DATE=3/19/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246913
TITLE=ZAPATISTA REFERENDUM (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SOME FIVE-THOUSAND HOODED AND MASKED MEMBERS OF THE
ZAPATISTA ARMY FOR NATIONAL LIBERATION ARE IN VARIOUS PARTS OF
MEXICO, PREPARING FOR A NATIONAL REFERENDUM THEY WILL HOLD ON
SUNDAY. AS V-O-A'S GREG FLAKUS REPORTS FROM MEXICO CITY, THERE
IS LITTLE EXPECTATION THAT THE PROJECT WILL HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE
STALLED PEACE PROCESS IN MEXICO'S SOUTHERN STATE OF CHIAPAS.
TEXT: ALTHOUGH THE ZAPATISTAS ARE BILLING IT AS A NATIONAL
REFERENDUM ON INDIGENOUS RIGHTS, BOTH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND
POLITICAL SCIENTISTS ARE EXPRESSING SKEPTICISM OVER THE PROCESS.
THE POLLING DOCUMENTS CONTAIN QUESTIONS THAT ARE CLEARLY LOADED
IN FAVOR OF THE ZAPATISTA CAUSE IN CHIAPAS, WHERE A STALEMATE HAS
CONTINUED SINCE THE REBEL GROUP STAGED A BRIEF UPRISING IN
JANUARY OF 1994.
ONE QUESTION, FOR EXAMPLE, ASKS IF THE RESPONDENT FAVORS A LAW
BEFORE THE MEXICAN CONGRESS THAT WOULD GUARANTEE THE RIGHTS OF
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AS CALLED FOR UNDER THE SAN ANDRES ACCORDS,
WHICH ZAPATISTA NEGOTIATORS SIGNED WITH GOVERNMENT
REPRESENTATIVES IN 1996.
A MASKED ZAPATISTA NAMED ELIAS, WHO CAME 13-HUNDRED MILES FROM
THE JUNGLES OF CHIAPAS TO WORK ON THE REFERENDUM HERE IN MEXICO
CITY, SAYS THIS AND OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE FORM ARE APPROPRIATE.
/// ELIAS ACT IN SPANISH, IN AND UNDER ///
HE SAYS IT IS NECESSARY THAT THE MEXICAN PUBLIC HELP PUT PRESSURE
ON THE GOVERNMENT TO FULFILL THE PROMISES MADE UNDER THE SAN
ANDRES ACCORDS. SOME LEGAL CHANGES CALLED FOR IN THAT AGREEMENT
HAVE BEEN HELD UP IN THE MEXICAN CONGRESS.
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE DISMISSED THE ZAPATISTA REFERENDUM
PROCESS AS A PROPAGANDA EXERCISE THAT HAS NO VALIDITY AS AN
ACTUAL SAMPLING OF PUBLIC OPINION. A SCIENTIFIC NATIONWIDE POLL
CONDUCTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF GUADALAJARA WEDNESDAY INDICATED
THAT SEVEN OUT OF 10 MEXICANS KNOW NOTHING OF THE ZAPATISTA
REFERENDUM, UNDERSCORING THE CHARGE MADE BY CRITICS THAT THE
WHOLE PROCESS IS RIGGED AND THE RESULTS WILL REFLECT ONLY THE
OPINIONS OF THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE ZAPATISTA CAUSE.
// OPT // ORGANIZERS ADMIT THIS IS NOT A FORUM WHICH UTILIZES
NORMAL ELECTION PROCEDURES. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN SETTING UP
20-THOUSAND POLLING TABLES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IS BEING
PROVIDED BY THE ROSENBLUETH FOUNDATION, A PRIVATE MEXICO CITY
ORGANIZATION, WHOSE DIRECTOR, ENRIQUE CALDERON, TOLD REPORTERS
(FRIDAY) THIS IS NOT AN ELECTION, BUT A CONSULTATION.
/// CALDERON ACT IN SPANISH, IN AND UNDER ///
MR. CALDERON SAYS, "THIS IS A GOOD FAITH CONSULTATION IN WHICH
NOTHING CAN BE GUARANTEED." HE ADMITS THAT IF SOMEONE IN CHARGE
OF A TABLE SAYS 189 PEOPLE TOOK PART AND, IF IN REALITY, THERE
WERE ONLY 182, THERE IS NO MECHANISM TO VERIFY THIS
INFORMATION. // END OPT //
WHILE THE PROCESS HAS BEEN ATTACKED BY MEXICAN INTERIOR MINISTER
FRANCISCO LABASTIDA, MOST MEXICAN OFFICIALS HAVE IGNORED IT.
EMILIO RABASSA, THE GOVERNMENT'S NEGOTIATOR IN CHIAPAS, NOTED
THAT THE ZAPATISTAS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO CIRCULATE THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY TO CARRY OUT THEIR REFERENDUM, WHICH -- IN HIS WORDS --
"DEMONSTRATES THE POLITICAL LIBERTY WHICH IS ENJOYED HERE IN
MEXICO." (SIGNED)
NEB/GKF/WTW
19-Mar-99 6:16 PM EST (2316 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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