Danielle Mitterrand and the Support of Indigenous Peoples in Mexico and South America.
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Abstract
October 12th is the International Day of Solidarity with the Peoples of the Americas, established by indigenous organizations gathered at the United Nations in 1977. This day aims to highlight the historical and cultural rights of these peoples and promote international efforts to protect them. This commitment was further strengthened by the adoption of ILO Convention No. 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in 1989, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007. Within this framework, Danielle Mitterrand and the France Libertés Foundation focused on the issues facing indigenous peoples in Mexico and South America, supporting human rights and humanitarian initiatives aimed at defending their rights to land, resources, and cultural identity. The following is an overview of the most prominent aspects of this role:..
Support for the Peoples of Chiapas in Mexico
The plight of the indigenous peoples of the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico was one of the humanitarian issues to which Danielle Mitterrand paid particular attention. Following the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) uprising in January 1994, led by representatives of indigenous communities demanding recognition of their political, civil, economic, social, and cultural rights, Danielle Mitterrand declared her support for these demands, considering them a legitimate expression of the indigenous peoples' struggle for dignity and justice. In May 1996, as president of the France Libertés Foundation, Mitterrand visited the state of Chiapas in southeastern Mexico, where she met with Subcomandante Marcos, the EZLN's deputy commander and spokesperson, along with several EZLN fighters and commanders, as well as representatives of indigenous communities. This visit, undertaken to support the indigenous people's demands for political, social, and cultural rights, contributed to raising international awareness of the Chiapas issue and expanding the network of solidarity with the Zapatista movement. During a television interview with France 2's evening news program on June 27, 1996, she expressed her pride in defending their cause, emphasizing that she was honored to be their voice and spokesperson in international forums. This reflected her commitment to supporting the rights of indigenous peoples and defending their political and humanitarian demands.
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References
(1) International Labour Organization, Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169), adopted 27 June 1989.
(2) United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Resolution 61/295, 13 September 2007.
(3) Danielle Mitterrand Foundation – France Libertés, “Les Chiapanèques (Chiapas, Mexico)”, 16 June 2011, https://www.france-libertes.org/fr/peuples-autochtones/les-chiapaneques-chiapas-mexique
(4) The state of Chiapas in southeastern Mexico is one of the most prominent regions inhabited by indigenous peoples, including groups belonging to the Mayan civilization, such as the Testel, Tzotcil, Chull, and Tojolabal. Historically, European colonizers referred to them as "Indians." Since the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, these peoples have suffered land confiscation, economic exploitation, and social and cultural marginalization, leading to a decline in their living conditions and centuries of ongoing suffering. Faced with these circumstances, the indigenous peoples continued their struggle for their rights, culminating in the Zapatista National Liberation Army uprising of January 1, 1994, which called for the recognition of indigenous rights and the establishment of social justice and democracy. The Zapatistas managed to extend their influence over several rural areas, where they established self-governing structures known as "Juntas de Buen Gobierno" (Councils of Good Governance) to manage local community affairs. For further details, see: Raúl Zepechi, "The Self-Government Experience in the Mexican State of Chiapas," translated and prepared by Amr Kilani, Souwar Magazine (Damascus, November 2021).
(5) National Audiovisual Institute (INA), Danielle Mitterrand in Mexico, *Des mots de minuit*, November 1, 2000, video, archive images published on June 27, 1996. https://www.ina.fr/
(6) National Audiovisual Institute (INA), Danielle Mitterrand / Chiapas, *Le Journal de la nuit*, France 2, June 27, 1996, video, 1:50, https://www.ina.fr. (7)Hervé de Charette, Interviews on Television Azteca, Estereo Rey, France 3 and Eco on Franco-Mexicaines relations and visit to Mexico (Mexico, 23–24 May 1996), Ministère des Affaires étrangères (France), Estereo Rey.
(8) Neoliberalism is an economic and political philosophy or approach that advocates reducing the role of the state in the economy and giving the free market a leading role in regulating economic activity. It promotes privatization, free trade, opening markets to investment, and minimizing government restrictions. The Zapatista movement (EZLN) argues that neoliberalism leads to: the concentration of wealth in the hands of large corporations; the marginalization of farmers and indigenous peoples; the privatization of land and natural resources; the weakening of local community sovereignty; and the deepening of poverty and inequality. Therefore, it adopted the slogan "Against Neoliberalism," considering the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which came into effect on January 1, 1994, to be one of the most prominent manifestations of neoliberal policies. NAFTA opened the Mexican market to foreign competition, harming farmers and indigenous peoples, particularly in the state of Chiapas. For further details, see: Richard Stahler-Sholk, "Globalization and Social Movement Resistance: The Zapatista Rebellion in Chiapas, Mexico," New Political Science 23, no. 4 (2001): 495-515.
