DATE=1/16/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-38699
TITLE=U-S / MEXICO/ HUMAN RIGHTS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MELISSA WINKLER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS ARE URGING THE U-S GOVERNMENT TO
REVIEW MILITARY AID TO MEXICO, IN LIGHT OF CHARGES OF MEXICAN
ARMY AND STATE POLICE COMPLICITY IN VIOLENCE AGAINST INDIAN
PEASANTS IN THE IMPOVERISHED SOUTHERN STATE OF CHIAPAS. V-O-A'S
MELISSA WINKLER HAS THIS REPORT.
TEXT: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE
CALLED ON CONGRESS TO SCRUTINIZE U-S AID TO MEXICO AND KEEP A
CLOSER WATCH ON VIOLENCE IN CHIAPAS, WHERE ZAPATISTA REBELS ARE
DEMANDING GREATER DEMOCRACY AND INDIAN RIGHTS.
TESTIFYING AT A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING, HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SAID
LAST MONTH'S MASSACRE OF 45 PEASANTS IN THE CHIAPAS VILLAGE OF
ACTEAL WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THEY CITED DOZENS OF
CASES OF RAPE, TORTURE AND KILLINGS AND SAID PARAMILITARY GROUPS
ASSOCIATED WITH STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN LINKED TO
ALL OF THE ATTACKS.
THE GROUPS RAISED THE POSSIBILITY THAT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH
OF U-S EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING INTENDED TO BATTLE DRUG TRAFFICKING
ARE BEING USED IN THE ATTACKS. THE RIGHTS ADVOCATES URGED THE
UNITED STATES TO DEMAND MEXICO FULLY ACCOUNT FOR HOW THE AID HAS
BEEN USED. LUCIUS WALKER, WITH THE INTERRELIGIOUS FOUNDATION FOR
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, ISSUED THIS APPEAL.
// WALKER ACT //
WE URGE YOU TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE UNITED
STATES BY TAKING THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE MEASURES TO
ENSURE THAT U-S EQUIPMENT PROVIDED TO MEXICO FOR DRUG
INTERDICTION, NOT BE USED IN THE KILLING OF INNOCENT
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN CHIAPAS. THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT
MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE TERMS UNDER WHICH U-S
MILITARY AID IS PROVIDED AND FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS AND PEACE IN THE REGION.
// END ACT //
THE HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES ALSO ACCUSED THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT OF
TURNING A BLIND EYE TO (IGNORING) THE VIOLENCE IN CHIAPAS, SAYING
THE PARAMILITARY GROUPS HAVE BEEN ACTING WITH IMPUNITY. THE
GROUPS SAID MEXICAN MEDIA REPORTS SUGGEST MORE ATTACKS ARE
PLANNED AND THEY EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF HUMAN
RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WHO WORK ON BEHALF OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN
THE REGION.
JOEL SOLOMON OF HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH AND OTHER RIGHTS GROUPS AT THE
HEARING APPLAUDED MEXICO'S ARREST OF 47 PEOPLE IN CONNECTION WITH
THE DECEMBER MASSACRE. THEY ALSO NOTED THE INVESTIGATION OF 27
POLICE OFFICERS WHO ALLEGEDLY FIRED ON A CROWD IN THE CHIAPAS
TOWN OF OCOSINGO MONDAY THAT WAS CALLING FOR JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS
OF THE ACTEAL SLAUGHTER. BUT MR. SOLOMON SAID ARRESTS, CABINET
RESHUFFLES, AND OFFICIAL STATEMENTS OF CONDEMNATION ARE MERELY
COSMETIC GESTURES.
// SOLOMON ACT //
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DID STEP INTO
THE CASE IN ACTEAL, THE MASSACRE CASE. THAT IS
POSITIVE, BUT IT'S LIMITED. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS
TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF RURAL VIOLENCE, BROADLY IN
CHIAPAS -- AT ALL OF THE FACTORS. THEY NEED TO LOOK AT
THE BREAKDOWN OF STATE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE WAY IT'S BEEN
USED POLITICALLY AND ENSURE THAT THIS TYPE OF THING DOES
NOT TAKE PLACE IN THE FUTURE.
// END OPT //
THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT DENIES ANY FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT WITH THE
ATTACKS IN CHIAPAS, SAYING THOSE INVOLVED ARE LOCAL MEMBERS OF
THE RULING PARTY. BUT PRESIDENT ERNESTO ZEDILLO HAS PLEDGED TO
OVERHAUL THE STATE SECURITY SYSTEM IN CHIAPAS AND BRING THOSE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KILLINGS TO JUSTICE. (SIGNED)
NEB/MJW/KL
16-Jan-98 4:47 PM EST (2147 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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