INDEX
1 APRIL 5
2 APRIL 6
3 APRIL 7
4 APRIL 8
5 APRIL 9
6 APRIL 10
7 MEDIA MONITORING
8 NGO FORUM
CHIAPAS CHRONOLOGY, APRIL 5 - 10, 1995
CHIAPAS
April 5
After a 10-day stay in our country, an ecumenical
mission formed up by members of European evangelic
churches and Catholic episcopal conferences, called
on the Mexican government and the Zapatista Army of
National Liberation (EZLN) to immediately resume the
dialogue and strive to make progresses in the
solution of injustice, poverty and marginality
problems that are the origin of the armed conflict.
Representatives of the Chiapas transition rebel
government, headed by Amado Avenda$o, denounced that
at the military checkpoints of Flor de Cacao and
Benito Juarez, members of the Independent Regional
Peasant Movement are harassed. Meanwhile, at Salto
de Agua, the so-called white guards (mercenaries) and
police officers apply repression measures against the
Workers-Peasants-Popular General Union (UGOCP). At a
press conference, Jose Alvarez Icaza, member of the
National Democratic Convention (CND) and Trinidad
Martinez, representative of the transition rebel
government, read a message sent by Amado Avenda$o
calling for the creation of a national transition
government and the celebration of new state and
federal congress sessions to draft a new
Constitution. Avenda$o states that the Federal
government "is driving away" peace from Chiapas by
refusing to withdraw the Army from the conflict zone
and not accepting to hold the peace dialogue with the
EZLN in Mexico City.
Members of the Workers-Peasants-Students Coalition of
the Soconusco (COCES) set free 30 public officers and
workers that were being held in the Administrative
Office, after Governor Julio Cesar Ruiz Ferro
promised to attend to their demands. They are asking
for financing for 892 hectares of cacao, social works
and verification of the public accounts of Frontera
Hidalgo, Metapa de Dominguez, Suchiate, Tapachula and
Tuxtla Chico.
April 6
In his letter to Cardinal Ernesto Corripio Ahumada
asking for his authority to conduct the dialogue in
the Metropolitan Cathedral, Subcomandante Marcos
declares that based on Cardinal Corripio's neutral
position and moral influence, the Zapatista
representatives "would be fully confident that the
supreme government would respect their lives,
possessions and freedom."
The Ministry of Finance of Chiapas, Giovanni Zenteno
Zenteno informed that the state government is
technically "bankrupt" as its public debt amounts 913
million new pesos and therefore, they urgently
require financial support to solve their cash
problems.
The Coordination of Non-Governmental Organizations
for Peace (Conpaz) asked provisional governor Julio
Cesar Ruiz Ferro and the Superior Court of Justice
the "thorough and objective revision of each one of
the 22 files of the prisoners that have completed 35
days on fast in demand of their liberation, at the
Comitan penitentiary.
Judge Guadalupe Flores, of the Mixed Regional
Tribunal of the Superior Court of Justice, informed
that the file revision has been concluded and that,
as a result, "some of the prisoners have been set
free."
Commentators Jose Antonio Perez Stuart, of Televisa's
24 Horas; Luis Pazos of Television Azteca's Hechos;
and Pedro Ferriz de Con, conductor of Multivision's
Para Usted, have been evidenced by the Mexican
Academy of Human Rights (AMDH) as informers whose
opinions on the Chiapas conflict are openly biased.
This is pointed out in the weekly monitoring report
for the week of March 27-31. According to the AMDH
"no biased information without the proper arguments,
can be presented trying to disqualify the proposals
made by the EZLN and that could affect the
negotiation environment."
The Mexican Army is prepared to guarantee the safe
conduction of the peace negotiations at any place in
Chiapas, and even to withdraw from Guadalupe Tepeyac
if so ordered, said the Commander of the Seventh
Military Zone, General Mario Renan Castillo
Fernandez. Gen. Castillo added that the Chiapas
conflict is socio-political and "must be solved
through political and social measures," and that they
discard a military settlement.
News on the precarious health of Commander Ramona,
member of the EZLN, has mobilized a number of
organizations like the Women National Democratic
Convention (CNM) and the Democratic State Convention
of the Federal District (CED-D.F.). These
organizations will launch a campaign of signatures to
demand that the rebel leader be transferred to Mexico
City, with full guarantees, to receive medical
attention.
