<nettime> The Mothers of Juarez's Letter to Eve Ensler

[coco fusco <animas999@yahoo.com>]

As some of you may be aware, Feburary 14th has been
declared V-Day by some American feminist groups who
work with the playwright Eve Ensler. V-Day is
supposedly designed to raise awareness about violence
against women and girls in the world. Ensler's
organization decided a few months ago to call for a
march in Juarez this coming Feb. 14, supposedly to
support "the women of Juarez." 

However, as often happens when political causes in
poor countries are taken over by  powerful, affluent
and politically connected women in America, the actual
victims of the violence an their families who have
been struggling for justice for a decade have been
completely overlooked in the process. The rituals of
public mourning that these mothers have developed over
the past decade were igmored in favor of the
imposition of Ensler's play,"The Vagina Monologues" as
a protest template.

 No mothers of the disappeared and murdered women of
Juarez were asked to join the planning of V-Day, nor
were their demands and concerns ever taken on board by
the "American activists" who support women's rights.
The tactical necessity that the mothers of the victims
protagonize this struggle for justice was ignored by
V-Day. The political reality is that the families'
struggle IS NOT about confronting sexual taboos or
about domestic abuse, but about demanding that the
perpetrators of a decade of serial rapes and murders,
who are among the most wealthy and powerful and
politically connected members of the Mexican elite, be
punished for their crimes instead of protected by the
Mexican authorities. 

Instead of focussing on these pressing political
matters, V-day organizers have simply called upon the
mothers at last minute to invite them to be
figureheads at the front of marches and in the front
row of a presentation of Ensler's "The Vagina
Monologues."

Below is a letter to Eve Ensler from BRING OUR
DAUGHTERS HOME about their own plans for V-Day.



VERSION IN ENGLISH FOLLOWS

15 de enero, 2004

Estimada Eve Ensler,

Como la única organización de madres y familiares de
mujeres desaparecidas y asesinadas en Ciudad Juárez
dedicada a lograr justicia, Nuestras Hijas de Regreso
a Casa, queremos deslindarnos de algunos de los actos
que se están organizando en torno al V-Day el 14 de
febrero con su presencia y capacidad de convocatoria.

 

Consideramos que el estado de ánimo de las personas
realmente afectadas por la pérdida de la vida de
nuestras hijas y hermanas, no es de verbena para
recaudar fondos con personas de posición social
acomodada, que en realidad están protegidas y son
inmunes al peligro y al dolor cotidianos que a
nosotras sí nos amenazan.


La destrucción de la vida de casi 400 mujeres y de un
número incalculable de desaparecidas  en casi once
años en Ciudad Juárez nada tiene que ver con la
violencia "familiar" ni con las violaciones y
maltratos a los que estamos expuestas todas las
mujeres, en general por hombres cercanos o conocidos.

Los secuestradores y los asesinos de nuestras hijas y
hermanas son desconocidos de la familia y de las
propias víctimas y, después de diez años de impunidad,
tenemos razones para pensar que están protegidos.

Nuestro duelo no terminará hasta que se haga justicia.

 Con el ánimo de recordar a nuestras mujeres ausentes
y de compartir entre todas el amor y el dolor que nos
alientan, hemos organizado para el día 14 una serie de
actos, a los que nos gustaría que usted se sumara:

  -Marcha en silencio del puente Sta Fe a Catedral,
con pancartas exigiendo justicia y fin a la impunidad.
A las 11 de la mañana nos reuniremos en el puente a
recibir a la comitiva que viene de Estados Unidos. 

-Misa de difuntas, a la una de la tarde en Catedral,
que coincide con la fecha del secuestro de Lilia
Alejandra García Andrade, hija de la cofundadora de
NHRC, Norma Andrade. Se pedirá al obispo que oficie de
acuerdo con la liturgia escogida por  madres y
hermanas.

- Mesa de discusión, con participantes de la sociedad
civil y de instituciones gubernamentales, sobre el
estado actual de injusticia e inseguridad. (Pendiente
de lugar -probablemente el Centro Municipal de las
Artes- y hora.) 

- Obra de teatro "Las mujeres de Cd. Juárez" de Rubén
Amavizca (Los Angeles), en el Centro Municipal de las
Artes, con diálogo al final.

