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DATE=7/29/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236248
TITLE=CONGRESS / MEXICO (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=BILL RODGERS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  WITNESSES TESTIFYING BEFORE A CONGRESSIONAL PANEL 
WEDNESDAY HAVE SHARPLY CRITICIZED HOW THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT IS 
DEALING WITH THE FOUR-YEAR OLD INDIAN INSURGENCY IN THE SOUTHERN 
STATE OF CHIAPAS.  AS V-O-A'S BILL RODGERS REPORTS, THE 
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING COMES AMIDST INCREASING SENSITIVITY BY 
MEXICO OVER FOREIGN CRITICISM ABOUT THE CHIAPAS SITUATION.  
TEXT:  THE HOUSE (OF REPRESENTATIVES) SUBCOMMITTEE ON WESTERN 
HEMISPHERE AFFAIRS WEDNESDAY HEARD TESTIMONY SHARPLY CRITICAL OF 
MEXICO FROM A HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND ACADEMIC SPECIALISTS. TO 
VARYING DEGREES, THEY ALL BLAMED THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT FOR NOT 
DOING ENOUGH TO STOP THE ONGOING VIOLENCE IN THE SOUTHERN STATE 
OF CHIAPAS -- SCENE OF AN INDIAN REBEL UPRISING IN 1994 THAT HAS 
YET TO BE RESOLVED. 
SOME TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN CHIAPAS OVER THE 
PAST FOUR YEARS IN VIOLENCE RELATED TO THE CONFLICT, EVEN THOUGH 
AN UNEASY CEASEFIRE HAS BEEN PLACE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE
ZAPATISTA REBELS SINCE THE EARLY DAYS OF THE REVOLT.  ARMED 
PARAMILITARY GROUPS -- ALLEGEDLY WITH LINKS TO THE ARMY -- HAVE  
MURDERED, TORTURED AND COMMITTED OTHER ATROCITIES AGAINST 
ZAPATISTA SUPPORTERS.  THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT SAYS IT HAS TRIED 
TO STOP THESE ABUSES, BUT HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS DISPUTE THIS. 
JOEL SOLOMON OF HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH TOLD THE SUBCOMMITTEE 
WEDNESDAY THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT HAS IGNORED RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY
PARAMILITARY GROUPS. 
                       ///SOLOMON ACT/// 
         HUMAN RIGHTS DOESN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE MEXICAN 
         GOVERNMENT CONFRONTING ARMED GROUPS IN THE COUNTRY WE 
         DON'T QUESTION THAT ALL.  WE DO QUESTION THE WAY THE 
         GOVERNMENT GOES ABOUT DOING IT.  JUST BECAUSE THERE IS 
         AN ARMED OPPONENT, CANNOT JUSTIFY TORTURE, FORCED 
         CONFESSIONS, DISAPPEAREANCES, OR THE OTHER PROBLEMS THAT
         WE'VE DOCUMENTED. 
                         /// END ACT ///
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE WESTERN HEMISPHERE SUBCOMMITTEE, ELTON 
GALLEGLY, EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN 
CHIAPAS.  BUT MR. GALLEGLY, A REPUBLICAN FROM CALIFORNIA, ALSO 
WAS CAREFUL NOT TO OFFEND MEXICO.  IN A STATEMENT WEDNESDAY, 
CONGRESSMAN GALLEGLY DESCRIBED THE PURPOSE OF THE HEARINGS AS 
EDUCATIONAL.  
                       ///GALLEGLY ACT///
         OUR LOOK TODAY AT THE SITUATION IN CHIAPAS IS SOLELY 
         INTENDED TO BE EDUCATIONAL IN NATURE AND INTENDED TO 
         GIVE MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE SOME BASIC 
         UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONFLICT SO THAT EACH MEMBER CAN 
         FULLY APPRECIATE THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ISSUE. 
                          ///END ACT///
IN RECENT MONTHS, MEXICO HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY SENSITIVE TO FOREIGN
COMMENTARY ABOUT THE SITUATION IN CHIAPAS.  THE MEXICAN 
GOVERNMENT REACTED SHARPLY WHEN U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE 
ALBRIGHT SPOKE LAST MONTH ABOUT PRESSING MEXICO TO RESOLVE THE 
CHIAPAS SITUATION.  MEXICAN OFFICIALS ALSO REBUFFED A REPORTED 
FEELER BY UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN TO HELP 
MEDIATE AN END TO THE CONFLICT. (SIGNED) 
NEB/WFR/PT
29-Jul-98 6:19 PM EDT (2219 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.