Approximately 100 members of the Emiliano Zapata
Peasants Organization (OCEZ) of the Chiapa de Corzo
municipality gathered in front of the local court and
the mixed court of first instance, to
protest against irregularities in the purchase
operation of some properties.
Based on the resumption of written communication
between the EZLN and the government, members of the
Angel de la Independencia y la Paz (Angel of
Independence and Peace) organization --who held an
18-day fast last December-January in support of
Bishop Samuel Ruiz and in demand of a political
solution to the Chiapas conflict-- urged the
Secretary of the Interior, Esteban Moctezuma, to
publicly announce the suspension of the arrest
warrants issued against supposed leaders of the EZLN;
to withdraw the Army to the positions it held before
February 9, 1995; and to conduct peace discussions in
Mexico City because there are no safety conditions in
Chiapas.
April 7
According to an analysis by the Ministry of the
Interior, there was "a big deficiency in the
communication system" all along the past
administration's six-year term, allowing for the
constitution of the Zapatista Army of National
Liberation (EZLN). The report says it was a mistake
to disregard the efficiency of the control methods
that proved so "successful" in 1994 in suppressing
the Guerrero guerrillas. It also refers to the
corrupting action of drug dealers that permeated top
administration sectors.
Legislators of the Institutional Revolutionary Party
(PRI), the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD)
and the Labor Party (PT), concurred to support the
following point of agreement: "The Chamber of
Deputies invites the parties involved in the Chiapas
conflict to do their best at conducting a direct and
permanent dialogue, aiming at attaining a lasting
peace with justice and dignity." The Party of
National Action (PAN) refused to adhere because
according to Deputy Rodolfo Elizondo "it is not
convenient to anticipate to facts, the term for the
dialogue has not expired and many things can happen
in the meantime." The point was not passed.
At a moment when political actions seem to be over
military actions, the deployment of armed troops
involving approximately 20 thousand soldiers in the
conflict area has created 11 fronts, with the
participation of autonomous strategic units dividing
and surrounding the Lacandona Jungle.
Members of the Emiliano Zapata Proletarian
Organization (OPEZ) violently seized five banana
plantations of approximately 500 hectares, informed
Marco Antonio Gomez Vaillard, President of the Lazaro
Cardenas Agricultural Association. During the
operation 600 workers were evicted from the
plantations.
April 8
The "confidential" documents of the Ministries of
National Defense and the Interior, published this
week "reveal the toughness of the regime towards the
Chiapas conflict by calling their imminent
interlocutors 'transgressors' and 'mercenaries',"
points out the Fray Francisco de Vittoria Human
Rights Center and adds "it seems that nobody in the
government is really interested in peace, and rather
vehemently looks for the annihilation of the
Zapatista enemy." This is of great concern
particularly because the suspension term of arrest
warrants against members of the EZLN will expire in a
few hours.
The EZLN is not struggling alone, on the contrary,
"the eyes of the world are watching the type of
solution to be given after 16 months of incertitude,"
said Ofelia Medina, member of the National Democratic
Convention (CND). In a meeting held at the Angel de
la Independencia monument, the actress insisted on
the need to negotiate the cancellation of the arrest
warrants against the leaders of the EZLN and the
retreat of the Army to the positions it held before
February 9.
Six casualties and two wounded was the result of the
clash among villagers of the Manuel Velasco Suarez,
Salto de Agua municipality, for "quarrels" on land
problems, informed district attorney Jorge Enrique
Hernandez Aguilar.
According to the office of the state Attorney, one
dead peasant and another one seriously wounded, plus
six peasants arrested, was the result of the failed
attempt to recuperate five banana fields that had
been seized for the fourth occasion in less than one
year by members of the Emiliano Zapata Proletarian
Organization (OPEZ).
