INDEX
1. Chronology March 29-April 4, 1995.
2. Television News Media Monitoring
3. NGO Forum
Chronology March 29 - April 4, 1995
CHIAPAS
March 29
In a public communique, the watchdog organization Alianza Civica,
recommended President Ernesto Zedillo to order "the detailed
publication of his activities and those of his supporting offices" and
suggests that Congress should regulate "the petition right" and "the
right to be informed" as they are "ambiguously drafted". Also, at a
press conference, Alianza Civica (AC) and the Mexican Academy of
Human Rights (AMDH) announced their new civic program called
"Adopta un Funcionario" (Adopt a Public Officer) which has the
purpose of enforcing the citizenry right to "get acquainted with public
officers and better understand their attributions and limitations" as
provided in Articles 6 and 8 of the Mexican Constitution.
PRD affiliates and members of the Tonalteco Civic Front (FCT)that
had seized the town hall demanding the privation of privileges of
mayor Noe Vazquez Martinez on charges of corruption, were
violently evicted by approximately 300 fishermen armed with pistols,
sticks, machetes and stones.
According to Eraclio Zepeda, government secretary, Chiapas is
suffering the most severe crisis of modern history, only comparable to
the insurrection of 1868 or the 1914-1924 civil war. Zepeda said that
under the present circumstances, the future of the state is "not of
repression or pursue of those with ideas different from ours." He
stated that the political strategy of the government to achieve peace in
the state is based on "a peace with justice and development," based on
a comprehensive democratic reform and a new social justice pact.
The Coalition of Citizen Organizations in Chiapas demanded that the
federal government declares an "exception status for the state" and
urged the cancellation of the increase in the value added tax (VAT)
and of the economic measures implemented by the Zedillo
administration because they have a "double" effect on Chiapas.
Brazilian Bishop Pedro Casaldaliga harshly criticized the neoliberal
model "imposed" on Third-World countries. "Neoliberalism is
murderous and suicidal because it creates more and more poor people
and it becomes more and more difficult to provide the required public
services, while taking into consideration only the external debt
disregarding the internal debt that keeps spiralling. According to the
South American prelate, neoliberalism "is committing two crimes: the
first one, it creates more and more poor, and the second one, it denies
society by disavowing the state and its responsibilities." At a press
conference in San Cristobal de las Casas, Casaldaliga, one of the
most important expounders of the Liberation Theology in Latin
America, talked about the armed conflict in Chiapas. He said the
Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) is a "quite
revolutionary" movement, a paradigm, the best demonstration of
democracy I have ever experienced." It is, Casaldaliga underscored,
"a democratic revolution." He also praised the work of the National
Mediation Commission (Conai) headed by Bishop Samuel Ruiz
Garcia, saying it was "a worldwide phenomenon surging
spontaneously from the civil society and officially accepted as an
essential part of the dialogue process."
Indigenous members of the Pakal Norte organization, affiliated with
the Cardenista Peasant Confederation, blocked the Palenque-
Ocosingo highway, to put pressure on the purchase of 620 hectares of
the Agua Clara property, valued at 4 million 259 thousand new
pesos.
March 30
The EZLN proposed the Mexican government four possible sites for a
first meeting, all of them in the Federal District: The metropolitan
Cathedral, the Basilica de Guadalupe (Virgin's shrine), the
Autonomous National University (UNAM) and the office of the
United Nations (UNO). They also suggested a "Dialogue Agenda,"
with five main items or "five big issues" based on the "Protocol for the
dialogue and discussion of a peace agreement with justice and
dignity." One of the outstanding points refers to a "stable and lasting"
truce and the political and social participation of the EZLN members.
The Secretariat of the Interior thinks the EZLN proposal has some
points that "can be considered" but some others are "not viable" and
suggested to speed up the consultation process to mutually concur on
the agenda, the final bases and the schedule for the negotiations.
The fact that the Mexican Army prevented the "Society Dialogue"
from taking place at Aguascalientes, clearly shows "there are neither
physical nor political conditions for the dialogue between the EZLN
and the federal government," alerted indigenous organizations'
leaders. They also concurred that if a dialogue between the EZLN
and the federal government was to take place under current
conditions, it would be "extremely hard on the Zapatistas."
According to them, the fact that the Mexican Army is occupying the
Guadalupe Tepeyac village "reveals a double speech: the decision to
resume dialogue, announced to the media, and the actual situation
that contradicts the words."
