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DATE=10/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240382
TITLE=ZAPATISTA PEACE TALKS / L-O
BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE EFFORT TO END THE GUERRILLA WAR IN SOUTHERN MEXICO 
MAY GET UNDER WAY AGAIN NEXT MONTH, AS A RESULT OF STATEMENTS 
SUNDAY BY THE REBELS OF THE ZAPATISTA (SAH PAH TEES' TAH) ARMY 
FOR NATIONAL LIBERATION (ZAPATISTAS).  AS V-O-A'S GREG FLAKUS 
REPORTS FROM MEXICO CITY THE NEW ROUND OF TALKS -- THE FIRST IN 
TWO YEARS -- WOULD NOT INVOLVE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES.
TEXT:  IN STATEMENTS ISSUED FROM THEIR STRONGHOLD IN THE SOUTHERN
STATE, CHIAPAS (CHEE AH' PAHS), THE ZAPATISTAS SAID THEY WOULD BE
WILLING TO RESUME PEACE TALKS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF MEXICO'S 
CIVIL SOCIETY -- BUT NOT WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT ERNESTO
ZEDILLO. THE TALKS WOULD TAKE PLACE IN LATE NOVEMBER IN THE 
HIGHLAND CITY, SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, (SAHN KREE STOH' BAHL 
DAY  LAHS KAH'SAHS) IN CHIAPAS.
UNDER THE PROPOSAL, THE TALKS WOULD BE CARRIED OUT WITH THE 
COMMISSION FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION WITH WHICH THE REBELS 
NEGOTIATED AN AGREEMENT IN 1996.  THAT ACCORD INCLUDED AN 
ARRANGEMENT FOR THE AUTONOMY OF SOME MAYAN INDIAN COMMUNITIES IN 
CHIAPAS -- SOMETHING THE GOVERNMENT REJECTED AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
IN ONE OF SUNDAY'S STATEMENTS, ZAPATISTA LEADER SUBCOMMANDER 
MARCOS INDICATED TALKS WOULD BE HELD WITH CIVILIANS BECAUSE THE 
GOVERNMENT -- IN HIS WORDS -- "DOES NOT WANT PEACE." 
IN RESPONSE TO THE ZAPATISTA STATEMENTS, THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT  
ISSUED A COMMUNIQUE WELCOMING THE MOVE TOWARDS DIALOGUE BUT 
REJECTING THE ACCUSATION THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT WANT PEACE.
THE  GOVERNMENT COMMUNIQUE NOTED PRESIDENT ZEDILLO HAS REPEATEDLY
CALLED FOR A RENEWAL OF TALKS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.  THE 
GOVERNMENT ALSO SAYS IT WILL PROVIDE WHATEVER ASSISTANCE IS 
NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE TALKS IN SAN CRISTOBAL.  
            // REST OPTIONAL //
THE CONFLICT IN CHIAPAS BEGAN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, 1994, AND  
RESULTED IN AT LEAST 150 DEATHS BEFORE THE PEACE PROCESS GOT  
UNDERWAY.  THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT CURRENTLY MAINTAINS MORE THAN 
50 THOUSAND TROOPS AROUND THE MOUNTAIN STRONGHOLD OF THE 
ZAPATISTAS. (SIGNED). 
NEB / GF / CB / WD
18-Oct-98 11:58 PM EDT (0358 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.