The economic and social margination of the indigenous
communities has caused the reduction in the life
expectancy to only 44 years, and an increase to 150
in the number of dead children for each 1,000 born
alive. Also, women have lost one centimeter in height
per year. Reports by the History Research Center for
Mesoamerica and the State of Chiapas (CIHMECH),
attached to the National Autonomous University of
Mexico (UNAM) indicate that daily consumption at
indigenous communities is under 500 calories,
equivalent to one fifth of the minimum considered by
the United Nations (2,400) as acceptable for a normal
diet. The limited nutritional level is closely
linked to the relative isolation of these communities
due to the lack of paved roads and to the "typical
mono-diet of the self-sufficient agricultural units:
corn and beans." It is the result of a number of
factors typical of poverty and marginality which
political expression has been condensed in five of
the Zapatistas' 11-point list of claims: work, land,
home, food, health and education.
April 9
The third edition of the "Sergio Mendez Arceo Award"
granted to defenders of human rights, was awarded to
actress Ofelia Medina. The organizing committee also
made a "special declaration" in behalf of Jorge
Santiago Santiago "protector of the Chiapas
indigenous groups" and currently held in the Cerro
Hueco prison on charges of participating with the
EZLN.
The Mexican Episcopate Conference (CEM) asked the
Mexican Army troops stationed at Ocosingo, and the
EZLN members, to guarantee the conditions to resume
dialogue and to respect the physical integrity of all
participants.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, 10,553
displaced people have returned to their communities
in Chiapas. This represents 46.57 percent of the
22,229 that were occupying the 16 shelters set up at
various municipalities and private homes.
The Ministry of the Interior announced its
participation "at the first meeting with the
Zapatistas, with responsibility, formality and
confidence in his role of representative of the
Federal government, and that it will expect to find
the same attitude on the other party. Dialogue must
be serious and not only a condition to extend the
amnesty term expiring on April 10."
The six peasants arrested by members of the public
security forces during the failed dislodgement of the
banana farms, were exchanged for six cops and a
secretary of the local court that were being held by
the peasants since the police operative.
At a meeting held almost in clandestinity, forced by
police persecution against their leaders, the 12
thousand members of the Workers Union of Ruta 100
(SUTAUR 100) agreed on keeping permanent pickets
outside of the dispatching booths; refusing to sign
any agreement with the city government; not accepting
the termination of the labor relationship; and,
demanding the intervention of the Human Rights
National Commission (CNDH). "There is a perfectly
planned action behind the illegal banruptcy
declaration announced prior to the Holy Week vacation
period. Some leaders have been apprehended and
arrest warrants have been issued against the other
members of the Executive Committee," said Ricardo
Barco, legal counselor of Ruta 100. Barco added that
months ago a slandering campaign was launched against
the Union when the government tried to link them with
the EZLN and make them responsible for the bad
financial situation of the transportation company.
April 10
The Secretary General of Sutaur 100, Venancio Felipe
Gil Sanchez, who has an arrest warrant in connection
with the recent events, stated that the current
situation and the resulting problems affecting both
workers and users, are a political problem because
"without any evidence we are being accused of
corruption, of having privileges and of financing the
EZLN." On the other hand, the Department of the
Federal Districts (DDF) has prepared a diagnosis on
Sutaur 100 and what they call its "political arm" the
Independent Popular Movement (MPI). The MPI is
charged with being closely linked to non-partisan
"radical groups" that look to gain a leading position
"by permanently opposing government policies."
After a harsh 12-hour negotiation, the delegations of
the EZLN and the federal government signed an
agreement by which they commit themselves to maintain
a permanent dialogue at the San Andres Larrainzar
municipality as permanent seat, starting April 20.
The dialogue has to be uninterrupted and both parties
agree to overcome any incident or discrepancy until
the "positive culmination" of the negotiation
process. In a press communiqu released two hours
before the "Joint Statement of San Miguel," the
Ministry of the Interior said the results of the
preparatory encounter were encouraging and called
"the initiative for dialogue of the Federal
Government a success." The Joint Statement of San
Miguel was signed by the representatives of the
federal goverment, the delegates of the EZLN, the
president of the Conai--(Samuel Ruiz-- and five
legislators of the Cocopa who acted as witnesses.
The Ministry of the Interior informed that this
initial agreement extendes the suspension of the
arrest warrants against the EZLN leaders.
The CNDH expressed its satisfaction on the resumption
of dialogue between the federal government and the
EZLN as, according to its president Jorge Madrazo
Cuellar, this represents "a big step towards
attaining peace." Madrazo mentioned that the CNDH
keeps three camps at the municipalities of
Altamirano, Las Margaritas and Ocosingo, to receive
all types of claims and help in the return of the
displaced groups.
