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Date: Tue, 18 May 1999 23:46:02 -0400
From: irlandesa <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Melel News Synthesis: 5/17
Sender: irlandesa <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: chiapas-l <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, chiapas-i <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
harry <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, melel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
NAP <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Originally published in Spanish by Melel Xojobal
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
____________________
Translated by irlandesa
Date: Monday, May 17, 1999 13:01:22 -0500
From: Melel Xojobal <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Press Synthesis
Monday, May 17, 1999.
********************************
SOLIDARITY WITH CHIAPAS
********************************
Diario de Yucatan. UNITED STATES ACTIVISTS DISTRIBUTE AID
TO ACTEAL DISPLACED.
After remaining on the border between Mexico and the United States for one
month, the bus with humanitarian aid from the US organization, Wheelchair
Project, arrived in Chiapas without problems, and it traveled to the
displaced camps in Chenalho. The coordinator of this group, Patrick Young,
reported that he had begun distributing some seven tons of food, medicines
and school supplies among indigenous from the civil group Las Abejas and
zapatista sympathizers, who were staying in the displaced camps out of fear
of being assassinated. The one month delay, Patrick Young stated, was
owing to the fact that Mexican authorities had not authorized the movement
of the humanitarian aid. Wheelchair Project will be distributing some 3000
kilograms of food, 5000 kilos of vitamins,150 shovels and thousands of
syringes, pencils and pens among indigenous in Los Altos and Selva regions
of Chiapas.
**********************************
Diario de Yucatan. EUROPEAN UNION SAYS IT HAS SENT TWO MILLION
DOLLARS TO HELP DISPLACED.
The head of Economic Cooperation for the German embassy in Mexico, Peter
Neven, reported that the European countries have channeled millions of
dollars into a humanitarian program directed towards chiapanecos displaced
by paramilitary violence.
The German official, accompanied by seven other diplomats, visited the
camps where some 10,000 tzotzil indigenous are in refuge in Chiapas, in
order to supervise the program supported by the European Union, bringing
basic foods and health care to the displaced population.
**********************************
CHIAPANECO CONFLICT
**********************************
Diario de Yucatan. LUIS H. ALVAREZ SAYS HE WILL NOT LEAVE COCOPA.
PAN Senator Luis H. Alvarez stated that he will not leave the
Cocopa, despite the fact that he would like to. He explained that his
departure from the Cocopa would complicate that commission's situation even
more, and he added that the federal government, as well as the EZLN, should
make a greater effort to renew dialogue. Meanwhile, the Cocopa reported it
was organizing a forum on international experiences in armed movements and
peace processes.
*********************************
La Jornada. CHIAPANECO CONFLICT WILL BE LEGACY OF
NEXT ADMINISTRATION.
PRD Senator and Cocopa member, Carlos Payan Velver, belives that the
chiapaneco conflict will be inherited by the next President of the
Republic, since there are no signs at this time that dialogue will be
reinitiated between the government and the EZLN.
**********************************
El Universal. CHIAPANECO BUSINESSES UPSET WITH STATE GOVERNMENT. .
The leader of the National Federation of Chambers of Commerce in
the state, Waldino Ocana Silva, said the political and social instability,
and lack of investor guarantees, has led to more than a hundred business
groups abandoning Chiapas over the last four years. This has caused the
closing of at least 300,000 job opportunities. He added that chiapaneco
businesses are upset with the state government, because social uncertainty
is still present, leading to businesses to leave chiapaneco lands, and also
because the funds destined for reactivating the economy are being diverted
in order to maintain the presence of the federal army in the region and to
respond to the claims from the indigenous communities. The Fecanaco leader
cited the cases of three companies exporting coffee, bananas and mangos in
the Coastal region, who market their products in Europe and the United
States, and who closed because of the lack of government promotion and the
economic downturn. He said that another cause of concern among
businesspersons is the imposition of governors from the country's center,
which prevents the chiapanecos from directly choosing their authorities.
