Chiapas News

(no name) ((no email))
Tue, 11 Oct 1994 14:28:36 EST

MEXICO CITY, Oct 8 (Reuter) - Mexican Indian rebels in the southern state of
Chiapas have called for a second "National Democratic Convention" to be held in
their territory next week.
The self-styled Zapatista National Liberation Army, in communiques
published Saturday, said the meeting would be held October 12-15 in
rebel-controlled territory in the Chiapas jungle.
The first such "convention," held in August shortly before Mexico's
presidential elections, attempted to set up a peaceful nationwide movement for
democratic change that would oppose the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party
(PRI).
Since its foundation, however, the movement has been virtually absent from
the public eye and has been riven by internal conflict.
The rebels, mostly of Mayan descent, rose up in arms January 1 to demand
fairer treatment for indigenous people, land and legal reform and nationwide
democratic change, have observed a ceasefire since mid-January after at least
145 people died in 10 days of fighting.
In a communique signed by Zapatista leader Subcommander Marcos, the rebels
called on the members of the movement to stop bickering and unite around a
six-point programme to push for "work, land, shelter, food, education and
health" for the millions of Mexicans who live below the poverty line.
The Mexican army allowed free passage to some 6,000 people who attended the
August convention, which named a national leadership for the movement but was
cut short by torrential rain and organisational problems.
The government-appointed peace envoy to Chiapas, Jorge Madrazo, said Friday
that he would announce next week new measures agreed with the Zapatistas to
further cement the ceasefire now in place but gave no indication of when a
formal peace agreement with the guerrillas could be expected.

MEXICO CITY, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Rebels involved in a simmering uprising in
southern Mexico said a second National Democratic Convention is necessary with
the passing of national elections to discuss their agenda, a statement said
Saturday.
"The fight for democracy, liberty and justice in Mexico is neither started
nor finished, the statement said the second convention -- to begin Monday in the
state of
Chiapas -- should be aimed at fighting "for material, social and political
claims...and a call for unity of all those who fight for change based on
liberty."
Rebels rose up in arms in the poor southern state of Chiapas on Jan. 1
calling for social and political reform. Government-rebel fighting -- which left
at least 145 dead -- ended Jan. 12, but efforts to resolve the matter continue.
The Mexico City newspaper La Jornada reported Saturday that Jorge Madrazo
Cuellar, the government representative in efforts to resolve the Chiapas
conflict, has made a series of proposals to rebels "to assure and strenghten"
the cease-fire in fighting.
The first National Democratic Convention, organized by rebels, concluded in
early August in Chiapas with a call for increased democracy in Mexico and
criticism of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, which has ruled the
nation since 1929.
The new convention comes in the wake of Aug. 21 elections, which PRI
presidential candidate Ernesto Zedillo won. The PRI gubernatorial candidate in
Chiapas also won, though rebels have charged fraud in the vote.
Topics of discussion at the second meeting in San Cristobal de las Casas, 700
miles (1,120 km) southeast of Mexico City in Chiapas, will be defining what the
National Democratic Convention is and a plan of action, the National Democratic
Convention's "collective presidency" said in a statement Saturday.
The collective presidency said "the fight to guarantee peace and demand
respect to the popular will in Chiapas is a fundamental step in the transition
to democracy."
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