DATE=2/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227223
TITLE=MEXICO/CHIAPAS (L)
BYLINE=JAMES BLEARS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A SENIOR CATHOLIC PRIEST IN MEXICO'S SOUTHERN STATE OF
CHIAPAS HAS DEFENDED THE PRESENCE FOREIGN HUMAN RIGHTS OBSERVERS
-- WHO ARE UNDER THREAT OF EXPULSION BY THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT.
THE REVEREND GONZALO ITUARTE, VICAR OF SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS
CASAS, IS ALSO CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO CLAMP DOWN ON
PARAMILITARY GROUPS. REPORTER JAMES BLEARS HAS MORE FROM MEXICO
CITY.
TEXT: AS A GROUP OF MORE THAN 100 INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS
OBSERVERS TOURS CHIAPAS, ROMAN CATHOLIC LEADERS HAVE DENIED
GOVERNMENT CHARGES FOREIGNERS ARE MEDDLING IN MEXICO'S INTERNAL
AFFAIRS.
THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEGUN DEPORTING FOREIGNERS ALLEGED TO
HAVE INTERFERED IN THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN CHIAPAS. FATHER
GONZALO ITUARTE IS A CHIAPAS-BASED PRIEST WHO SITS ON THE
INDEPENDENT PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION THAT IS TRYING TO
SETTLE A SIMMERING CONFLICT BETWEEN THE REGION'S MAYAN INDIANS
AND THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT.
FATHER ITUARTE SAYS FOREIGN OBSERVERS HELP FOCUS WORLD ATTENTION
ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CHIAPAS.
/// ITUARTE ACT NO. 1 ///
WE CONSIDER THAT FOREIGNERS COMING HERE DO NOT INTERFERE. THEY
COME BECAUSE THERE ARE PROBLEMS HERE AND BECAUSE MEXICO HAS
SIGNED INTERNATIONAL TREATIES ON HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE INDIANS ETC.
AND ALSO BECAUSE MEXICO HAS A VERY STRONG TRADITION OF PRESENCE
AND HELPING PEOPLE IN LATIN AMERICA FOR MANY YEARS.
/// END ACT ///
FATHER ITUARTE EXPLAINS THIS IS NOT JUST A QUESTION OF
POLITICS, BUT RATHER, A QUESTION OF HUMANITY.
/// ITUARTE ACT NO. 2 ///
WE CAN NOT BE JUST OBSERVERS WHEN THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE AND
THE FUTURE OF MEXICO AND THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF LATIN AMERICA
ARE AT STAKE. WE HAVE TO GET INVOLVED. WE ARE MEXICANS WITH THE
RIGHT, AND THE EVOCATION AND THE DEMAND OF CHRIST TO BE INVOLVED,
AND TO BE FIGHTING FOR THE DEMAND OF CHRIST TO BE INVOLVED AND TO
BE FIGHTING FOR THE LIFE OF OUR PEOPLE.
/// END ACT ///
FATHER ITUARTE WAS THE PRIEST WHO ON DECEMBER 22ND WARNED MEXICAN
AUTHORITIES THAT SHOTS WERE BEING HEARD IN ACTEAL VILLAGE IN
CHENALHO COUNTY. THE WARNING WENT UNHEEDED WHILE A PARAMILITARY
GROUP ALIGNED WITH THE RULING INSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTIONARY PARTY
KILLED 45 INDIAN PEASANTS.
FATHER ITUARTE SAYS PARAMILITARY GANGS ARE STILL IN THE FOOTHILLS
OF CHIAPAS, SPREADING TERROR AMONG THE PEASANTS AND CAUSING
INSTABILITY.
/// ITUARTE ACT NO. 3 ///
THE PARAMILITARY GROUPS ARE STILL ACTIVE, THEY STILL HAVE NOT
BEEN (DISARMED) BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE IMPUNITY OF THESE GROUPS
AND THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES -- NOT ONLY IN CHENALHO BUT
IN THE NORTHERN PART OF CHIAPAS -- LIVE UNDER FEAR OF VIOLENT
ATTACK BY THESE PARAMILITARY GROUPS.
/// END ACT ///
POLITICAL TENSIONS HAVE RUN HIGH IN CHIAPAS SINCE MORE THAN 140
PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN 1994 AS ZAPATISTA REBELS BEGAN AN
INSURRECTION FOR INCREASED PEASANT RIGHTS.
PEACE TALKS WERE BROKEN OFF IN 1996 BY THE ZAPATISTAS, WHO
ACCUSED THE GOVERNMENT OF RENEGING ON AGREEMENTS IT HAD SIGNED TO
GIVE MORE AUTONOMY TO INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.
MEXICO'S NEW INTERIOR MINISTER, FRANCISCO LABASTIDA OCHOA, HAS
CALLED FOR A MEETING WITH ZAPATISTA LEADER SUB-COMANDANTE MARCOS.
BUT THE PROPOSAL HAS BEEN IGNORED IN A CLIMATE OF MUTUAL
SUSPICION, VERBAL HOSTILITY, AND RECRIMINATION.
FATHER ITUARTE SAYS THE PROSPECT OF BOTH SIDES GETTING BACK TO
PEACE NEGOTIATING IN THE NEAR FUTURE IS REMOTE IF PARAMILITARY
VIOLENCE IS NOT ENDED. (SIGNED)
NEB/JB/RAE/MWD/TMD/JO
24-Feb-98 3:16 PM EST (2016 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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