**********************************
COUNTERINSURGENCY
**********************************
El Universal. CALL FOR DISARMAMENT OF PARAMILITARIES.
The Miguel Hidalgo Autonomous Council said that, if substitute
governor Roberto Albores Guillen truly wants peace in Chiapas, he must
disarm the paramilitary groups, and stop putting on dramas such as the
purported desertions. They added that the purpose of these actions is to
cover up the armed conflict, and that the only thing Albores Guillen is
seeking is to be Secretary of Government. They also said that the
purported deserters from the EZLN are PRI militants who belong to the MIRA
paramilitary group.
*********************************
Excelsior. SOTO MONZON SAYS DIALOGUE IS NO LONGER WITH
THE COMMANDANCIA, BUT RATHER WITH ZAPATISTA BASES.
The State Secretary of Government, Rodolfo Soto Monzon, said that
authorities are no longer dialoguing with the EZLN leadership, but rather
with their bases, who are, little by little, deserting and exchanging
weapons for social and economic development programs. Soto Monzon
explained that there are no arrest warrants out against former zapatista
deserters, since - based on the Law for Dialogue and the amnesty decreed by
the federal government - the crime of the carrying of weapons is not a
legal issue. He added that the laying down of weapons is a sign of
progress in communication between the government and those directly
involved in the conflict. He said that more militants are willing to
exchange wepaons for seeds and economic programs.
*********************************
El Universal. ASSERTION THAT GOVERNMENT WILL TRY TO
END MARGINALIZATION OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.
The Under Secretary for Livestock in the state, Jose Manuel Sanchez Montes,
said the state government will try to end the marginalization and extreme
poverty of 30 communities in the municipality of Ocosingo. He added that
the majority of these communities have left the ranks of the EZLN, laid
down their weapons and dismantled El Pacayal training camp that belonged to
the armed group. Howver, he said that last Friday zapatista militants from
the San Marcos, Francisco Villa and Tecoja communities siezed a shipment of
improved seeds, poultry, garden supplies, food and mills, that were headed
towards seven areas that had decided to return to institutional life.
Sanchez Montes said that he would not be filing any charges related to the
actions carried out by the zapatistas.
**********************************
Cuarto Poder. ALBORES ASKS THAT THERE BE NO INTERMEDIARIES
IN THE SEARCH FOR PEACE IN CHIAPAS.
During aid delivery to purported zapatista deserters in the 20 de Noviembre
community, municipality of Ocosingo, substitute governor Roberto Albores
Guillen asked that there be no intermediaries, saying that peace will only
come about in Chiapas through direct dialogue with the communities. He
also said that 15 months ago his government began a program of political
transformation in Chiapas that seeks to resolve the shortages and needs of
the communities in depth.
*********************************
AUTONOMIAS
*********************************
Cuarto Poder. CHANGES MUST BE MADE TO STATE INDIGENOUS
LAW PROPOSAL.
Chol indigenous from the municipality of Tila, who are participating in the
consultation forums on the state indigenous law, said that there would have
to be many changes made to the law in order for it to agree with the
reality of the indigenous peoples of Chiapas. They also asked that the
opinions expressed in this forum be respected.
********************************
COMMUNITY CONFLICTS
********************************
Excelsior. POSSIBLE EXPULSION OF CAMPESINOS IN LOS
CHIMALAPAS DENOUNCED.
The state Secretary of Government, Rodolfo Soto Monzon, announced that he
has received a denunciation from residents of the Gustavo Diaz Ordaz
community, in the municipality of Cintalapa, related to purported armed
groups threatening to expel the residents. In response, he said that an
investigation had been begun, and that a committee to look into the
problems in that area of Los Chimalapas, adjacent to Oaxaca, had been
established. He said that, according to information from the campesinos,
the attackers had given them until May 30 to abandon their lands, or they
would be expelled forcefully.
********************************
El Universal. HOMES OF CIOAC ACTIVISTS DESTROYED.
