DATE=4/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229140
TITLE=MEXICO/CHIAPAS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JAMES BLEARS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: MEXICO'S CHIEF NEGOTIATOR IN THE UNRESOLVED CHIAPAS
CONFLICT IS ACCUSING A PEACE COMMISSION LED BY ROMAN CATHOLIC
OFFICIALS OF BIAS IN FAVOR OF ZAPATISTA REBELS. JAMES BLEARS
REPORTS FROM MEXICO CITY.
TEXT: MORE THAN FOUR-YEARS AFTER THE ZAPATISTA CONFLICT FLARED,
NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE INDIAN REBEL MOVEMENT AND THE MEXICAN
GOVERNMENT HAVE REACHED A STALEMATE OVER THE INTERPRETATION OF AN
AGREEMENT SIGNED IN 1996.
THE ZAPATISTAS, WHO ARE LED BY MASKED, PIPE-SMOKING SUB-COMMANDER
MARCOS, INSIST ON AUTONOMY FOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THEY SAY
THEY REPRESENT. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL GRANT THE INDIANS
EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC RIGHTS, AND LOCAL POLITICAL
ASSEMBLIES, BUT CHIAPAS MUST REMAIN PART OF MEXICO.
A PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION LED BY ROMAN CATHOLIC
OFFICIALS HAS BEEN TRYING TO BRIDGE THE DIFFERENCES. BUT THE
GOVERNMENT APPEARS TO NO LONGER TRUST THE COMMISSION, KNOWN BY
THE SPANISH ACRONYM "CONAI."
THE GOVERNMENT'S COORDINATOR FOR DIALOGUE AND NEGOTIATIONS IN
CHIAPAS, EMILIO RABASA, ACCUSES CONAI OF ABUSING ITS NEUTRALITY
BY SEEKING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR AN ISSUE THE GOVERNMENT SEES
AS AN INTERNAL MEXICAN AFFAIR.
/// INSERT RABASA ENGLISH ACT ///
WHAT CONCERNS US MORE IS THAT THEY HAVE NOW BEEN
DEVELOPING A LINE OF ACTION THROUGH WHICH THEY ARE
SEEKING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT, AND BY INTERNATIONAL
SUPPORT I DON'T MEAN SUPPORT BY NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS, BUT EVEN BY GOVERNMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS. WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS. THIS WAS NOT PART
OF THE DEAL WHEN WE RECOGNIZED CONAI AS THE INTERMEDIATE
COMMISSION BETWEEN THE PARTIES.
/// END ACT ///
WITH THE PEACE TALKS FROZEN, THE MEXICAN SENATE IS CONSIDERING A
PLAN PUT FORWARD BY PRESIDENT ERNESTO ZEDILLO TO IMPROVE RESPECT
FOR INDIANS RIGHTS AND PUMP BILLIONS OF PESOS OF DEVELOPMENT AID
INTO CHIAPAS.
BUT MR. RABASA SAYS THE ZEDILLO PLAN DOES NOT FORECLOSE
RESUMPTION OF TALKS WITH SUB COMMANDER MARCOS.
/// INSERT RABASA ENGLISH ACT ///
I AM STILL OPEN TO MEET WITH HIM AND AS A MATTER OF FACT
PROPOSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE FACT THAT THE BILL IS
IN CONGRESS DOES NOT PREVENT THIS POSSIBILITY OF A
MEETING. THERE ARE OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA THAT HAVE
TO BE DISCUSSED.
/// END ACT ///
CONAI DENIES ANY BIAS IN FAVOR OF THE ZAPATISTAS, SAYING IT
SIMPLY WANTS TO HELP ALL THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF CHIAPAS. CONAI
OFFICIALS STRESS ANY AGREEMENT HAS TO INCLUDE BOTH SIDES. THE
OFFICIALS DECLINED TO COMMENT FURTHER ON THE ISSUE. (SIGNED).
NEB/JB/MWD/TMD/RAE
02-Apr-98 2:31 PM EST (1931 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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