here’s an excerpt from the mesoweb.com article, which everyone should read in its entirety:

“Although this film will undoubtedly create interest in the field of Maya archaeology by way of its spectacular reconstructions and beautiful jungle scenes, the lasting impression of Maya and other Pre-Columbian civilizations is this: The Maya were simple jungle bands or bloodthirsty masses duped by false religions, that their mighty but misguided civilization fell into ruin as a result, and their salvation arrived with the coming of Christian beliefs saddled on the backs of Spanish conquistadors. As we archaeologists struggle to accurately reconstruct ancient Maya society, obstructed by their decimation via Western diseases, destruction of their books, art, and history by Spanish friars, not to mention their subjugation and exploitation by the conquistadors, films such as Apocalypto represent a significant disparagement of that process. Further, inaccurate, irresponsible representations by Hollywood of indigenous peoples as amoral, inhuman, or uncivilized can only lead to greater misunderstanding and strife in contemporary society. This may be particularly important in a modern world where common ground is increasingly difficult to come by.”

Felipe Calderón, the right-wing presidential candidate of Mexico’s conservative National Action Party (PAN), a leader fraudulently “selected” by Mexico’s Federal Electoral Tribunal, has now been officially sworn in as President in the halls of the Mexican Congress building - but not without fist fights and shouts of protest by opposition Congressmen and women.

In a midnight ceremony held on December 1st, Calderón took over as Mexico’s president, but a huge brawl erupted at the ceremony in Congress when scores of opposition congressional representatives attempted to stop him from taking the formal oath of office. Opposition lawmakers hung a huge banner in the congressional chambers that read, “Mexico doesn’t deserve a traitor to democracy as president.” Rival lawmakers engaged in fist fights while water bottles, soft drink cans, and chairs were thrown. Opposition lawmakers built a barricade of tables and chairs at the front entrance of Congress in an attempt to lock Calderón out. Congressional deputy Adriana Diaz said, “He is not coming in the front entrance - thieves come in through the back door.” And eventually, with the assistance of riot police and body guards, the thief did enter through the rear entrance. Calderón took the oath of office to a cacophony of catcalls and boos.

Opposition lawmakers held up a banner that read, “Ulises Ruiz, Assassin!” - referring to the Oaxaca Governor of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and his brutal assaults on the people of Oaxaca. PAN-PRI cooperation is vital to president select Calderón, whose party has backed Ruiz’s military crackdown by supplying Ruiz with federal troops. Ruiz’s repression has killed an estimated 15 protestors in Oaxaca, including an American reporter for the New York chapter of the Independent Media Center.

On November 20th, the official anniversary of the 1910 Mexican Revolution, over 300-000 people held their own inauguration ceremony in Mexico City’s main square. The popular candidate of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, was sworn in as president by the masses as they chanted, “¡Sí, Se Puede!” (Yes, We Can!) Deafening roars of approval met Obrador’s remarks, “A government divorced from the people is nothing more than a facade, an egg shell, a bureaucratic apparatus, the legitimate government is the organized people” and “When there is no justice, there can be no peace.” Obrador announced his support for the rebellion in Oaxaca and demanded the resignation of Ulises Ruiz. He has also promised to run a parallel government in opposition to the reactionary Calderón, who is a key ally of the White House. In fact, U.S. president George W. Bush appointed his father, former president George Bush, to lead the U.S. delegation that attended the Dec. 1 inauguration of Calderón. Yes, birds of a feather do flock together, especially those who steal elections.

The government of Mexican President Vicente Fox quietly released a jaw-dropping report on how former administrations used violence, torture, massacres, and murder to silence political opponents from the 1960s to the 1980s. Five years ago the Fox administration opened an investigation into political crimes carried out by the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, the authoritarian party that had ruled Mexico for 71 years before being ousted by Fox and his conservative pro-business National Action Party (PAN) in elections that took place in 2000.

The report released by the Fox government makes clear that the political violence was not an aberration, but official government policy set in motion and condoned by Presidents Díaz Ordaz (1964-1970), Echeverría (1970-1976) and López Portillo (1976-1982). However, human rights activists in Mexico are worried that the report was released without fanfare just before a three-day weekend, and that the 859 page report was posted to the internet rather than being released at a major press conference. Critics of the Fox regime point out that the report, titled “Historical Report to the Mexican Society“, makes no recommendations about bringing human rights violators to justice.

