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DATE=6/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233606
TITLE=MEXICO / REBEL CONFRONTATION (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=CINDY LAVANDEROS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:   MEXICAN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE INVESTIGATING 
WHAT OFFICIALS SAY WAS A CLASH BETWEEN THE ARMY AND REBELS IN THE
TOWN OF AYUTLA IN THE PACIFIC COAST STATE OF GUERRERO SUNDAY.  
OFFICIAL FIGURES REPORT 11 REBELS DIED, FIVE WOUNDED AND 21 
PEOPLE ARRESTED.  WE GET MORE FROM CINDY LAVANDEROS IN MEXICO 
CITY.
TEXT:  QUESTIONS ARE BEING RAISED BY REPORTERS AND HUMAN RIGHTS 
ACTIVISTS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE REMOTE TOWN OF AYUTLA LAST 
SUNDAY.
THE DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS AN ARMY PATROL DISCOVERED MEMBERS OF 
THE POPULAR REVOLUTIONARY ARMY, KNOWN AS THE E-P-R, IN A 
SCHOOLHOUSE IN AYUTLA, IN THE MOUNTAINS OF GUERRERO STATE, ABOUT 
275 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF MEXICO CITY.
THE ARMY SAYS A SIX-HOUR CLASH ERUPTED AFTER THE REBELS REFUSED 
TO LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS.
BUT MEXICAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS ARE EXPRESSING DOUBTS ABOUT 
THE OFFICIAL VERSION.  EDGAR CORTES IS DIRECTOR OF THE AGUSTIN 
PRO JUAREZ HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION.
         ///INSERT CORTES SPANISH ACT AND FADE UNDER///
MR. CORTES WONDERS IF IT WAS A CONFRONTATION OR AN EXECUTION.  HE
POINTS OUT THAT AFTER SIX HOUR OF FIGHTING, THERE WAS NOT A 
SINGLE ARMY CASUALTY, DESPITE THE LARGE QUANTITY OF REBEL 
WEAPONRY THE ARMY SAYS IT CAPTURED.
HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE SENDING INVESTIGATORS TO AYUTLA.  
THEY WILL TRY TO INTERVIEW VILLAGERS WHO FLED AFTER THE ARMY 
INCURSION.  
ADDING TO THE SPECULATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN AYUTLA, THE ARMY
KEPT JOURNALISTS OUT OF THE TOWN FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS AFTER THE
INCIDENT. THE ARMY ALSO HAS RESTRICTED ACCESS TO THE SCHOOLHOUSE 
WHERE THE SHOOTOUT TOOK PLACE AND TO THE MORGUE IN NEARBY 
ACAPULCO.  THE DEFENSE MINISTRY HAS NOT ELABORATED ON ITS 
ORIGINAL STATEMENT DESPITE THE NEW QUESTIONS THAT ARE SURFACING.
THE E-P-R FIRST APPEARED IN JUNE 1996, A YEAR AFTER 17 PEASANTS 
WERE GUNNED DOWN BY LOCAL POLICE WHILE THEY WERE GOING TO A 
RALLY.  THE REBEL GROUP SAYS IT IS FIGHTING TO PUT AN END TO SUCH
VIOLENCE AND TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE STATE'S LARGELY 
INDIGENOUS POPULATION.  (SIGNED).
NEB/CL/MWD/TMD/PT
09-Jun-98 4:29 PM EDT (2029 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.