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DATE=4/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247891
TITLE=MEXICO ZAPATISTAS  (L)
BYLINE=JAMES BLEARS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT'S CHIEF PEACE NEGOTIATOR FOR THE 
CHIAPAS DISPUTE, EMILIO RABASSA, IS APPEALING TO THE ZAPATISTA 
REBEL MOVEMENT TO ALLOW HEALTH CARE TO HELP INDIGENOUS PEOPLE 
WITHIN THEIR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE.  THE ZAPATISTAS ARE BATTLING 
THE CENTRAL MEXICAN GOVERNMENT TO GAIN A MEASURE OF AUTONOMY IN 
CHIAPAS STATE, THE SCENE OF THE 1994 INDIAN UPRISING. AS JAMES 
BLEARS REPORT FROM MEXICO CITY, PEOPLE IN CHIAPAS HAVE DIED FOR 
WANT OF EASILY AVAILABLE MEDICINES.
TEXT:  MANY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN THE ZAPATISTA AREA OF CHIAPAS 
WILL  NOT  ACCEPT EITHER FOOD, HUMANITARIAN OR MEDICAL AID FROM 
THE GOVERNMENT.  THE RESULT IS THAT THEY REMAIN UNTOUCHED BY THE 
PROGRAM OF WELFARE IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH HAS BEEN SET ASIDE 
ESPECIALLY FOR THIS REGION -- MEXICO'S POOREST.
EMILIO RABASSA SAID THAT A RECENT CASE OF MASS FOOD POISONING IN 
THE ZAPATISTA ENCLAVE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN TREATED WITH 
MEDICINES.  INSTEAD, IT COST A NUMBER OF LIVES.
                        // RABASSA ACT //
         THEY DIED FROM SAMONOLISIS, WHICH IS SOMETHING WHICH YOU
         COULD VERY EASILY CURE WITH ANTIBIOTICS.  SO IT IS VERY 
         IMPORTANT FOR BOTH PARTIES TO COME TO TERMS ABOUT AN 
         AGENDA AND SETTLE THIS CONFLICT.
                          // END OPT //
MR. RABASSA ALSO EXPLAINED THAT HEALTH CARE SHOULD BE AN ENTIRELY
SEPARATE ISSUE APART FROM THE MAIN NEGOTIATIONS.
THE ORIGINAL CONFLICT OVER INDIGENOUS RIGHT, FLARED IN THE FIRST 
HOURS OF 1994 AND IN A WEEK AND A HALF OF FIGHTING WHICH ENSUED, 
140 PEOPLE DIED.  SINCE THEN, AN UNEASY CEASEFIRE HAS HELD.
THE ZAPATISTAS WALKED AWAY FROM THE NEGOTIATING TABLE MORE THAN 
TWO YEARS AGO, ACCUSING THE GOVERNMENT OF RENEGING ON AN 
AGREEMENT.  MR. RABASSA IS APPEALING FOR THEM TO RETURN AND 
NEGOTIATE, SO A SETTLEMENT CAN BE REACHED BEFORE THE END OF 
PRESIDENT ERNESTO ZEDILLO'S SIX YEAR TERM IN OFFICE EXPIRES IN 
THE YEAR 2000.  (SIGNED)
NEB/CBL/JB/
10-Apr-99 5:18 PM EDT (2118 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.