POPULAR INDIGENOUS COUNCIL OF OAXACA Ricardo Flores Magon CIPO-RFM
STRONG ENEMIES OF INJUSTICE
The solidarity of others is our own defense. Praxedis G. Guerrero, Puntos Rojos, 1906.
Popular Indigenous Council of Oaxaca Ricardo Flores Magon CIPO-RFM, is the house of those living in poverty who struggle against injustice. We are an organization of communities that fight peacefully. Our strength is in helping each other, being independent of all political parties, legal or secret, of the institutions and organizations of the government. In CIPO-RFM what we do is a result of the consensus of the assembly; therefore our triumphs and failures belong to all of us.
Currently CIPO-RFM represents 26 communities of the Chatino, Mixteco, Chinanteco, Cuicateco, Zapoteco, Mixes, Triquis, Negro and Mestizo people. In our
house there is a place for everyone.
The Magonist Dream
To fight for freedom and also to stand by your ideals.
––Praxedis G. Guerrero Puntos Rojos, 1906
Our mission is the free association of our peoples exercising autonomy and direct action, the Magonist way, in order to:
- To help the people and the workers organize themselves freely even though they may not be members of the CIPO-RFM.
- To promote, publicize, capacitate, and defend the territorial, economic, social, political, and cultural human rights of the communities and individuals.
- To advise and accompany communities, organizations, authorities, and individuals, whether indigenous or not, that solicit our support in their struggles.
- To implement sustainable projects (production, services, commerce, etc.) that allow the integral development of indigenous communities, minding the ecosystems and respecting the peoples therein.
- To investigate, document, analyze, and publicize the movements and struggles of indigenous peoples.
- To live according to the vision that the land and the people are inseparable, that environmental and human rights are one.
- To develop alternative media/communication; radio, TV, Internet, etc.
- To put into practice concrete actions to win full respect and rights for women, minors, and minorities.
Keeping Tenderness Alive
“To fight for liberty doesn’t make you lose tenderness; without hatred doors are opened, without hatred dikes block the rivers, without hatred the lands are made fertile and scattered with grain, without hatred despotisms are wiped away … rebellion does not necessarily imply savageness.” ––Praxedis G. Guerrero Puntos Rojos, 1907.
We chose to use the name of Ricardo Flores Magón because he was indigenous, fought for freedom, and, although he was from Oaxaca, his heart, thoughts, and work were for the liberation of all of the peoples of the world.
Adopting Magón’s principles means that we fight without searching for material riches or personal benefits, that we banish arrogance, authoritarianism, and lies. It also means that we aren’t seeking power nor imposing ourselves on anyone. Using mutual support as our base, solidarity, direct, non-violent action, and autonomy are the path to liberation.
Those of us at CIPO-RFM also call ourselves Magonists because Magonism is for us the way the indigenous understand the fight for liberty.
A Past of Many Histories.
“While we count our money I have spent time counting the stars. I wanted to make a man of each human animal, those most practical have made an animal of each man, and have made themselves shepherds of the flocks. Nevertheless I prefer to be a dreamer of the practical man.” ––Ricardo Flores Magón, October 30, 1920.
Those of us at CIPO-RFM have attempted to rebuild the past 80 years, enduring a long journey of organizing and fighting for communities. Each one of us, women and men, participates with diverse aspirations, in different times and forms against the same enemy.
In the past we have been divided and disinterested in helping each other. We have overcome many mistakes to become what we
are today: an organization under constant improvement.
We have endured having companions detained, kidnapped, assassinated, imprisoned, and tortured. Failures have brought us to plan and build a house where we all stay and live together. Though we are all from different places the challenge has brought us together to live and fight for our rights.
Making our Way
“The only remedy for the injustices of the villages lies in the revolution, but a revolution that doesn’t waver. It is a work of patience and endurance to propagate the revolution.” ––Ricardo Flores Magón, October 8, 1905
In order to prevent organizations and people from taking advantage of the indigenous communities, and to enable these communities to forge positive links to organizations and people, we carry out the following activities in Oaxaca:
1). General Presentation: we introduce CIPO-RFM, explain the benefits and risks of joining, and the forms of financing, work, and participation.
2). First Workshop: we discuss the reasons for organizing ourselves so that we can fight against human suffering.
3). Second Workshop: we consider various forms of organization and the reasons and principles for creating a free organization.
4). Third Workshop: the community or the group identifies its problems and determines the most effective solutions.
5). Fourth Workshop: We call this the Basic Council, and we draft the work plan and commit ourselves to the struggle.
Our resistance is based on direct, peaceful action. We make use of all the legal discourses that the Constitution of our country permits. Our acts of peaceful rebellion adapt themselves with ingenuity and creativity to the circumstances of place and opportunity. In this way we have succeeded in resolving a few of our necessities: health, justice, and respect for our customs and traditions.
A House for Everyone
“We have to learn to fight against ourselves, not only against the tyrants.” ––Ricardo Flores Magón
To all of the enemies of injustice, man or woman, we invite you to get to know and participate in the house of CIPO-RFM, A HOUSE FOR EVERYONE.
CIPO-RFM CONTACTS: www.nodo50.org/cipo
Street: Emilio Carranza ·210, Santa Lucía del Camino, Oaxaca. México C.P. 71228 Fax:+(001152) 951-51 78183
Tel:+(001152) 951-51 78190
Email: ciporfm@yahoo.com.mx, cipo@nodo50.org
In Canadá: Tel : 778-862-6955 cipocanada@yahoo.ca
Donations and contributions can be sent payable to CIPO-RFM at the Banamex bank: 002610012077451770. Sucursal 120, Oaxaca. Located on Av. Hidalgo # 821, Oaxaca, Mexico. Suit: Banamex: BNMXMXMM