DATE=2/5/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245156
TITLE=CHIAPAS CONFLICT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS
DATELINE=SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FIVE YEARS AGO, THE ZAPATISTA NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY
(THE ZAPATISTAS) LAUNCHED AN ARMED UPRISING IN MEXICO'S SOUTHERN
STATE OF CHIAPAS THAT RESULTED IN AT LEAST 150 DEATHS.
GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT HAVE FAILED AND NO
TALKS ARE CURRENTLY PLANNED. THE GUNS MAY BE SILENT FOR THE
MOMENT, BUT, AS V-O-A'S GREG FLAKUS REPORTS FROM THE HIGHLAND
CITY OF SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, THE SIMMERING CONFLICT IS NOW
AN IMPORTANT PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE.
TEXT: /// AMBIENT SOUND ///
TEXT: THIS BEAUTIFUL OLD SPANISH-COLONIAL STYLE CITY IN THE HIGH
PINE FORESTS IS THE PLACE WHERE SUBCOMMANDER MARCOS AND THE
ZAPATISTA GUERRILLAS MADE THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE BACK IN JANUARY
OF 1994. FOR A BRIEF TIME AFTER THE FIGHTING CAME TO AN END,
REPORTERS MADE THEIR WAY INTO THE ZAPATISTA-CONTROLLED AREA TO
MEET WITH THE MAN WHOSE FACE WAS COVERED BY A SKI MASK. BUT IN
THE PAST YEAR OR SO, THE GUERRILLA COMMANDER HAS NOT BEEN SEEN
MUCH BY OUTSIDERS AND HAS ISSUED FEW COMMUNIQUES. HE AND THE
ZAPATISTA FIGHTERS ARE SOMEWHERE OUT IN THE FORESTS OF
SOUTH-CENTRAL CHIAPAS, SURROUNDED BY THOUSANDS OF MEXICAN TROOPS.
BUT, HERE IN SAN CRISTOBAL, MARCOS IS PRESENT IN OTHER WAYS.
INDIAN WOMEN IN THEIR COLORFUL GARB HAWK LITTLE MARCOS DOLLS ON
THE SIDEWALKS AND HIS PICTURE IS A COMMON SIGHT ON TEE-SHIRTS AND
POSTCARDS. NOT FAR FROM THE CITY'S MAIN MARKET, VENDOR JOSE RAYO
(HOH SAY' RIE' YOH), SELLS A VARIETY OF ZAPATISTA SOUVENIRS AS
WELL AS BOOKLETS AND NEWSLETTERS ABOUT THE MOVEMENT.
/// RAYO ACT (SPANISH) ///
HE SAYS HE WORKS WITH CIVILIAN GROUPS WHO SUPPORT THE ZAPATISTAS
BUT THAT HE IS NOT DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH THE INSURGENTS. HE
SAYS THEY DID NOT TAKE UP ARMS IN ORDER TO SELL THEIR
MEMORABILIA. THE STRUGGLE, HE SAYS, IS A LEGITIMATE ONE BECAUSE
THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED THE PEOPLE OF CHIAPAS,
ESPECIALLY THE POOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
/// ACT (SPANISH) ///
MR RAYO SAYS THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN DOMINATED BY THE
RULING INSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTIONARY PARTY, OR P-R-I, FOR 70 YEARS,
HAS BLOCKED PROGRESS AND CONTINUES TO SUPPORT ARMED CIVILIAN
GROUPS WHO REPRESS THOSE WHO TRY TO MAKE CHANGES.
MOST PEOPLE HERE DO NOT SPEAK SO OPENLY ABOUT THEIR VIEWS ON THE
CONFLICT. IN FACT, ALMOST THE ONLY PEOPLE BUYING THE ZAPATISTA
TRINKETS AND TEE-SHIRTS ARE FOREIGN TOURISTS, MOSTLY FROM EUROPE,
WHO FILL LOCAL HOTELS AND YOUTH HOSTELS AND DO MUCH TO SUPPORT
THE LOCAL ECONOMY. SOME STORES HAVE PRICES LISTED IN FRENCH
FRANCS AND GERMAN MARKS AS WELL AS IN MEXICAN PESOS.
BUT, WHILE "REVOLUTIONARY TOURISM," AS SOME CALL IT, MAY PROVIDE
SOME ECONOMIC GAIN, MOST DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS SAY IT WILL BE
DIFFICULT TO MAKE REAL PROGRESS HERE AS LONG AS THE CONFLICT
REMAINS UNRESOLVED. THERE ARE ALSO PEOPLE HERE WHO BLAME THE
ZAPATISTAS FOR THE STALLED NEGOTIATIONS AND SEE THEM AS A
DETRIMENT TO PROGRESS IN CHIAPAS. EVEN THOUGH NO SHOTS ARE BEING
FIRED AT THE MOMENT, THE POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER FIGHTING REMAINS
AND THE UNCERTAINTY MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR ANYONE HERE TO PLAN
FOR A BETTER FUTURE. (SIGNED)
NEB/GF/GE
05-Feb-99 10:54 AM EST (1554 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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