DATE=4/12/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247984
TITLE=CHIAPAS CONFLICT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE SIMMERING CIVIL CONFLICT IN MEXICO'S SOUTHERN STATE
OF CHIAPAS APPEARED ON THE POINT OF EXPLODING ONCE AGAIN LAST
WEEK DURING A STAND-OFF BETWEEN STATE POLICE AND SYMPATHIZERS OF
THE ZAPATISTA ARMY FOR NATIONAL LIBERATION. BUT, AS VOA'S GREG
FLAKUS REPORTS FROM MEXICO CITY, THE GOVERNMENT IS RENEWING ITS
PLEDGE TO AVOID FURTHER VIOLENCE.
TEXT: ALL IS CALM FOR NOW IN THE CHIAPAS HIGHLANDS, WHERE ONLY
DAYS AGO A CONFLICT SEEMED NEAR. THE ZAPATISTAS ARE IN CONTROL
OF A TOWN THEY CONSIDER IMPORTANT TO THEIR CAUSE AND THE STATE
GOVERNOR, ROBERTO ALBORES GUILLEN, HAS ORDERED HIS POLICE TO
STAY CLEAR OF THE AREA.
SPEAKING AT A NATIONAL MEETING OF STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL IN THE
CHIAPAS STATE CAPITAL OF TUXTLA GUTIERREZ MONDAY, GOVERNOR
ALBORES EMPHASIZED HIS EFFORTS TO FIGHT CRIME WITHOUT VIOLATING
HUMAN RIGHTS.
/// ALBORES ACT (SPANISH) ///
THE GOVERNOR SAID HIS ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT PERSECUTE ANYONE
FOR THEIR RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL IDEAS. HE SAID THE STATE
GOVERNMENT IS TARGETING CRIMINALS AND ENFORCING THE LAW.
THE CHIAPAS GOVERNOR HAS BEEN CAMPAIGNING AGAINST A RISING CRIME
RATE IN HIS STATE, WHICH HE SAYS IS EXACERBATED BY THE PRESENCE
OF MILITARY-STYLE WEAPONS IN THE HANDS OF THE ZAPATISTAS,
PARAMILITARY GROUPS WHICH OPPOSE THEM AND BANDS OF ROBBERS AND
DRUG SMUGGLERS WHO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE STATE'S UNRESOLVED
CONFLICT.
THE ZAPATISTAS, HOWEVER, HAVE IGNORED THE GOVERNOR'S CALL FOR
DISARMAMENT, NOTING THAT PARAMILITARY GROUPS IN THE STATE HAVE
COUNTED ON SUPPORT FROM THE RULING INSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTIONARY
PARTY, OF WHICH GOVERNOR ALBORES IS A MEMBER. LAST THURSDAY, THE
GOVERNOR APPEARED READY TO PROVOKE A MAJOR CHALLENGE WITH THE
GUERRILLAS. HE SENT POLICE TO OCCUPY THE INDIAN VILLAGE OF SAN
ANDRES LARRAINZAR, WHICH THE ZAPATISTAS TOOK OVER IN 1995 AND
WHICH WAS ALSO THE SITE OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH GOVERNMENT
REPRESENTATIVES THAT SAME YEAR.
BUT, ON FRIDAY, MORE THAN A THOUSAND ZAPATISTAS AND GUERRILLA
MOVEMENT SUPPORTERS MARCHED INTO THE TOWN, UNARMED AND LITERALLY
PUSHED THE POLICE OUT, DAMAGING SEVERAL POLICE VEHICLES IN THE
PROCESS. OBSERVERS EXPECTED A STRONG COUNTERATTACK FROM THE
GOVERNOR, BUT ON SATURDAY HE CANCELLED ARREST WARRANTS FOR THE
ZAPATISTAS WHO LED THE TAKEOVER. HE ORDERED POLICE TO MOVE BACK
OUT OF THE AREA AND COUNSELED "PATIENCE AND POLITICS."
THE GOVERNOR'S CONCILIATORY ATTITUDE STOOD IN CONTRAST TO BOTH
STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EFFORTS LAST YEAR TO BREAK UP
ZAPATISTA-RUN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. PRESIDENT ERNESTO ZEDILLO HAS
PLEDGED, BOTH NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, TO PURSUE A
PEACEFUL END TO THE CONFLICT AND HAS RECENTLY UTILIZED A PUBLIC
RELATIONS CAMPAIGN TO UNDERSCORE HIS GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TO
PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS IN CHIAPAS. (SIGNED).
NEB/PT
12-Apr-99 6:54 PM EDT (2254 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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