Included in the report is an admission that the massacre of students and their supporters at Tlatelolco Plaza in Mexico City during a 1968 protest against government corruption, was planned and carried out by the highest levels of government. The mass student protests took place ten days before the International ‘68 Olympics were held in Mexico City, and over the years activists have insisted Mexican army troops and police shot dead thousands of unarmed dissidents - carting off their bodies to be unceremoniously buried in secret. The authorities have always maintained that only rogue forces opened fired at the students in Tlatelolco Plaza, and that 4 were killed.

The report contains a whole chapter on the Tlatelolco massacre, as well as chapters on other massive human rights violations where populations of entire villages considered “subversive” were rounded up, and the communities burned to the ground. The report cites the names and circumstances of 645 people “disappeared” by the government, 99 outright extrajudicial executions, and more than 2000 cases of civilians being tortured at the hands of the army and police [ Read more about the report. ]

Mexican archeologists believe they may have found the tomb of an Aztec Emperor, if so it would be the first imperial burial site of an Aztec leader ever to have been discovered.

Last October Xispas wrote about the discovery of major Aztec ruins in Mexico City, which included the unearthing of a gigantic carved stone slab. Since then archeologists have meticulously cleaned the monolithic carving, and have confirmed the relief sculpture as a representation of Tlaltecuhtli, Earth Goddess and ruler of the underworld. When the discovery was made in October, 2006, it was evident that it was an important find, but archeologists are now saying it may be one of most important ever made.

Archeologists believe the monolithic stone of the Earth Goddess may actually be a grave marker for Emperor Ahuizotl, who ruled the Aztec Empire from 1486 to 1502. At a Nov., 16th press conference, Eduardo Matos, the country’s chief archeologist and director of all excavations of Aztec ruins in Mexico City, said, “We think this could be a gravestone covering the place where this ruler was laid to rest.”

Ahuizotl was the father of Moctezuma, the sovereign overthrown by the Spanish invaders in their conquest of the Mexica/Aztec Empire that took place from 1519-1521. All previous stone carvings of Tlaltecuhtli have been found ritualistically buried face down in the earth - this is the first carving to be found face up. In the claw of her right foot is a carved representation of a rabbit and ten dots, the Aztec glyph for 10 Rabbit, or 1502 - the year of Emperor Ahuizotl’s death. If archeologists are correct in thinking they’ve found an imperial burial chamber - then there are certainly many staggering discoveries that will soon come to light [ Read more about this story. ]

Vicente Fox has ordered up to 4,000 or more heavily armed Mexican Federal Preventative Police (PFP) into Oaxaca. Dressed in riot gear and carrying heavy automatic weapons, the police are using armored cars with water canons, bulldozers, and brut force to push their way to the city center, where protestors vow to put up a massive resistance. With helicopters roaring overhead, PFP units wearing masks to hide their identities, are invading private residences and arresting protest leaders.

Oaxacans are calling on people around the world to protest the government violence in front of Mexican Embassies and Consulates at 6:00 pm on Monday, October 30th. Mexico’s Zapatistas have also issued a call for unity with the people of Oaxaca. Zapatista Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos called “to compañeros and compañeras in other countries to unite and to demand justice for this dead compañero.” Masked thugs working for the Mexican government murdered American William Bradley Roland and three Mexican nationals in an armed attack against the Oaxacan people’s movement - now the government of Vicente Fox is using that violence as an excuse to unleash even more violence against the people.

The family of Brad Will has released the following statement: “We are grieving over the tragic and senseless loss of Brad’s life. Brad’s friends and family admired his brave support for the downtrodden and willingness to act tirelessly upon his convictions. We believe he died doing what he loved. We will all miss Brad’s compassionate, loving and adventurous spirit, and it is our hope that his life’s work reporting on the human struggle will never be forgotten.”

In Los Angeles a Press Conference denouncing the murders of Will and his fellow activists will be held on Monday, October 30, 2006, 12:00 pm, in front of the Mexican Consulate (Park View & 6th Street, Los Angeles). A demonstration will also be held at the Consulate on, Thursday, November 2 from 10:00 AM to 9:00 pm. Stay up to date - don’t believe lies told by the corporate media.

Striking teachers, workers and indigenous activists in the historic Mexican city of Oaxaca have for months been involved in a campaign to oust the corrupt Governor of the state, Ulises Ruiz. (Oaxaca is the name of one of Mexico’s 32 states, and also that state’s capital city.) In Oaxaca Friday Oct. 27th, 2006, armed goons attacked a barricade erected by demonstrators across a road in the old city - they fired shots that took the lives of three men - one of which was an American journalist from New York’s Independent Media Center, William Bradley Roland (36). Another victim killed during the incident has been identified as a schoolteacher named Emililio Alofonzo Fabian. Videotape was shot of the attack and broadcast on Televisa, a large Mexican television network. The paramilitary gunmen who killed Will have since been identified by name, each having connections to Oaxaca’s ruling political party, the PRI.