The Bishop of Cuernavaca said this was the time for
Mexicans to reconcile and put an end to hatred and
vengeance," and added that with justice all
difficulties can be solved.
The President of the Party of the Democratic
Revolution (PRD) Porfirio Mu$oz Ledo, said it would
be very difficult to participate in the negotiations
for the National Political Pact if the government
refuses to discuss its "catastrophic" economic
policy. Mu$oz Ledo reiterated that the PRD will
accept to participate provided the problems in
Chiapas and Tabasco are solved.
"Only promises and unfulfilled offers have been given
to the armed conflict in Chiapas and to the solution
of the Posadas case," said Cardinal Ernesto Corripio
Ahumada. Cardinal Corripio thinks "we should not wait
longer for peace." On the other hand, the Basilica
de Guadalupe Abbot, Guillermo Schulemburg, said he
expected the meeting in San Miguel to be "a solid
basis for a fruitful dialogue on behalf of the
country."
Monitoring of television news programs, April 3-7,
1995
The Monitoring Media Program of the Mexican Academy
of Human Rights, (AMDH) continued with the monitoring
of four night news programs on the Mexican
television: Televisa's 24 Horas; Television Azteca's
Hechos; Channel 11's Enlace; and Multivision's Para
Usted. The main purpose of this program, that was
launched on February 9, 1995 is to analyze the
coverage and dissemination of information related to
the Chiapas conflict. Following are the most
important results in the period of April 3-7, 1995.
The four news programs showed again a trend to give
much more time to the economic situation of the
country with detriment to the coverage of other vital
issues. In contrast, the Chiapas case received very
little attention in spite of the important events in
the week: time given to Chiapas news from April 3 to
7 was 47 minutes and 32 seconds, similar to the time
granted in the week of March 27-31 (48 minutes and 25
seconds). The daily average time given to the
Chiapas situation was nine minutes. Media continue
showing little interest in offering sufficient
informaltion that helps the audience to form an
opinion on what happens in Chiapas. Despite the fact
that the term set by the Law for Dialogue,
Conciliation and Peace with Dignity in Chiapas to
resume dialogue between the government and the EZLN
was about to expire, media gave no attention to
information on Chiapas. Also, there was no
uniformity in the type of news on the Chiapas
conflict and each news program gave emphasis to
different issues.
The Chiapas events covered this week were:
1. The proposal of the PRD to extend to 60 days the
term of the Law for Dialogue, Conciliation and
Dignified Peace in Chiapas.
2. The statement on Chiapas made by President Zedillo
to Mexican journalists in Dallas, Texas.
3. The opinion of various actors with respect to the
limit date of April 10.
4. The EZLN communiqu informing on the meeting with
government representatives at San Miguel, Ocosingo,
Chiapas, on April 9.
5. The confidential message sent by the National
Mediation Commission (Conai) to the government and
the EZLN in an attempt to encourage a rapprochement
of the parties.
6. The demand of former PRD presidential candidate,
Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, to liberate all those under
arrest on charges of being members of the EZLN.
7. The visit to Mexico City of the Mayor of San
Cristobal de las Casas, Mario Lescieur.
In the individual analysis, Hechos and 24 Horas were
the only news programs to have increased coverage of
the Chiapas conflict. In the previous week, the
Television Azteca news telecast gave this subject 11
minutes and 31 seconds, and increased to 19 minutes
and 55 seconds in the week of April 3- 7. With
respect to 24 Horas, it gave the Chiapas conflict 14
minutes adn 35 seconds, four minutes adn 35 seconds
more than the time given in the week of Marchf 27-31.
To the contrary, Para Usted gave 19 minutes and 59
seconds to Chiapas news in the week of March 21-31
while giving only one third of the time this week:
i.e. six minutes and 10 seconds. Finally, Enlace
gave six minutes and 55 seconds to the Chiapas
conflict in the past week and six minutes and 52
seconds in the week of April 3-7.