The Independent Central of Agricultural Workers and Campesinos
(CIOAC) denounced that a group of 200 men armed with machetes destroyed
five homes belonging to activists of the CIOAC in the town of Nuevo
Chapultepec, municipality of La Trinitaria. They added that, prior to the
destruction of the homes, they looted the campesinos' belongings. They
also demanded intervention by the Government delegate in the Border region,
Francisco Torres Vera, in order to resolve the conflict. The CIOAC
reported that the purpose of these actions was to dislocate them from their
lands.
********************************
HUMAN RIGHTS
********************************
Diario de Yucatan. MEXICAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO HARASS
HUMAN RIGHTS OBSERVERS.
US non-governmental organization Global Exchange said that the Mexican
government continues with threats of deportations and arbitrary
interrogations against human rights observers. They added that Zedillo's
government is continuing to deport foreigners whose only crime has been to
observe and to speak about human rights violations committed against
indigenous communities by the Mexican army, the state police and
paramilitary groups.
*******************************
IMMIGRATION
*******************************
El Universal. INM ASKS CREATOR OF SCULPTURE OF INFAMY
TO LEAVE COUNTRY.
The National Immigration Institute (INM) sent an official departure letter,
for May 19, to Danish plastic artist, Jens Galschiot, the creator of the
sculpture called Pillar of Shame, that was installed this week in the
community of Acteal. Galschiot, himself, however - who was interrogated by
immigration authorities for two hours - clarified that the request could
not be considered to be an expulsion, because it coincided with the return
date to Europe that he had previously planned. He also added that he could
return to Mexico without any restrictions. Concerning the interrogation,
the sculptor said that he thought it absurd that his presence should be
questioned, since he had come to Chiapas as an artist, and not to interfere
in political matters. Meanwhile, four Dutch persons who had participated
in the Second Encuentro between the EZLN and civil society also received
official departure letters from the INM. They are Remko Van Broek Hogn,
Hoanes Vanden Boogaart, Karola Veldkamp Michelle and Ernesto Mariano
Campos.
*******************************
Diario de Yucatan. TWO FRENCH PERSONS WHO PARTICIPATED
IN ENCUENTRO WITH EZLN LEAVE COUNTRY.
The Naitonal Immigration Institute reported that two French persons who
participated in the recent Encuentro of civil society with the EZLN, have
voluntarily left Mexico. They added that a group of 18 foreigners, among
them the two French persons, were cited to give statements to the INM for
having participated in that zapatista activity.
*******************************
DEMONSTRATIONS
*******************************
Diario de Yucatan. COFFEE GROWERS END INDIGENOUS FESTIVAL
WITH MARCH AND SIT-IN.
At the end of the Mayan Indigenous Campesino Festival, campesinos belonging
to the Indigenous of the Sierra Madre de Motozintla organization (Ismam)
carried out a march on Saturday in the city of Tapachula, demanding they be
given land, that the San Andres Accords be carried out, and in support of
the Mayan agro-ecological movement. The latter involves the cultivation of
foods with respect for nature, without the use of any kinds of chemicals.
*******************************
OFFICIAL POLICIES
*******************************
La Jornada. ZEDILLO VISITS CHIAPAS.
The state government announced that President Zedillo is on a
working visit to the state of Chiapas, in order to supervise the
reconstruction work in the chiapaneco coast, affected by the September 1998
floods.
********************************
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
********************************
Diario de Yucatan. ARIZMENDI CHOSEN AS SECRETARY OF CELAM.
At the end of the work of the Assembly of the Latin American
Episcopate (CELAM) in Quito, Equador, the bishops from the continent
changed the organization's board. The Mexican Episcopate Conference (CEM)
reported that, among those designated, the naming of Felipe Arizmendi
Esquivel, the Bishop of Tapachula , Chiapas, was noteworthy, as Secretary
General. The organization also confirmed the election of the new president
of the CELAM, Jorge Enrique Jimenez Carvajal, the Bishop of Zipaquira,
Colombia.
Reprinted under the fair use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
doctrine of international copyright law.
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Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit)
Unenh onhwa' Awayaton
http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/
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