DATE=1/25/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=MEXICO STRIKE (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258433
BYLINE=CINDY LAVANDEROS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: New efforts to end a nine-month strike at
Mexico's largest university failed today (Tuesday)
when student strikers would not allow the university
dean on the barricaded campus. Cindy Lavanderos in
Mexico City has details.
TEXT: National University Dean Juan Ramon de la Fuente
tried to hand-deliver to student strikers the results
of last week's university-sponsored referendum, which
overwhelmingly backed his proposal to end the strike,
but a human chain of strikers and supporters refused
to allow him on campus.
Mr. de la Fuente says he wants to resume dialogue in
an open and functioning university, a move designed to
reopen the campus and permit classes to restart soon.
But members of the student's general strike council
say the only way to proceed is through direct talks
with administrators regarding their original list of
demands. These demands focus on the university's
bylaws and student representation on decision-making
bodies.
The council rejects the dean's compromise plan, which
scraps a proposed tuition hike and recommends the
creation of a university congress that would work on
reforms. The proposal also agrees to other student
demands, including that strikers will not be punished.
Leaders of thousands of students who oppose the strike
are trying to come up with a plan for supporting the
dean and retaking the university from the group of
radicals who have barricaded themselves inside the
campus since April 20th.
It is unlikely the dean will resort to force to reopen
the university, especially during an election year.
Such a move would bring back memories of the 1968
student massacre in which more than 300 students were
killed by soldiers. (Signed)
NEB/chl/gm
25-Jan-2000 17:17 PM EDT (25-Jan-2000 2217 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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