A "presidential order" was the argument used by the Mexican Army
to prevent some 400 members of the National Democratic
Convention (CND) --two federal deputies included-- the civil society,
and Pastors for Peace, all participating in the "Everything for
Everybody" International Caravan, from meeting in Aguascalientes,
site of the August 1994 first massive act called by the EZLN to make
way to the civil society. Despite the difficulties encountered, the
caravan members conducted the meeting at Guadalupe Tepeyac with
Army helicopters flying over their heads and Army troops posted not
far from there. Subcomandante Marcos, on behalf of the EZLN, sent
a welcome letter that included a "complementary protocol" to be
incorporated to what they call a "universal social agreement." This
agreement proposes 11 issues demanding that reason may always
win over force, a safe future, education, health, land, home and work
for all Mexicans. Rosario Ibarra and Octavio Rodriguez said that the
Army's attitude "shows there are no conditions nor guarantees for the
dialogue because there is no flexibility on the part of the government."
There are not conditions either for the return of the Indians that left
their communities and are encamping in the mountains.
In a message sent to the participants of the Aguascalientes event,
former PRD presidential candidate Cuauhtemoc Cardenas said the
dialogue between the government and the EZLN will be a
"complicated" process and that everybody should throw aside the
attempts of those wanting the failure of the dialogue process to
unleash violence.
Contradictory reactions provoked among Catholic church members
the EZLN proposal to hold the meeting with the government at one of
their churches, the Virgin's Shrine (Basilica de Guadalupe) or the
Metropolitan Cathedral. The secretary general of the Mexican
Episcopate Conference and Guadalajara's auxiliary bishop Ramon
Godinez, said the Zapatista proposal was "not feasible," because
those sites are devoted to praying and not to discussing political
matters. Emeritus Bishop of Papantla, Genaro Alamilla Arteaga
declared himself in favor of the very much expected dialogue between
the EZLN and the government and said he agreed with each one of
the proposed sites as the dialogue can be the starting point to attain
the just and dignified peace being demanded, he said.
The National Commission for Human Rights (CNDH) categorically
asked the Chiapas government to punish the members of the state
Public Security forces, aided by the so-called "white guards," that on
February 4, 1995 violently expelled a group of Indians that were
occupying properties in Callejon Loma Larga, in the Nuevo
Zinacantan village (Chiapa de Corzo municipality).
Members of the Concord and Peace Commission (Cocopa)
considered that the EZLN response to the government dialogue
proposal was "audacious" and "highly positive."
Militants of the Revolutionary Unity faction of the PRI expressed at a
plenary meeting their most vehement protest against the federal
government's performance in the Chiapas conflict and also censured
the current economic situation. They said the government does not
have the possibility of taking actions to solve the Chiapas problem
because the "propaganda war has been clearly won by those wearing
a skimask."
March 31
The Mexican Army "complied with the law" and "did not act against"
the right of free transit or the freedom of speech during the
Aguascalientes incident. This was declared by officers related to the
judicial process initiated at the Attorney General's Office based on
two complaints against the Federal Army, filed by the National
Democratic Convention for having prevented its Caravan for Peace
from entering Aguascalientes. They also said the Army "fully
complies" with the presidential mandate to withdraw the federal
troops from the communities in the conflict zone.
The government has provoked "a civil war" in the communities after
the recent return of the displaced groups. This was informed at a
general assembly of the autonomous regions in Chiapas, being held at
San Cristobal de las Casas. The event, attended by 18 deputies of the
so-called "Indian Parliament" representing five pluri-ethnic
autonomous regions, with the participation of only two women, said
that "PRI members that had looked for shelter in Ocosingo and have
now returned to the communities, were beating and stealing the
belongings of the families that, despite their fears, had stayed in their
communities. The attackers are reportedly being supported by the
Army. This also happens at Maravilla Tenejapa where most of the
displaced groups are from Comitan.
Six peasants from the Miguel Aleman community, in the
municipality of Suchiate, were released after being held for more than
two months in the local prison due to land problems.
The eventual resumption of dialogue between the Mexican
government and the EZLN must not overlook the core problems to be
solved, such as the margination of Indians and the agrarian issue.
But first of all, it is necessary to promote conditions for the meeting,
said Pedro Arriaga, Vice-provincial of the Jesus Company.
According to the Mexican Academy of Human Rights (AMDH), four
of the most important news programs in Mexican television:
Televisa's 24 Horas, Television Azteca's Hechos, Multivision's Para
Usted, and Channel 11's Enlace, relegated to a third place the
Chiapas conflict, giving it very little coverage compared to that given
to the economic situation and the investigations into the assassination
of Luis Donaldo Colosio. AMDH's report on the monitoring of the
four news programs from March 20 - 24, stresses the lack of interest
on the Chiapas problem which "is explained by the new events in
connection with the economy and the commemoration of the first
anniversary of Colosio's death." However, "it is also evident that the
programs monitored showed no interest at all in giving information
on Chiapas. The AMDH report remarks the fact that the news
programs' audience did not receive any news regarding the situation
at the Lacandona Jungle and the Chiapas Heights conflict zones.
