DATE=3/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246784
TITLE=ZEDILLO/ZAPATISTAS (L)
BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: HUNDREDS OF MASKED GUERRILLAS FROM THE ZAPATISTA REBEL
MOVEMENT IN MEXICO'S SOUTHERN STATE OF CHIAPAS HAVE TAKEN UP
POSITIONS IN EVERY PART OF MEXICO, NOT TO FIGHT BUT TO CARRY OUT
A REFERENDUM ON INDIGENOUS RIGHTS. AS VOA'S GREG FLAKUS REPORTS
FROM MEXICO CITY, IN ADVANCE OF THE REFERENDUM, WHICH IS TO BE
HELD SUNDAY, MEXICAN PRESIDENT ERNESTO ZEDILLO WENT TO CHIAPAS
TO TOUT HIS GOVERNMENT'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE IMPOVERISHED
STATE.
TEXT: AS THE ZAPATISTAS WERE PREPARING FOR THEIR REFERENDUM,
PRESIDENT ZEDILLO WENT TO AN AREA WHERE THE REBEL GROUP CLAIMS
INFLUENCE TO HAIL WHAT HIS GOVERNMENT HAS DONE FOR THE PEOPLE
THERE. SPEAKING IN THE COMMUNITY OF LAS MARGARITAS, IN THE
SOUTH-CENTRAL MOUNTAINS OF CHIAPAS, PRESIDENT ZEDILLO CHIDED THE
ZAPATISTAS FOR SPURNING GOVERNMENT OFFERS TO TALK.
/// ZEDILLO ACT (SPANISH) ///
PRESIDENT ZEDILLO SAID-- "THE PEOPLE OF CHIAPAS, LIKE ALL
MEXICANS, KNOW VERY WELL WHO HAS REJECTED DIALOGUE AND
SOLUTIONS. THEY KNOW PERFECTLY THAT THIS INTRANSIGENCE IS
CONDITIONED BY POLITICAL CALCULATIONS AND INTERESTS THAT HAVE
NOTHING TO DO WITH CHIAPAS, NOR WITH DEMOCRACY, NOR THE DIGNITY
OF THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES."
ON HIS 22ND TRIP TO CHIAPAS, PRESIDENT ZEDILLO INAUGURATED A
COMMUNITY HOSPITAL IN LAS MARGARITAS AND PRESENTED MORE THAN 400
HOMES TO VICTIMS OF LAST YEAR'S FLOODING IN THE COASTAL TOWN OF
TAPACHULA. THE MEXICAN PRESIDENT ALSO HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION IN CHIAPAS OVER THE
PAST FEW YEARS, INCLUDING ONE THOUSAND MEDICAL CLINICS, FOUR
THOUSAND 500 SCHOOLS AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF LAND TO 54 THOUSAND
FAMILIES.
THE ZAPATISTAS, WHO STAGED A BRIEF REBELLION IN JANUARY OF 1994,
CLAIM DE FACTO CONTROL OVER A LARGE MOUNTAINOUS AREA IN THE SOUTH
CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE. THEY BLAME THE ZEDILLO GOVERNMENT FOR
THE LACK OF PROGRESS IN PEACE TALKS, SAYING THAT THE GOVERNMENT
HAS FAILED TO FULFILL PROMISES MADE IN PRELIMINARY TALKS IN
1996. THE REBEL GROUP, BACKED BY LEFTIST POLITICAL GROUPS
THROUGHOUT MEXICO, PLANS TO HOLD A REFERENDUM SUNDAY ON A
PROPOSED LAW THAT WOULD GUARANTEE THE RIGHTS OF 56 INDIGENOUS
GROUPS IN MEXICO.
// REST OPT//
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE CALLED THE REFERENDUM IRRELEVANT AND
ABSURD. GOVERNMENT PEACE NEGOTIATOR EMILIO RABASA SAYS IT IS UP
TO THE MEXICAN CONGRESS TO IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES IN THE
CONSTITUTION NECESSARY TO ADVANCE THE PEACE PROCESS. AN ATTEMPT
TO REVIVE TALKS IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR BROKE DOWN WHEN
ZAPATISTA REPRESENTATIVES REFUSED TO DISCUSS A PLAN SET FORTH BY
THE GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
17-Mar-99 5:58 PM EST (2258 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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