The U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Tony Garza, made the following statement: “It appears that Mr. Will was killed during a shoot out between what may have been local police, and protesters.” However, Will was an unarmed journalist whose only weapon was a camera. Fellow activists maintain they were also unarmed, and had only sticks and rocks to defend themselves. It is obvious looking at the video of the incident, that the so-called “police” the U.S. Ambassador refers to are nothing more than thugs.

Mexican President Vicente Fox has ordered troops into the area, a provocative move that is sure to bring more violence. The question is, now that an American citizen has been murdered by a death squad known to be made up of individuals connected to Mexican government forces, what will the U.S. State Department do?

Activists in the U.S. will be pressing the State Department to investigate Will’s murder, and to demand that his killers be brought to justice. Calls will also be made for solidarity with the Mexican movement for social justice, a cause that Will gave his life to while documenting events in Oaxaca. Read the full story about what’s going on in Oaxaca, at New York’s Independent Media Center.

The most significant archeological find in many decades has been made this month in Mexico City. Archeologists have unearthed in the capital a gigantic 12 ton stone slab at the site of the ancient Aztec Templo Mayor, and many think the monolith may in fact cover a burial chamber where artifacts of great importance will be found. The huge stone which has a surface area of 46 feet, has yet to be fully uncovered, but it seems to be a carved portrayal of the Aztec earth goddess, Tlaltecuhtli. Next to the buried slab, archeologists found a 15th century alter decorated with relief carvings of the rain god Tlaloc, as well as carvings of an unidentified deity related to plants and fertility. The alter and the monolithic stone are still being excavated at the time of this writing, but many experts are saying this find represents one of the greatest archeological discoveries in Mexican history.

In 1978, while installing underground cables beneath the streets of Mexico City near the capital’s spacious Zocalo and national cathedral, electricity workers found an immense stone disk carving of the Aztec moon goddess, Coyolxauhqui (She Who Wears Bells on Her Cheeks). Immediately archeologists knew they had found the actual remains of the Aztec’s Great Temple of Tenochtitlan - since it was already understood that the moon goddess stone lay at the bottom of that temple’s enormous staircase. It had long been thought that the Great Temple had been totally destroyed and the cathedral built directly over the buried ruins, but finding the 10 foot wide, 8 ton carving of Coyolxauhqui launched the excavations of the area that continue to this day.

In 1987 the Museo del Templo Mayor was established on the site of the Great Temple, and today it houses a magnificent collection of over 7,000 objects excavated from the immediate area. Arizona State University maintains an excellent website in English about the Templo Mayor museum, or you may choose to view the beautiful official website of the museum (Spanish only). Unfortunately, neither museum has updates on the latest finds written about here, but you can read the latest news about the Tlaltecuhtli monolith at the National Geographic website, or from a number of other news resources.

The LA Times reports that during the first session of Mexico’s new congress September 1, 2006, 150 opposition legislators protesting election fraud against PRD presidential candidate, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, seized the podium and stopped President Vicente Fox from making his state-of-the-nation address.

It was the first time in Mexican history that a president didn’t give an annual address to Congress. Protesting legislators from the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) held signs that read ‘Fox, you are a traitor to democracy, the indigenous people abhor you!’ Others held up posters showing Lopez Obrador (aka: AMLO) or national hero Benito Juarez, Mexico’s two term Zapotec president from the 1800s. Some simply held small Mexican flags.

The LA Times also reported that “thousands of demonstrators led by Lopez Obrador gathered at the capital’s central square, known as the Zocalo. ‘A revolution has begun in which the people say to hell with their institutions,’ Lopez Obrador told a cheering crowd. ‘They can’t legitimize or legalize a government of usurpers, because they stole the election and the majority of the people know that.’

Lopez Obrador has called on supporters to form a parallel government during a ‘national convention’ Sept. 16, the day when Mexican independence is celebrated.” Read more about the historic blockade of the Mexican Congress and the electoral crisis, at the Houston Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury News. Given that many people in the United States think Bush stole the elections, one can only imagine what would happen in the U.S. if Democrats acted like an opposition party akin to the PRD.