Some Chiapas civil groups including the so-called "true coletos" said
the dialogue between the government and the EZLN should take
place again in San Cristobal de las Casas. However, Amado
Avendano, on behalf of the Chiapas rebel transition government,
alerted on the government's "contradiction" at heralding a supposed
withdrawal of the Army and, on the other hand, "refusing to hold the
peace and reconciliation dialogue faced to the nation, in the Federal
District."
The Commission for Concord and Peace expressed: 1) its satisfaction
and recognition on the communique sent by the CCRI-CG of the
Zapatista Army. The communique basically reiterates the EZLN
resolution to resume a direct dialogue; 2) satisfaction for the response
given to this communique by the Ministry of the Interior stating that
most of the EZLN proposals are "feasible," which makes us think
they are willing to discuss differences; and 3) their reassurance to the
members of the Conai of their commitment to work for a peace with
justice and dignity in Chiapas.
In the opinion of Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Samuel Ruiz Garcia is the
"only bishop devoted" to the indigenous communities and proposed
that during peace talks the views of all the civil society be taken into
consideration and not only those of the directly affected. Menchu
added that the civil society has "the right" to be consulted.
The Civil Space for Peace (Espaz) endorses the EZLN determination
to dialogue as expressed in a public communique. Espaz is ready to
organize a new "peace belt" to contribute to the negotiation process in
Mexico City. "It is clear for us that the presence of the Mexican Army
in the Lacandona Jungle and the rest of the Chiapas territory, makes it
impossible to conduct the first encounter between the Mexican
government and the EZLN in this state." Espaz remarks that Mexico
City and other nearby sites have been offered by the Mexican
government as meeting places for the FMLN and the Salvadoran
government, the URGN and the Guatemalan government, and the M-
19 and the Colombian government. The opportunity given by the
Mexican government to other Latin American peoples cannot be
denied to the EZLN, formed up by Mexicans.talks shall not take place
at any religious temple.
April 1
The absolute lack of response on the part of the Federal government to
the demands and requirements of the Caravan for Peace, that marched
to Mexico City all the way from Chiapas, proves that the so-called
determination to dialogue is only words, said Antonio Hernandez,
leader of the Agricultural Workers and Peasants Independent
Organization (CIOAC) and Juan Vazquez Lopez, head of the
Ocosingo Coffee Growers Regional Organization (Orcao). Both are
deputies to the Indigenous Parliament participating at the Assembly
of Pluri-ethnic Autonomous Regions (RAP). The government, they
said, only wants the EZLN to lay down arms but does not plan to
solve the problems.
According to Juan Guerra, PRD deputy and member of the Peace and
Concord Commission, the relocation of seven presumed Zapatistas to
the high security prison of Almoloya de Juarez represents "the first
government's violation to the Law for Dialogue, Conciliation and
Dignified Peace in Chiapas, and a provocation mind mastered by the
tough groups within the PRI and the PAN, in an attempt to
hampering the dialogue between the government and the EZLN.
The seven alleged Zapatistas, arrested in Yanga, Veracruz, were both
physically and mentally tortured by the federal judicial police.
Tortures were concealed by the experts in medical jurisprudence and
also by the local court, denounced the National Commission of
Human Rights (CNDH) in the "recommendation" sent to the state
government of Veracruz and the Attorney General's Office (PGR).
Since February 8 when Gloria Benavides was arrested on charges of
"terrorism and possession of weapons," his house of Tenayuca 30 has
been illegally occupied by members of a police corporation that have
not been identified.
Cattle breeder Jorge Ale who used to give assistance to PRI peasants
of Lote 8 was found death after a group of 40 Indian members of the
PRD protested in the main plaza claiming that cattlers were
responsible for the slaughter at Lote Ocho. On March 14, a clash
between PRI and PRD members took place in Lote Ocho with four
PRD peasants killed and the rest being forced to run away due to
death threats by PRI militants. This was reported by the Fray
Bartolome de las Casas Human Rights Center.
After 18 days, the president of the Soconusco Commission of Human
Rights, Martin Hernandez Gutierrez, suspended his hunger strike
having obtained the liberation of 12 peasants from the Altamira
Group, Municipality of Huixtla, that had been held in the Tapachula
prison in connection with land problems.
The Fray Francisco de Vittoria Human Rights Center (CDH-FFV)
considers the response of the Ministry of the Interior and the Cocopa
(Commission for Peace and Concord) to the Zapatistas proposing to
hold dialogue in Chiapas territory, as an attempt to reduce the conflict
to a regional issue. "The government's speech is quite fragile," as the
detention of international observers in Tumbala and the shooting
against members of the International Caravan for Peace that were
taking food to the indigenous communities, "seriously question the
alleged conditions for the dialogue that have been used to put pressure
on the Zapatistas upon the passing of the Law for Dialogue and
Peace."
