Restoring the balance: Peace teams and violence reduction in Chiapas, Mexico. Contrasting approaches to nonviolent international solidarity Christian Peacemaker Teams, SIPAZ and Las Abejas

Two models of third party nonviolent intervention in Chiapas were studied in relation to local indigenous struggle. The study was carried out in 2001 through interviews, archival research and personal observation/participation.; Two sister peace team organizations, International Service for Peace (SIPAZ) and Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) seek to reduce violence and create political space in this southern Mexican state-the site of an indigenous rebellion since 1994. SIPAZ seeks to promote dialogue by building relationships with all sides in the conflict. CPT seeks to "get in the way" of injustice, allying themselves with Las Abejas, a nonviolent Mayan Catholic group, target of the 1997 Acteal massacre. Las Abejas support the goals of the Zapatista rebels while opposing armed struggle. This study explores violence and nonviolence, tells the story of these three groups, examining their impact through the voices of members, colleagues and opponents, and discusses the implications of their differing approaches.; The international presence, working with local indigenous communities and Mexican NGOs, has been a deterrent to violence. It also has helped create space for local groups to dialogue, carry out nonviolent action and work for human rights. Peace teams do this work through their presence in conflict zones, information dissemination, building nonviolent capacity, peace action and international advocacy.; SIPAZ and CPT employ contrasting approaches on the issue of nonpartisanship, adopting "political independence" and "taking sides," respectively, as part of their strategic focus. Both approaches can be effective in reducing violence and creating political space in the appropriate context. Conflict transformation as employed by SIPAZ and nonviolent direct action as employed by CPT and Las Abejas draw on related but distinct traditions within nonviolence.; Teachers are encouraged to teach about the costs of violence, tell the story of nonviolent movements, build capacity for nonviolent action, and practice nonviolent pedagogies. The transformational pedagogy of active nonviolence can form the basis for restoring the balance in societies that have been disrupted by violence.; Despite important differences in philosophy and strategy, SIPAZ, CPT and Las Abejas share a fundamental commitment to a nonviolent struggle for justice and a birthing of reconciliation.