DATE=4/3/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-229200 TITLE=MEXICO/CHIAPAS (L) BYLINE=MICHAEL DRUDGE DATELINE=SAN JOSE CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: MEXICAN AUTHORITIES HAVE ARRESTED A RETIRED ARMY GENERAL IN CONNECTION WITH LAST DECEMBER'S MASSACRE OF 45 INDIAN PEASANTS IN CHIAPAS STATE. V-O-A'S CENTRAL AMERICA CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE HAS MORE. TEXT: THE ARREST OF RETIRED GENERAL JULIO CESAR SANTIAGO DIAZ COMES AMID ALLEGATIONS ARMY PERSONNEL WERE INVOLVED IN THE DECEMBER 22ND MASSACRE THAT KILLED 45 INDIAN PEASANTS, ALL BUT NINE OF THEM WOMEN AND CHILDREN. SHORTLY BEFORE REVEALING THE ARREST OF GENERAL SANTIAGO DIAZ, PROSECUTORS ANNOUNCED THEY ARE QUESTIONING AN ARMY SOLDIER WHO ALLEGEDLY PROVIDED TRAINING AND AUTOMATIC RIFLES TO THE ACCUSED ATTACKERS. GENERAL SANTIAGO DIAZ WAS CHIEF ADVISER TO CHIAPAS STATE POLICE AT THE TIME OF THE MASSACRE IN ACTEAL VILLAGE IN THE CHIAPAN HIGHLANDS. PROSECUTORS SAY THE GENERAL HID FOR FIVE HOURS WITHIN EARSHOT OF THE ATTACK, BUT TOLD SENIOR STATE OFFICIALS NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. HE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE AND DERELICTION OF DUTY. THE SOLDIER UNDER QUESTIONING IS IDENTIFIED AS MARIANO PEREZ RUIZ, AGE 23 AND A NATIVE OF CHENALO COUNTY ///TRANS: MUNICIPALIDAD/// WHERE ACTEAL IS LOCATED. HE IS SUSPECTED OF TRAINING SOME OF THE GUNMEN WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR DIRECTLY PARTICIPATING IN THE MASSACRE. THE ACTEAL MASSACRE SHOCKED MEXICO. THE FEDERAL INTERIOR SECRETARY AND THE CHIAPAS STATE GOVERNOR HAD TO RESIGN IN THE AFTERMATH, AS SURVIVORS BLAMED THE KILLING ON SUPPORTERS OF THE RULING INSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTIONARY PARTY. LONG-SIMMERING RESENTMENT AMONG CHIAPAS'S MAJORITY INDIAN POPULATION BOILED OVER IN JANUARY 1994 WHEN ZAPATISTA REBELS TOOK UP ARMS TO FIGHT FOR INDIAN RIGHTS. THE GOVERNMENT AND ZAPATISTAS SIGNED A PEACE ACCORD IN 1996 BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO TALKS FOR 18 MONTHS. (SIGNED). NEB/MWD/WDC/KL 03-Apr-98 3:05 PM EST (2005 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