(9) Revista Chiapas, no. 3 (1996), "Primer Encuentro Intercontinental por la Humanidad y contra el Neoliberalismo", ERA-Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas (IIEc-UNAM), Mexico, http://www.ezln.org/revistachiapas
(10) Danielle Mitterrand, Ces hommes sont avant tout nos frères (Paris: Éditions Ramsay, 1997)
(11) The investigation into the Actial massacre resulted in the conviction of more than 70 people found to be directly involved in the attack. They received prison sentences ranging from 25 to 36 years for murder, causing bodily harm, and crimes related to the possession and use of firearms. Many of these sentences are still under appeal. Fourteen government officials were convicted and served sentences ranging from three to eight years after being found guilty of manslaughter, negligent injury, or firearms-related offenses. However, no senior officials, including members of the armed forces and federal authorities, were brought to justice despite being suspected of responsibility for these violations. For further details, see:
Amnesty International, "Justice Unfinished – Remembering the Acteal Massacre," Public Statement, 22 December 2007.
(12) Ibid.
(13) Fondation Danielle Mitterrand – France Libertés, “Les Chiapanèques (Chiapas, Mexique),” 16 June 2011, https://www.france-libertes.org/fr/peuples-autochtones/les-chiapaneques-chiapas-mexique
(14) Ibid. (15)France Libertés – Fondation Danielle Mitterrand, « Équateur: Project Tayak – Frontier de Vie – Communauté Sarayaku », August 17, 2009, https://www.france-libertes.org
(16)Fondation Yves Rocher,, «The expeditionists of the Grand Chemin des Fleurs Sisa Ñampi», 3 June 2016, https://sarayaku.org.
(17)France Libertés, “Equateur: Project Tayak – Frontier...op.Cit. p. 3.
(18)Frontière de Vie, “Sisa Ñampi (Frontière de Vie)”, https://www.frontieredevie.net/frontiere.html.
(19) Yves Rocher Fondation, “In the name of our partners “Atayak” and “Ishpingo”, the associations that our countries have in the market », Gardens of the Amazonian Garden, https://www.yves-rocher-fondation.org
(19)Ibid.
(20)France Libertés, “Equateur: Project Tayak – Frontier...op.Cit. p. 3.
(21) Pueblo Originario Kichwa de Sarayaku, “The Expeditionists of the Grand Chemin des Fleurs Sisa Ñampi,” published June 3, 2016 by Sarayaku, https://sarayaku.org.
(22)France Libertés, “Equateur: Project Tayak – Frontier…op.Cit. p. 3.
(23)International Working Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA). The Indigenous World 2025: Colombia. Copenhagen: IWGIA, 2025. https://www.iwgia.org/en/colombia.html
(24)Andrés Felipe López Galvis, the central one versus the “par le bas” in the rural area. Les Zones de Reserve Paysanne (ZRC) in Colombia between 1996 and 2018 (les cas du Pato-Balsillas in the Caquetá and du Nord du Cauca) (these of doctorat, Université Toulouse 2 – Jean Jaurès, 2019). P.183
(25)Ibid.p.189.
( 26)France Libertés – Fondation Danielle Mitterrand, “Colombie au Brésil, among people’s men,” October 12, 2017, https://www.france-libertes.org.
(27 )Ibid.
( 28)“Le Peuple Mapuche: Guerriers, Tisserands and Gardiens du Sud du Chili et de l'Argentine”, https://www.countryreports.org/fr/articles/the-mapuche-people; Leonardo Oliva, “Dans the sud du Chili and de l’Argentine, the “poudrière” mapuche”, CONNECTAS, July 7 2022, https://dialogue.earth/fr/
(29 )United Nations Human Rights Council, Exposing a joint statement with France Libertés - Foundation Danielle Mitterrand and Mouvement to combat racism and for people's lives (MRAP), Home Affairs Council, 21 a.m. session, A/HRC/21/NGO/54, 24 août 2012.
( 30)France Libertés, “Manifestation of soutien aux prisonniers politiques Mapuche au Chili”, 25 September 2012, https://www.france-libertes.org/
(31 )Ibid.
( 32)Global Witness, Deadly Environment: The Dramatic Rise in Killings of Environmental and Land Defenders, 2014,
( 33)Goldman Environmental Prize, Máxima Acuña (Peru), 2016 Goldman Prize Recipient.
https://www.goldmanprize.org/recipient/maxima-acuna/
France Libertés – Fondation Danielle Mitterrand, “Les industries extractives are threatened by the danger of people’s autochtones,” 2016.
(34 )Goldman Environmental Prize, Berta Cáceres (Honduras), 2015 Winner.
https://www.goldmanprize.org/recipient/berta-caceres/
Public Eye and France Libertés – Foundation Danielle Mitterrand, Stévia, a douceur on the market: The commercialization of educational institutions is the cause of the stévia and the roots of people’s guarani (Lausanne/Paris, 2015), p. 9.
( 35)Ibid, p. 24.
Ibid.p27.
( 36)La Rédaction, “Benki Ashaninka, chef in India du Brésil: “Malgré our efforts, the déboisement se pour suit in Amazonie” », VSD, 21 November 2008.
(37)Asháninka leader Benki Piyãko receives the Equator Prize, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), 2017.