DATE=6/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234234
TITLE=MEXICO / REBELS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=CINDY LAVANDEROS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN MEXICO, INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE DEATHS OF 11 ALLEGED
REBELS IN WESTERN GUERRERO STATE EARLIER THIS MONTH HAVE PRODUCED
CONTRADICTORY CONCLUSIONS. AUTHORITIES SAY THE REBELS DIED IN A
CONFRONTATION WITH SECURITY FORCES WHILE HUMAN RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS SAY THEY WERE EXECUTED. DETAILS FROM CINDY
LAVANDEROS IN MEXICO CITY.
TEXT: THE FEDERAL ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE HAS REJECTED REPORTS
THAT SOLDIERS EXECUTED 11 REBELS DURING A RAID ON A SCHOOLHOUSE
IN EL CHARCO, 100 KILOMETERS EAST OF ACAPULCO, ON JUNE 7TH.
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSE LUIS RAMOS SPOKE AT A NEWS
CONFERENCE THURSDAY.
// INSERT RAMOS (SPANISH) ACT HERE AND FACE UNDER //
MR. RAMOS SAYS THERE IS NOT A SINGLE PIECE OF EVIDENCE THAT
POINTS TO A MASSACRE COMMITTED BY THE ARMY. HE SAYS REBEL FORCES
CAME OUT SHOOTING AFTER REFUSING TO SURRENDER. HE ADDS THAT
FORENSIC TESTS INDICATED ALL THE REBELS WHO DIED AND THE TWO WHO
ARE IN CUSTODY HAD FIRED THEIR WEAPONS.
BUT HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE REACHED A DIFFERENT
CONCLUSION. IN A REPORT ENTITLED "EL CHARCO: ANOTHER MILITARY
MASSACRE," WITNESSES WHO WERE IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE AT THE TIME OF
THE RAID SAY THE ARMY BEGAN FIRING BEFORE REBELS HAD TIME TO
SURRENDER. THEY SAY MANY INDIAN PEASANTS INSIDE ONE OF THE
CLASSROOMS DIDN'T SPEAK SPANISH AND WERE AFRAID THEY WOULD BE
GUNNED DOWN IF THEY WENT OUTSIDE. WHILE AUTHORITIES INSIST ALL
THOSE WHO DIED WERE REBELS, WITNESSES SAY CIVILIANS WERE ALSO
AMONG THE DEAD.
THE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ALSO CONCLUDES THAT SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS WERE COMMITTED IN EL CHARCO. (SIGNED)
NEB/CL/LTD/RRM
19-Jun-98 3:47 PM EDT (1947 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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