The variable 'Other Officers' was given most of the
time: eight minutes and 55 seconds. President
Zedillo received one minute and 48 seconds; the
Mexican Army two minutes and three seconds mainly
referred to an information published on March 7 about
a concert offered by Army members in San Cristobal de
las Casas. Reporter Juan Sebastian Solis wrote "for
a couple of hours the inhabitants of San Cristobal
enjoyed a free concert offered by the Chorus and
musical band of the Army and Air Force," and added
"in this way the Army communicates with the
population offering the richness of the Mexican
music." The Secretary of the Interior only received
51 seconds and the Attorney General's Office was not
mentioned at all.
The Congress Commission for Peace and Concord
(Cocopa) received pretty much attention in Hechos and
Enlace: three minutes and 55 seconds and one minute
and 10 seconds, respectively. Para Usted and 24
Horas gave no time to the Cocopa. Total time for the
Cocopa was five minutes and five seconds.
On the other hand, the Conai received a total of two
minutes and 48 seconds. Coverage was high for the
Conai in Hechos: two minutes and 20 seconds, while 24
Horas only gave it 28 seconds. Neither Para Usted nor
Enlace gave any space to the Conai.
24 Horas gave one minute and 40 seconds to the EZLN,
while Hechos, Para Usted and Enlace gave the rebels
no time at all. It should be mentioned that due to
their schedules, none of these news programs received
on time the communiqu in which the Zapatistas accept
the proposal to dialogue in San Miguel on April 9.
The PRD was the party receiving most of the time:
eight minutes and 17 seconds, in connection with its
proposal to extend to 60 days the term of the Law for
Dialogue, Conciliation and Peace. This party was
also given good attention on the part of Para Usted
and Enlace, with two minutes and 40 seconds and two
minutes and 41 seconds, respectively. The PRI
accumulated six minutes and two seconds; the PAN 45
seconds, and the PT eight seconds.
With respect to net voice and image, the PRI had
three minutes; Other Authorities two minutes and 42
seconds, and the PRD two minutes and 25 seconds.
Miguel Acosta, Rodrigo Gomez, Manuel Martinez and
Aimee Vega.
Chart 1. Total time given by four news programs to
the main actors in the Chiapas conflict, April 3-7,
1995.
Chart 2. Net voice and image time given by four news
programs to the main actors in the Chiapas conflict,
April 3-7, 1995.
THE NGOs FORUM
"Despite the critical moments we are living, we are
confident that historic opportunities are there for
us and that it is our responsibility to support them,
from each one's scope and identity."
Samuel Ruiz Garcia, Bishop of the San Cristobal de
las Casas Diocese.
UIA SPACE FOR PEACE
To open up a common expression space and contribute
to the project of a just and dignified nation for all
Mexicans, is the purpose of teachers, students and
workers of the Iberoamerican University (UIA). The
university community acknowledges the need to
organize the civil society and is well aware of the
necessity to dominate over the armies and police
corps and look for a true peace through dialogue and
negotiation.
The purpose of this Space is to share, analyze and
disseminate accurate and timely news on the
political, economic and social events jeopardizing
public security and peace; Space from which an
organized action can be implemented to contribute to
the consolidation of peace in Mexico.
In order to materialize these principles, the
following lines of work have been developed:
* Offer accurate information to counterbalance the
biased handling of mass media, through
- the participation of UIA members in the
"Information Civil Mission" coordinated by the
Cadena Ciudadana por la Paz (Citizens Chain for
Peace).
- an information campaign within the campus
* Donation of food
- participation in the Caravana Todo para Todos -
Pastors for Peace.
- gathering of 20 tons of food and medicines, six
of which were donated by the university community,
eight were sent by the Peace Committee of San Luis
Potosi, two tons were donated by employees and
officers of Mercantil Probursa and five tons were
gathered by the Students Committee of the
Autonomous University of Chapingo.
UIA Space for Peace wishes to thank all university
members and people in general for their valuable
cooperation and informs that the gathering of food
and medicines as well as cash, is an ongoing
activity.
For cash contributions:
- Bancomer account No. 5-001-2506560-8; account
holder: Pablo Picardi.
- Bancomer account No. 3068983-0; account holder:
Ma. de Lourdes Cruz Acosta
- Food gathering: Office of the UIA Workers' Union
and the Teachers and Researchers Association.
* Installation of a camp at Taniperla, Chis., in
coordination with the Fray Bartolome de las
Casas Human Rights Center, within the Program of
Civil Camps for Peace. The purpose is to
implement community activities jointly with the
indigenous population.