Title: MEXICO: A Year of Change in Chiapas
by Diego Cevallos
SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, Dec. 30 (IPS) - Life in the Southern
Mexican state of Chiapas changed dramatically this year after the
emergence of a popularly based insurgence movement last Jan.1.
This mountainous area bordering Guatemala has been under
constant tension over the past twelve months, which together with
the current presence of hundreds of foreign correspondents has
changed the patterns of daily life.
Although rich in natural resources, Chiapas has the worst
rates of malnutrition, illiteracy and medical attention in
Mexico.
The state has a strong economy based on petroleum and timber,
cattle ranching, manufacturing and (normally) tourism, and
produces half of all Mexican electricity, which the bulk of the
local population goes without - also lacking sanitation, drinking
water and other basic services.
Interviews with ranchers, farm workers and business owners in
San Cristobal - the third city of Chiapas, with a population of
100,000 - revealed various attitudes toward the conflict.
Coffee grower Humberto Chavarro summed up the opinion of the
rich land owners and businessmen regarding the presence of the
Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN), saying ''they have
caused us many problems, and have done a lot of damage.''
This sector, which calls its association ''the
antizapatistas,'' firmly oppose the rebels, rejecting anything
that ''smells of communism'', especially after the rebels seized
and redistributed tracts of their land.
Cesar Pascasio, who owns less than a hectare of land, has a
different opinion. ''At least the Zapatistas have made the lack
of justice known,'' he said.
The indigenous people of this area have been persecuted since
colonial times, when Bartolome de las Casas unsuccessfully tried
to protect them from exploitation in the 16th century.
Many of the local rural population deny being Zapatistas, but
the success of the recent EZLN campaigns make it clear that the
rebels are widely supported, although harbouring insurgents can
result in beatings, expulsions and military occupations.
The Red Cross estimates that after the forced displacement of
60,000 people in the first days of the conflict, an additional
20,000 have fled their homes, yet the population of San Cristobal
has remained the same.
While the poor working sector and businessmen moan of fewer
customers, hotel owners discuss the ''new opportunities,''
especially the influx of reporters.
Chiapas was once visited mainly by retirees, but they have
been replaced by ''war tourists.''
''We have to take advantage of the situation and make up for
the lack of tourists in some way,'' said local hotel
administrator Sandra Arguello, ''so we don't look down on these
thrill seeking tourists.''
The military containment strategy also implies the presence of
of civil servants, security and intelligence personnel as part of
the government infrastructure.
Then there are the 100 or so reporters, increasing to around
600 whenever events hot up. ''Some really bring a lot of money
and they spend it freely,'' said a local hotel owner.
All in all, despite the differing opinions regarding the rebel
presence in Chiapas, everyone agrees that ''nothing is the same
as it was before.'' (END/IPS/tra-so/dc/jc/np/sm/js/94)
Origin: San Jose/MEXICO/
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