ITES-ZINE 2001
Years now follow Ethiopian Calendar

Police brutality in Cuba Blessings, please visit this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EYVz5jVNLQ  Placetas, Cuba. An inedited video published by the Directorio Democratico Cubano ( Cuban Democratic Directory) showing the aggressions by the Cuban government repressive forces against three peaceful human rights activists in Cuba while walking on the street towards a house of another human rights activist.  The images captured in Placetas, Villa Clara, show Donaida Perez Paseiro, Damaris Moya Portieles y Yaite Cruz Sosa, all members of the Rosa Parks Feminist Movement for the Civil Rights were stopped by the police, dragged and taken by force to the police station away from the camera.  In the video we can hear people shouting ‘Down the dictatorship’ ‘respect our human rights’ 'Abusers'. After the images we can hear the voice of one of the women activists describing the horrific experiences they had when taken to the police station. She tells how she was dragged to the police car, receiving punches to her face, having her lips cut. Donaida Perez was kicked on her ribs while being told by the policeman ‘Shut up nigger’. They were taken to the special police centre where political prisoners are lock up, and were beaten up badly. They were kept there for more than three hours.  This video shows only a fragment of the situation many activists and human rights fighters suffer on the everyday basis in Cuba. For those who support Castro regime, think again, many of our people are suffering, repressed and kept in a subliminal cage.

Exhibition at Etiopía Train Station, Mexico  Blessings sister.   InI send the news about the project, just is not translate, the project is in Spanish, InI hope that one breda or sista can translate for all the Rasta community because InI don't talk English nothing well.   We are victorious in this time, we won a space to show our Rasta culture inside of the Train Station with a exhibition.. This show will be permanent, and will be  a great advance for all Rasta people.   InI hope that you can read the attachment send and put it in your Rasta Ites site.   Many many thanks for all sister.   InI send blessings and JAH love from this African heart. One huge!   Sista Jahzara Amlak Issacar

Below is attached a brief documentation on cultural relations between Mexico and Ethiopia: "The historic visit of the Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie I to Mexico in June 1954, is still held n the collective memory of the Mexican people, gaining the affection and admiration of all who had the opportunity to meet him personally. This friendly relationship between the two nations began when Ethiopia was attacked by Benito Mussulini's fascist forces in 1935, under the legal representation of the Mexican diplomatic Isidro Fabela, Mexico became one of the few countries which stood up in the Ethiopia's cause at the League of Nations. At that time, the Mexican nation ruled by Lázaro Cárdenas, who lead the country in a firm stance in the defense of human rights and world peace. Since that historic visit, relations were established between Mexico and Ethiopia, not only a friendly relationship, but also cultural exchanges organised by the Ethiopian-Mexican Relation Institute. In addition a public school was created  named Ethiopia, the Ethiopia Plaza was also built. This is now reduced to a station on Line 3 of the Mexico City Train Service. Here in June 22 1954 the Emperor unveiled a plaque, that for some strange reason, has gone missing at this present time. "(Pive Dread)  Petition: Greetings. Blessings Brothers and Sisters, this message is to request your prompt assistance to protect our cultural and spiritual legacy that is being torn from our community. Recently the Mexico City Government proposed and intends to change the name of the Train Station called "Ethiopia". (Mexico) to "Plaza de Transparencia", therefore we request your urgent support to file  a complaint and stop these changes that will undoubtedly affect our heritage as sons and daughters of Rastafari in Mexico. We request your support by signing the petition which will subsequently be submitted to the appropriate authorities and the manager of the station. It should be clear why it is important to preserve for InI this monumental heritage and we request the assistance of ones and ones to keep alive our cultural heritage. This is the link where you can read the complete article that appeared yesterday in the newspaper El Universal: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/586753.html (in Spanish) http://www.mexico-etiopia.blogspot.com website (in Spanish) Imail your support to metro_etiopia@hotmail.com  Sign the petition Respectfullly yours  ORGANIZACIÓN RASTAFARI  ESTRELLA NEGRA MÉXICO  (Black Star Line, Rastafari organizacion)