DATE=1/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-224952
TITLE=MEXICO/CHIAPAS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JAMES BLEARS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN MEXICO, ANOTHER POLITICAL HEAD HAS ROLLED IN THE
AFTERMATH OF THE DECEMBER 22ND MASSACRE OF INDIGENOUS PEASANTS IN
THE SOUTHERN STATE OF CHIAPAS. THE GOVERNOR OF CHIAPAS, WHO IS A
MEMBER OF MEXICO'S RULING INSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTIONARY PARTY, PRI,
HAS RESIGNED AMIDST ACCUSATIONS THAT HIS STATE GOVERNMENT IGNORED
WARNINGS FROM THE CHURCH WHILE THE KILLINGS WERE UNDERWAY. JAMES
BLEARS REPORTS FROM MEXICO CITY.
TEXT: WEDNESDAY'S RESIGNATION OF GOVERNOR JULIO CESAR RUIZ FERRO
COMES IN THE WAKE OF THE DECEMBER 22ND MASSACRE OF 45 INDIAN
PEASANTS IN THE CHIAPAS HAMLET OF ACTEAL BY A GROUP OF
PARAMILITARY GUNMEN.
ON THAT DAY, THE VICAR OF SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, FATHER
GONZALO ITUARTE, HAD PHONED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO WARN THAT
THE KILLINGS WERE TAKING PLACE AFTER RECEIVING A PANIC-STRICKEN
CALL FROM A PEASANT NEAR THE SITE OF THE MASSACRE. FATHER
ITUARTE'S WARNING WAS RELAYED TO LOCAL POLICE, BUT IT WAS
IGNORED.
MR. RUIZ FERRO, WHO WAS IN OFFICE LESS THAN THREE YEARS, WAS
NEVER ELECTED GOVERNOR. HE REPLACED EDUARDO ROBLEDO RINCON WHO
RESIGNED IN FEBRUARY 1995 AS A RESULT OF THE ONGOING POLITICAL
PROBLEMS IN THE STATE RELATED TO THE 1994 UPRISING OF ZAPATISTA
INDIAN REBELS.
MR. RUIZ FERRO'S DEPARTURE FOLLOWS THE WEEKEND RESIGNATION OF
MEXICAN INTERIOR MINISTER EMILIO CHUAYFFET, WHO ALSO STEPPED DOWN
BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL FALLOUT RESULTING FROM THE DECEMBER 22ND
MASSACRE. MEXICO'S NEW INTERIOR MINISTER FRANCISCO LABASTIDA
OCHOA SAID WEDNESDAY THAT MR. RUIZ FERRO'S DECISION TO RESIGN WAS
HIS ALONE -- AND HAD NOT BEEN FORCED ON HIM BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL ACTION PARTY, PAN,
FELIPE CALDERON, WELCOMED THIS LATEST RESIGNATION. MR. CALDERON
SAID IT WAS NECESSARY FOLLOWING THE MASSACRE, WHICH HE DESCRIBED
AS A SHAMEFUL THING FOR THE COUNTRY.
REPORTS FROM CHIAPAS SAY THE LIKELY REPLACEMENT OF MR. RUIZ FERRO
IS FEDERAL CONGRESSMAN ROBERTO ALBORES GUILLEN. MR. ALBORES, WHO
IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE RULING PRI, IS LEADER OF THE CHIAPAS
FACTION IN MEXICO'S LOWER HOUSE OF DEPUTIES.
NEB/JB/WFR
07-Jan-98 6:43 PM EST (2343 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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