DATE=8/21/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ELECTIONS-CHIAPAS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=265707
BYLINE=CINDY LAVANDEROS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
INTRO: The defeat of the Institutional Revolutionary
Party in Sunday's gubernatorial race in Chiapas could
speed up the peace process in the southern Mexican
state. The apparent victor Pablo Salazar says now is
the time to renew negotiations between Zapatista
rebels and the government. More details from Cindy
Lavanderos in Mexico City.
TEXT: President-elect Vicente Fox has promised to
work together with Pablo Salazar to bring peace to
Chiapas once the two leaders take office on December
first.
In a news release, Mr. Fox says he will honor the San
Andres Larrainzar peace agreement signed, but never
implemented, four years ago between the government and
Zapatistas. He also reiterrated his will to meet with
the rebels and eventually remove army troops from the
tension-filled state.
Mr. Salazar celebrated his victory late Sunday night
after early results gave him a solid lead over his
rival, Sami David of the Institutional Revolutionary
Party or PRI. The PRI's defeat comes on the heels of
the party's historic loss in last July's presidential
race, ending 71 years of uninterrupted rule.
Eight political parties, including Mr. Fox's
conservative National Action Party and the center-left
Party of the Democratic Revolution, backed Mr.
Salazar. This unusual alliance mustered enough votes
to end the PRI's seven-decade stronghold over the
poverty-stricken state.
Despite the fear of violence, voters turned out,
sometimes traveling by truck or bus to reach their
voting stations. Thousands of refugees returned to
their villages to vote, despite the danger of possible
attacks by PRI-backed paramilitary groups.
After claiming victory, Mr. Salazar called for
reconciliation among Chiapans. "No more malice, no
more repression against ideas, no more jails or graves
as responses to social demands," he said.
Zapatista commanders encouraged their supporters to
vote in Sunday's election for the first time since
1994, when the rebels took up arms to fight for Indian
rights. Thousands of Zapatista Indian supporters cast
their vote for Mr. Salazar and for the prospect of a
long-awaited peace. (Signed)
NEB/PT
21-Aug-2000 16:01 PM EDT (21-Aug-2000 2001 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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