SECOND COMMUNIQUE
Communique of the Revolutionary Indigenous Clandestine
Committee-General Command of the Zapatista National
Liberation Army (EZLN).
Mexico, March 24, 1995.
To the people of Mexico:
To the People and governments of the world:
To the national and international press:
Brothers and Sisters:
We send our word to inform you in reference to the epistle dialogue
being maintained with the representatives of the federal government:
First.
On March 12, 1995, we send a letter to the Secretary of State where
we indicated that we accepted the so-called Law for Dialogue and
Conciliation in Chiapas as a starting point to agree on dignified and
secure conditions to reinitiate the direct contact between the
representatives of the federal government and the EZLN. This letter
was received by Mr. Esteban Moctezuma Barragan, Head of the Secretary
of State, on March 16, 1995.
Second.
Today, March 24, 1995, we have received through CONAI (National
Mediation Commission) a proposal from the Secretary of State called
Bases for the Dialogue and Negotiation of the Agreement of
Reconciliation and Pacification, dated March 20, 1995, which consists
of five pages. We are responding this very day, and sending to CONAI
our comments, agreements, reservations, and additions to such
document with the goal that CONAI will deliver them to the
representatives of the federal government.
Third.
Among the points that we put forwrad in our proposal, the following
stand out:
A) The possible seats for the first direct encounter,
logical consequence of the epistle dialogue that is maintained
now, would be:
1. The Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City. Federal District
2. The Guadalupe Basilica Church. Federal District.
3. The University Campus, National Autonomous University of
Mexico (UNAM). Federal District.
4. The seat of the United Nations Organization. Federal District.
The four propossed seats have the necessary conditions of autonomy
and neutrality for the physical space of the dialogue, because the
massive presence of federal troops and their closeness to the towns
besides the growing belligerence of the guardias blancas, impede a
direct encounter in the zone.
B) the agenda the we propossed would consist of five points or
five great themes:
1. Measurements of distension that would erradicate the possibilities
that hostilities would be restarted. Which means, agreement of a stable
and lasting truce.
2. Political, social, cultural and economic themes at two levels:
national and state level. The basic document for these themes is the
so-called Statement of EZLN Demands, presented on February, 1994,
and that consists of 36 points, which would be appropriate to the
present situation of our country.
3. Regional agreement of conciliation between the actors of the crisis
in Chiapas.
4. Agreement of cessation of hostilities. Which means an agreement
of peace, justice and dignity.
5. Political and social participation of the EZLN and its members.
C) The themes of national impact would be discussed in plenary
meetings that include the other involved national actors. The result
would be the elaboration of proposals to the Congress of the Union
and of compromises taken by the participants.
1. Social justice, political liberties and national democracy themes.
The participants will be political parties, non-governmental
organizations, the Nationa Democratic Convention, social
organizations, individual citizens and specialist experts.
2. Themes of political, social, economic, and cultural rights of the
Indigenous People in Mexico. The participants will be the Indigenous
National Convention, social organizations of Indigenous People and
peasants, and specialist experts.
3. Themes of political, social, economic and cultural rights of the
Woman in Mexico. The participants will be the National Women's
Convention, women's organizations, individual citizens and specialist
experts.
D) The themes of the state of Chiapas will be discussed in plenary
meetings that include other involved state actors. The result will
be the elaboration of compromises of profound political, social,
economic and cultural reforms in the life of Chiapas.
1. Themes of social justice, political liberties and democracy in
Chiapas. The participants will be the Democratic State Assembly
People of Chiapas (Aedepch), and the Government of Transition
in Rebellion of the State of Chiapas.
E) The military, police and legal themes will be discussed in
plenary meetings with the participation of the EZLN and the
governmental representation, with the mediation of CONAI and
the support of the Comcopa.
Each theme will have three stages: dialogue, negotiation and
agreement. Reaching the third stage, which means an agreement,
a compromise would be drawn in a plenary and it would be signed
with witnesses of honor. The objective of reaching compromises
with each achieved agreement has the goal that the dialogue will
not be stopped or failed in its totality because of the points where
an inmediate agreement is not reached. This way progress would
be faster and with concrete and defined results.
Fourth.
Besides of the dialogue about the document which we would
called basic Protocol for dialogue and negotiation of the
agreement of peace with justice and dignity, the governmental
representation and this CCRI-CG of the EZLN exchange proposals
to take proportional and reciprocal measures which relax the
belligerent climate and remove the danger of an armed attack.
Fifth.
The CCRI-CG of the EZLN recognizes that, in this stage of the
dialogue, it has received the atention and respect from the side of the
governmental representation, to which the EZLN has responded with
the same atention and respect and with the ratification of its
willingness of following the road to dialogue and political
negotiation to resolve the conflict.
Democracy! Liberty! Justice!
>From the mountains of Southeast Mexico.
Revolutionary Indigenous Clandestine Committee-General
Command of the Zapatista National Liberation Army .
Mexico, March, 1995.