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DATE=4/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229597
TITLE=MEXICO/CHIAPAS (L)
BYLINE=MICHAEL DRUDGE
DATELINE=SAN JOSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:    MEXICO HAS DEFENDED THE EXPULSION OF 12 MORE FOREIGNERS
FROM CHIAPAS STATE FOR ALLEGEDLY MEDDLING IN INTERNAL MEXICAN 
POLITICS.  AT THE SAME TIME, TWO INTERNATIONAL NEWS AGENCIES HAVE
PROTESTED THE POLICE BEATING OF PHOTOGRAPHERS IN CHIAPAS.  WE GET
MORE FROM V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT  MICHAEL DRUDGE.
TEXT:   THE MEXICAN FOREIGN SECRETARY, ROSARIO GREEN, SAYS THE 
LATEST EXPULSION OF 12 FOREIGNERS IS  NOT  AN ACT OF XENOPHOBIA, 
BUT A DEFENSE OF MEXICAN INSTITUTIONS.  SHE ADDRESSED THE 
QUESTION AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN MEXICO CITY MONDAY,FOLLOWING THE
WEEKEND DEPORTATION OF FOUR SPANIARDS, THREE AMERICANS, TWO 
BELGIANS, TWO CANADIANS AND A GERMAN.
THE FOREIGNERS ARE ACCUSED OF HELPING REBELLIOUS INDIANS SET UP 
AN INDEPENDENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN TANIPERLAS, A CHIAPAN VILLAGE 
NEAR THE GUATEMALAN BORDER.  HUNDREDS OF MEXICAN POLICE AND 
TROOPS RAIDED TANIPERLAS SATURDAY AND ARRESTED THE FOREIGNERS, 
ALONG WITH SEVERAL INDIGENOUS LEADERS.
MEXICO IS VIGOROUSLY ENFORCING CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS THAT 
FORBID FOREIGNERS FROM MEDDLING IN MEXICAN POLITICS.  MEXICO 
BELIEVES THE REBELLIOUS INDIAN MOVEMENT, LED BY THE ZAPATISTA 
NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY,POSES A THREAT TO NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY. 
CRACKDOWNS ON FOREIGNERS IN CHIAPAS HAVE INTENSIFIED SINCE 
DECEMBER WHEN APARAMILITARY GROUP WITH ALLEGED TIES TO THE 
CHIAPAS BRANCH OF MEXICO'S RULING PARTY KILLED 45 INDIANS IN A 
PRO-ZAPATISTA VILLAGE.
IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND THE FRENCH NEWS 
AGENCY A-F-P HAVE ISSUED A JOINT COMMUNIQUE ACCUSING POLICE OF 
AGGRESSION AGAINST THEIR PHOTOGRAPHERS IN CHIAPAS. A-P 
PHOTOGRAPHER PASCUAL GORRIZ MARCOS SAYS POLICE OPENED A GASH IN 
HIS HEAD WITH A RIFLE BUTT AS HE TOOK PHOTOS OF THE FOREIGNERS 
BEING PUT ON A PLANE BOUND FOR MEXICO CITY.  A-F-P PHOTOGRAPHER 
ORIANA GONZALEZ ELICABE SAYS POLICE ROUGHED HER UP WHEN THEY 
TRIED TO CONFISCATE HER FILM AND CAMERAS.  
THE CHIAPAS GOVERNMENT SAYS THE PHOTOGRAPHERS PROVOKED THE 
INCIDENT BY BITING AND KICKING A POLICEMEN, A CHARGE THE 
JOURNALISTS DENY.(SIGNED).
NEB/MWD/PT
13-Apr-98 8:33 PM EDT (0033 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.