Who made the “Cocopa Law”, and what does this law say?
The so-called “Cocopa law” was drawn up in December of 1996 by legislators from the Commission of Concordance and Peace (Cocopa). The legislators belonged to the 4 most important political parties: the PRI, the PAN, the PRD and the PT. The zapatistas did not make this legislative proposal, rather the legislators did: those who make the laws in Mexico. The so-called “Cocopa law” takes up the most important of the first San Andre’s Accords, signed by the government and the EZLN in February of 1996: it recognizes the right of the indigenous peoples to inclusionary autonomy (that is, that their difference is recognized, but they continue to be Mexicans), without breaking national unity and respecting human rights, especially those of indigenous woman. It also notes that the indigenous peoples should be taken into account in decision-making which affects them. That their culture should be respected and promoted. And that there should be guarantees that their voice is listened to and heeded,
