A Film by Nick Higgins

On December 22, 1997, in the southernmost Mexican province of Chiapas, 45 indigenous residents of Acteal, who had taken refuge in the village church, were massacred by paramilitary troops. Most of those killed were children and women (five of them pregnant).

A massacre foretold chronicles these historic events, including the 1994 emergence of the Zapatistas, the Mexican army's attacks on rural peasant communities — involving destruction of homes, forced displacement of entire communities, and "disappearances" and murders meant to terrorize the indigenous population — and government "negotiations" with the Zapatistas.

In addition to archival footage — including scenes of those seeking refuge in the church photographed just hours before they were killed, as well as meetings between Zapatista and Mexican government representatives, and comments by Zapatista Subcomandante Marcos — the film features moving interviews with massacre survivors and eyewitnesses, the Bishop of Chiapas, human rights activists, and a lawyer for Las Abejas.

Free - All Welcome

November 8th, 2009, 2:00 PM

Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh (ACE)

More information about the venue: www.autonomous.org.uk

17 West Montgomery Place,

Edinburgh

EH7 5HA