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DATE=2/28/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227415
TITLE=MEXICO / CHIAPAS
BYLINE=CINDY LAVANDEROS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WHO JUST RETURNED 
FROM CHIAPAS, MEXICO, SAY THE SITUATION IN THAT COUNTRY'S 
SOUTHERN STATE IS MORE DRAMATIC THAN THEY HAD IMAGINED. THE 
ACTIVISTS WILL PRESENT A REPORT ON THEIR FINDINGS IN THEIR 
RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES WITHIN 15 DAYS . MORE FROM CINDY LAVANDEROS 
IN MEXICO CITY.
TEXT: A STATEMENT ISSUED TO THE PRESS TODAY BY 210 INTERNATIONAL 
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS SAID PEOPLE FEAR THE CONFLICT IN CHIAPAS 
COULD LAST INDEFINITELY.
AFTER THEIR VISIT TO THE REMOTE AREAS OF STATE, THE OBSERVORS 
EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERN OVER THE SITUATION OF THOUSANDS OF 
REFUGEES WHO HAVE  FLED THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF PARAMILITARY 
VIOLENCE. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THE GROWING
MILITARIZATION OF THE AREA, THE GENERAL LACK OF TRUST IN THE 
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE INCREASING HUMAN RIGHTS 
VIOLATIONS, ESPECIALLY AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
DURING THEIR 15 DAY VISIT TO MEXICO, THE ACTIVISTS MET WITH 
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS,  PEASANT AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND HUMAN 
RIGHTS ACTIVISTS. THEY
REGRETED, HOWEVER, THAT NEITHER PRESIDENT ZEDILLO NOR AN ARMY 
OFFICIAL WOULD TALK WITH THEM.
DELEGATION ORGANIZER IGNACIO GARCIA SAID HE WAS GREATLY SADDENED 
BY THE ASSASSINATION OF JOSE TILA, A 23-YEAR-OLD PEASANT LEADER.
          ////INSERT GARCIA SPANISH ACT HERE AND FADE UNDER///
HE SAID MR. TILA WALKED SIX HOURS TO TALK WITH THEM ABOUT THE 
DRAMATIC CONDITIONS OF HIS COMMUNITY BUT WAS KILLED TWO HOURS 
LATER ON HIS WAY HOME.
CANADIAN DELEGATE CLAUDE RIOUX SAYS THE SITUATION IN CHIAPAS IS 
WORSE THAN IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO WHEN HE LAST VISITED. HE SAYS NOW
THERE ARE TWO TIMES AS MANY REFUGEES WHO LACK FOOD AND MEDICINE 
AND LIVE IN FEAR.
MR. RIOUX WAS ASKED ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S RECENT EXPULSION OF 
FOUR FOREIGNERS ACCUSED OF INTERFERING IN MEXICAN POLITICS, 
                         ///   RIOUX ACT   ///
         I UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS THE 
         MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM IN CHIAPAS RIGHT NOW.
MR. RIOUX  SAYS THE GREATEST PROBLEM IN CHIAPAS IS POVERTY AND 
THERE IS NOT MUCH THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING TO RESOLVE IT. (SIGNED)
NEB/SD
28-Feb-98 7:22 PM EST (0022 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.