Y por último, queremos invitarle a acompañarnos en una
rueda de prensa en la que convocaremos a una vigilia,
después de las ocho de la tarde, en el campo o lote
baldío donde se encontró siete días después de su
desaparición, el cuerpo de Lilia Alejandra hace tres
años, para que cada persona acuda con una vela y
dibujemos entre todas y todos una cruz gigante que
ilumine el recuerdo de nuestras muertas.

Por su reconocido trabajo contra la violencia a las
mujeres y el respeto que usted nos merece, hemos
querido ponernos en contacto para comunicarle que lo
que ha pasado en nuestra ciudad con la vida de las
mujeres es un crimen contra la humanidad y va mucho
más allá de una violencia cotidiana y discriminatoria.

Sin justicia, ninguna aportación en dinero de las
“buenas conciencias” podrá aliviar nuestro dolor y
nuestra indignación.

Le invitamos a que participe en nuestros actos en
solidaridad con nuestra lucha.

Sería además un gusto para las madres de NHRC poder
tener una conversación con usted personalmente.


Un saludo afectuoso,

 

 Por Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa:

 

Norma Andrade y Marisela Ortiz



ENGLISH VERSION


January 15, 2004

Dear Eve Ensler,

Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa  (Bring  Our
Daughters  Home) is the only organization consisting
of mothers and families of the disappeared and
assassinated women of Juarez that is dedicated to
seeking justice. We would like to set ourselves apart
from and discuss some of the actions that are being
organized under the auspices of your event “V-Day”
that will involve your presence and that rely for
their success on your ability to draw public
attention.

We think that the emotional state of those affected by
the loss of the lives of our daughters and sister does
not permit them to enjoy fundraiser celebrations on
the order of dances that target affluent and socially
connected people. In reality, those people are
protected and immune from the daily dangers and pain
that do indeed imperil us.
 
The destruction of the lives of nearly 400 women and
an incalculable number of disappearances over the past
eleven years in Juarez have nothing to do with
domestic violence, nor do they have anything to do
with the harassment and violence that all women are
exposed to in general by men who are close to and
known to them.
The kidnappers and assassins of our daughters and
sisters are men who are not members of the families of
the victims, and, after ten years of impunity, we have
good reasons to think that they are protected by the
authorities and/or the political regime.

Our mourning will not end until there is justice.

In the spirit of remembrance of the women who are no
longer with us and to share with all the love and pain
that inspire and encourage us, we have organized a
series of actions for February 14th and we would like
to you participate in them in support of us:

- A silent march from the Santa Fe Bridge to the
Cathedral, in which we will carry signs demanding
justice and the end of impunity. At 11am in the
morning we will be at the Bridge to meet the
procession coming from the US.          (translator’s
note: This is the same march that is already
officially part of the V Day event.)
 
- Memorial mass for the deceased, at 1pm at the
Cathedral. Please note that Feb. 14 is the anniversary
of the kidnapping of Lilia Alejandra Garcia Andrade,
the daughter of the co-founder of NHRC, Norma Andrade.
We will ask the presiding bishop to read from the
liturgy chose by the mothers and the sisters of the
deceased.

- Round table discussion with members of civil society
and governmental institutions about the current state
of injustice and insecurity. The place for this
meeting has not yet been chosen but it will probably
be at the Municipal Art Center.

- Presentation of the theater work, “The Women of
Juarez” by Ruben Amavizca, at the Municipal Art Center
with a post-performance discussion.

Finally, we invite you to join us for a press
conference in which we will convoke a vigil, beginning
at 8pm, at the vacant lot where, seven days after her
disappearance, the body of Lilia Alejandra was found
three years ago. Each person should attend with a
candle so that together we form a giant cross that
will illuminate the remembrance of our deceased women.
 
For your recognized work against violence against
women, and in light of the respect that you are due,
we have wanted to contact you directly to communicate
to you that what has happened in our city with respect
to the lives of women is a crime against humanity that
goes far beyond the everyday experiences of violence
and discrimination.

Without justice, no amount of funding from those of
good conscience can alleviate our pain and our
indignation. 

We ask that you participate in our actions in
solidarity with our struggle.

The mothers of Bring Our Daughters Home would also
like to have a personal conversation with you when you
are in Juarez.

Cordially,

For Bring Our Daughters Home:

Norma Andrade y Marisela Ortiz

http://www.geocities.com/pornuestrashijas/
nuestras_hijas@yahoo.com.mx
Calle Privada de Casas Grandes  No. 6218
Cd. Juárez, Chihuahua, México

Tels     (656) 620 4599

Cel:     656 638 5640


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