DATE=5/2/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHIAPAS BISHOP (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261917
BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
INTRO: The new Catholic bishop in southern Mexico's
troubled state of Chiapas says he hopes he can help
bring about a peaceful settlement of the conflict
there between leftist guerrillas and the government.
As VOA's Greg Flakus reports from Mexico City,
tensions may be growing as the government plans to
remove peasants from an ecological reserve.
TEXT: The new bishop of San Cristobal de las Casas,
Felipe Arizmendi, assumed his position in a ceremony
held in the mountain city on Sunday. He promised to
seek peace and reconciliation in Chiapas.
Bishop Arizmendi replaced controversial Bishop Samuel
Ruiz, who championed the cause of the area's poor
indigenous peasants, but was accused by critics of
promoting the guerrilla insurection of the Zapatista
Army for National Liberation. Meeting with reporters
on Tuesday, Bishop Arizmendi was asked about former
Catholic religious workers who became leaders of the
Zapatista revolt.
/// ARIZMENDI ACT (SPANISH) ///
He says the church never agreed with those who decided
to take up arms. He says the church will try to work
with them to find the right path.
In marked contrast to his predecessor, Bishop
Arizmendi says it is not right to involve the
indigenous people in a radical and violent ideology.
But the new bishop also condemns the militarization of
the areas encompassed by his diocese.
The Mexican army has maintained thousands of troops in
the mountainous areas of Chiapas since the outbreak of
the Zapatista rebellion there in January of 1994. For
the past six years, an uneasy truce has remained in
effect, but there are frequent clashes between
Zapatista sympathizers and other groups opposed to
them.
Tensions could increase in the weeks ahead as the
Mexican government moves forward with plans to send
members of the new Federal Preventative Police Force
into the area. They are to work with government
officials trying to clear indigenous people out of
forest reserves, where there is fear that disastrous
fires could be caused by slash-and-burn agricultural
methods.
Government negotiators are trying to open a dialogue
with people in 17 communities in an area where the
Zapatistas still have widespread support. (Signed)
NEB/GF/TVM
02-May-2000 19:49 PM EDT (02-May-2000 2349 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
