DATE=5/17/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=CHIAPAS TENSIONS
NUMBER=5-46330
BYLINE=JON TKACH
DATELINE=CHIAPAS, MEXICO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Armed rebels remain camped out in the mountains
of the southern Mexican state, Chiapas, more than six
years after indigenous Zapatista rebels staged an
armed uprising. Although there has not been serious
fighting since then, peace talks have been stalled for
months. As V-O-A's Jon Tkach reports from Chiapas,
tensions have grown in recent weeks, following an
attack that spurred the government to send additional
troops to the area.
TEXT:
/// SFX: BELLS, THEN FADE TO: ///
The bells tolling over the ancient Spanish cathedral
in the middle of San Cristobal can be heard across
this bustling town -- considered the spiritual center
of the Chiapas highlands.
In the town itself, there are very few reminders of
the brief uprising by Zapatista rebels -- except for
the pro-Zapatista slogans spray-painted on a number of
buildings.
The local people say it has been quiet throughout
Chiapas since a truce was signed just weeks after
rebels took over several towns, including San
Cristobal.
But, deep in the forests, sporadic wildfires have
again set the government and Indian peasants at odds.
Indigenous farmers looking for land to grow crops have
been burning parts of Los Montes Azules -- the "Blue
Mountains." Ecologists say the area is a valuable
national treasure and must be preserved. The
government has sent troops to help fight the fires.
Onesimo Hidalgo, the director of an indigenous rights
organization (Centro Investigaciones Economicas y
Politicas de Accion Comunitaria or CIEPAC), says the
farmers have no other choice but to set fires.
/// HIDALGO ACTUALITY (SPANISH) ///
He says the fire the government should be focusing on
is the social blaze that he says keeps the indigenous
residents impoverished. He says the government is
using the fire situation as an excuse to further
militarize the area.
Closer to San Cristobal, tensions have also been on
the rise, following a deadly attack near Chenalho,
considered a center of rebel support.
Chenalho resident Mercedes Abarca says she has no
doubt the masked gunmen were Zapatista rebels.
She is a strong supporter of the ruling party and says
the attack only made her more resolved to always keep
her rifle close at hand.
/// ABARCA ACTUALITY (SPANISH) ///
She says there are whole nights when she does not
sleep, fearful that when she wakes, men wearing masks
-- considered to be a signature of the Zapatistas --
will be waiting for her.
The recent attack spurred the government to send more
troops to the area. She says that makes her feel a
bit safer.
Government officials have said the attack had nothing
to do with the Zapatistas and was likely the result of
a land dispute. Fermin Rodriguez is a spokesman for
the state governor's office.
/// RODRIGUEZ ACTUALITY (IN SPANISH) ///
He says there have not been any real rebel-related
problems in the area lately. He says, just because
the government and rebels are not talking does not
mean that they are at war.
However, the Zapatistas say the government was just
looking for an excuse to send more troops.
Many of the region's indigenous residents are fearful
of the military presence here. Human rights groups
have blamed soldiers for a number of violations since
the uprising.
Many in this heavily-Catholic area look to the new
bishop, Felipe Arizmendi, to help bring peace.
/// SFX: BISHOP GREETING WORSHIPERS ///
Worshippers file out of the packed cathedral in San
Cristobal after his second Sunday mass here. Many of
them are asking the bishop to work to help rid the
area of poverty and the threat of war.
Bishop Arizmendi's predecessor, Samuel Ruiz, had been
known as "The Bishop of the Poor" because of his
extensive work helping the poverty stricken Indian
peasants. But he had also been accused of siding with
the Zapatistas. He was labeled the "Red Bishop" by
the government for what it says were his socialist
views.
The new Bishop, Mr. Arizmendi, is considered to have
slightly more conservative views than his predecessor
and has sharply criticized the rebels for taking up
arms.
He has also reached out to both the Zapatistas and
pro-government militias, urging the quick resumption
of talks.
He acknowledges that getting the parties together will
take a lot of work.
/// ARIZMENDIA ACTUALITY (SPANISH) ///
But he urges people to stay calm, despite the recent
tensions -- saying most of the state's people live in
peace and are working towards progress. (signed)
NEB/JON/WD
17-May-2000 03:45 AM EDT (17-May-2000 0745 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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