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DATE=6/4/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233404
TITLE=MEXICO-CHIAPAS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=CINDY LAVANDEROS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:   THE MEXICAN STATE POLICE AND ARMY HAVE RAIDED ANOTHER 
INDIAN VILLAGE IN THE SOUTHERN STATE OF CHIAPAS, THE THIRD IN THE
PAST TWO MONTHS. WHILE THE GOVERNMENT CLAIMS THE RAID WAS LEGAL 
AND NON VIOLENT, NOT EVERYONE AGREES.  CINDY LAVANDEROS REPORTS 
FROM MEXICO CITY.
TEXT:   MEXICAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS HAVE CRITICIZED CHIAPAN 
STATE OFFICIALS FOR AUTHORIZING AN ATTACK ON THE SMALL INDIAN 
VILLAGE OF NICOLAS RUIZ EARLY WEDNESDAY. ONE THOUSAND ARMED 
POLICE OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS FORCED THEIR WAY INTO THE COMUNITY 
WHICH HAS BEEN GOVERNED BY THE OPPOSITION DEMOCRATIC 
REVOLUTIONARY PARTY SINCE 1994 WHEN THE ZAPATISTA REBELS BEGAN 
THEIR FIGHT FOR INDIAN RIGHTS. 
SECURITY FORCES BROKE DOWN DOORS, KICKED AND BEAT UP PEOPLE,  AND
ARRESTED AT LEAST 160  VILLAGERS.  PEOPLE CARRYING STICKS TRIED 
TO STOP THE INCURSION, BUT THEY SCATTERED AFTER TEAR GAS WAS 
FIRED FROM TWO HELICOPTERS.  
CHIAPAS STATE GOVERNOR ROBERTO ALBORES GUILLEN CLAIMS THE POLICE 
ACTED LEGALLY AND WITHOUT VIOLENCE. HE JUSTIFIED THE RAID BY 
BLAMING THE RESIDENTS FOR PREVIOUSLY EXPELLING 33 FAMILIES FROM 
THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT AGREE WITH THEIR OPINIONS. BUT
RAFAEL ALVAREZ OF THE PRO AGUSTIN JUAREZ HUMAN RIGHTS 
ORGANIZATION SAYS THE FAMILIES WERE NOT EXPELLED FROM THE 
VILLAGE. 
                     /// ALVAREZ SPANISH ACT ///
MR. ALVAREZ SAYS THE RESIDENTS VOTED DEMOCRATICALLY TO REMOVE THE
FAMILIES FROM THE LOCAL ASSEMBLY BECAUSE THEY SIDED WITH THE 
INTERESTS OF THE RICH LANDOWNERS RATHER THAN THOSE OF THE 
COMMUNITY. HE SAID RESIDENTS ALSO ACCUSED THE FAMILIES OF 
CREATING DIVISIONS WITHIN THE CLOSELY-KNIT INDIAN VILLAGE. HE 
CRITICIZED THE GOVERNMENT'S HANDLING OF THE CONFLICT, SAYING IT 
HAD NO RIGHT TO USE FORCE. 
                  /// ALVAREZ SPANISH ACT #2 ///
MR. ALVAREZ SAYS THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS AGGRAVATED TENSIONS IN 
THE CONFLICT-RIDDEN STATE.  HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER MARIO PATRON HAS 
ALSO DENOUNCED THE GOVERNMENT RAID AS ILLEGAL.  
                   ///  PATRON SPANISH ACT /// 
MR. PATRON  SAYS AUTHORITIES HAD ONLY SIX ARREST WARRANTS, THE 
REST OF PEOPLE WERE ARBITRARILY DETAINED.  AS OF THURSDAY, THE 
HUMANRIGHTS ACTIVISTS SAID AT LEAST 16 INDIANS WERE STILL BEING 
HELD. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT 
04-Jun-98 10:36 PM EDT (0236 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.