[Deathwatch] Comandante Ramona, Female Mexican Zapatista Leader, 47

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Female Mexican Zapatista Leader Dies at 47

Female Mexican Zapatista Leader Dies After Decade-Long Struggle With
Kidney Disease
The Associated Press

MEXICO CITY - Comandante Ramona, a leader of Mexico's Zapatista rebel
movement and an advocate for women's rights, died on Friday after a
decade-long struggle with a kidney disease, rebel leader Subcomandante
Marcos said.

Ramona was believed to be about 47 years old, but like most of the
rebel leaders she did not reveal her age or name.

Few details are known about her life, other than that she was a Tzotzil
Indian who joined the rebel movement sometime before its January 1994
armed uprising and rose to prominence in its ranks.

Often visibly frail, Ramona became an advocate within the Zapatista
movement for women's rights and a promoter of traditional handicrafts.

Marcos announced Ramona's death in an emotional statement at a stop in
Chiapas state during his six-month, nationwide tour to build a new
leftist movement.

"The world has lost one of those women it requires," Marcos said.
"Mexico has lost one of the combative women it needs and we, we have
lost a piece of our heart."

Marcos called off the tour's planned appearances in order to attend
Ramona's funeral, expected to be held in the Chiapas state town of
Oventic over the weekend.

Many thanks to Deathwatch Central for posting this obituary