La Montaña crosses the sea to the first free territory of America
By: Elio Henríquez
San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas
Subcomandante Galeano affirmed that Ludwig, captain of the ship named La Montaña, which carries the maritime delegation of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional, EZLN) to Europe, recommended setting sail on May 2 and not May 3, “thinking of his passengers, as it should be.”
In a communiqué titled “On the Sea,” [1] he added that: “the heavy sea forecast for the 3rd was going to make novices [email protected] suffer [email protected] more than necessary. That’s why the captain proposed moving up the departure” for Cuba, the first free territory in America.
Alluded to the fact that: “Subcomandante Insurgente Moisés listened to him and agreed. So, now that it’s customary to use the word ‘historical’ for anything, it’s the first time that Zapatismo has dome something programmed before it was announced (we usually get hung up and start late). Ergo: it’s something historical in Zapatismo.”
He stated that the Squadron 421, made up of four women, two men and one non-binary person (“unoa otroa”), set sail at 4:11 pm on May 2, and is scheduled to dock in June “on the coasts of the port of Vigo, Spain.”
Galeano presented “two different reports on the same stretch of navigation,” from the ship that sailed from the Isle of Women (Islas Mujeres), in the state of Quintana Roo.
“Report from Squadron 421 to the Zapatista high command: itinerary of the ship La Montaña. The hours are given in the official time of Mexico City. May 2, 2021. At 4:11 pm, La Montaña began her journey at a speed of four knots. At 4:21:30 she headed south-southeast and, at 5:23:04 pm La Montaña began a gentle curve to the east. At 5:24 pm she executed maneuvers to deploy all her sails. The crew, with support from Squadron 421, was hoisting the sails; 10 minutes later she continued the turn and headed towards the east. She completed the curve and headed northeast, arriving at the island.
At dawn on May 3 it said: “At 1:42 am, La Montaña approaches the coasts of Cuba. A few miles southwest of Cabo Corrientes, the captain decides to enter the bay. On May 4, 2021, he restarted his navigating, now in a west-southwest direction. At 5:45:30 pm, off Cabo Corrientes, he heads south-southeast. The last report received is at 11:16 pm on May 5. He’s heading towards Cienfuegos, Cuba, to arrive there on May 6.”
In Cienfuegos, he affirmed, La Montaña will have to refuel and dock for a few days. It is reported that Squadron 421 is doing well and getting adjusted, “without gummies and only mild dizziness.”
[1] Photos and several music videos are attached to the communiqué “On the Sea/Sobre El Mar.” Here are the links:
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Originally Published in Spanish by La Jornada on May 8, 2021
https://www.jornada.com.mx/2021/05/08/politica/011n1pol/
Re-Published with English interpretation by the Chiapas Support Committee
Chiapas Support Committee 