The evangelic church denounced that Chiapas has been turned into a
huge barrack, as thousands of soldiers with impressive weapons are
posted all over the state. The evangelics invited the Mexican
government and the EZLN to start negotiations to reach peace and
conciliation without losing face. They pointed out that peace in
Chiapas is shakily fixed due to the frequent clashes between peasants
and the 'white guards' (mercenaries) and coincided in that talks
should not take place at any religious temple.
The Vatican delegate, Girolamo Prigione, rejected the proposal made
by the EZLN to resume peace talks in the Basilica de Guadalupe
(Virgin's Shrine) "... because temples are not political sites and if
discussions were allowed in the San Cristobal Cathedral, it was in
response to a political moment that has been overcome."
April 2
Mexico is inaugurating a "new persecution model against indigenous
groups because they have just realized that we do exist, that we are
organizing and also because historically they have been afraid of us,"
said Margarito Ruiz of the Independent Front of Indian Peoples (FIPI)
at a meeting of the Coordinating Commission of the National
Indigenous April 1.
The absolute lack of response on the part of the Federal government to
the demands and requirements of the Caravan for Peace, that marched
to Mexico City all the way from Chiapas, proves that the so-called
determination to dialogue is only words, said Antonio Hernandez,
leader of the Agricultural Workers and Peasants Independent
Organization (CIOAC) and Juan Vazquez Lopez, head of the
Ocosingo Coffee Growers Regional Organization (Orcao). Both are
deputies to the Indigenous Parliament participating at the Assembly
of Pluri-ethnic Autonomous Regions (RAP). The government, they
said, only wants the EZLN to lay down arms but does not plan to
solve the problems.
According to Juan Guerra, PRD deputy and member of the Peace and
Concord Commission, the relocation of seven presumed Zapatistas to
the high security prison of Almoloya de Juarez represents "the first
government's violation to the Law for Dialogue, Conciliation and
Dignified Peace in Chiapas, and a provocation mind mastered by the
tough groups within the PRI and the PAN, in an attempt to
hampering the dialogue between the government and the EZLN.
The seven alleged Zapatistas, arrested in Yanga, Veracruz, were both
physically and mentally tortured by the federal judicial police.
Tortures were concealed by the experts in medical jurisprudence and
also by the local court, denounced the National Commission of
Human Rights (CNDH) in the "recommendation" sent to the state
government of Veracruz and the Attorney General's Office (PGR).
Since February 8 when Gloria Benavides was arrested on charges of
"terrorism and possession of weapons," his house of Tenayuca 30 has
been illegally occupied by members of a police corporation that have
not been identified.
Cattle breeder Jorge Ale who used to give assistance to PRI peasants
of Lote 8 was found death after a group of 40 Indian members of the
PRD protested in the main plaza claiming that cattlers were
responsible for the slaughter at Lote Ocho. On March 14, a clash
between PRI and PRD members took place in Lote Ocho with four
PRD peasants killed and the rest being forced to run away due to
death threats by PRI militants. This was reported by the Fray
Bartolome de las Casas Human Rights Center.
After 18 days, the president of the Soconusco Commission of Human
Rights, Martin Hernandez Gutierrez, suspended his hunger strike
having obtained the liberation of 12 peasants from the Altamira
Group, Municipality of Huixtla, that had been held in the Tapachula
prison in connection with land problems.
The Fray Francisco de Vittoria Human Rights Center (CDH-FFV)
considers the response of the Ministry of the Interior and the Cocopa
(Commission for Peace and Concord) to the Zapatistas proposing to
hold dialogue in Chiapas territory, as an attempt to reduce the conflict
to a regional issue. "The government's speech is quite fragile," as the
detention of international observers in Tumbala and the shooting
against members of the International Caravan for Peace that were
taking food to the indigenous communities, "seriously question the
alleged conditions for the dialogue that have been used to put pressure
on the Zapatistas upon the passing of the Law for Dialogue and
Peace."
The evangelic church denounced that Chiapas has been turned into a
huge barrack, as thousands of soldiers with impressive weapons are
posted all over the state. The evangelics invited the Mexican
government and the EZLN to start negotiations to reach peace and
conciliation without losing face. They pointed out that peace in
Chiapas is shakily fixed due to the frequent clashes between peasants
and the 'white guards' (mercenaries). They said that peace
Convention (CNI). The event is attended by approximately 30
representatives of indigenous organizations from the states of
Michoacan, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Morelos, Hidalgo and Chiapas, as
well as indigenous observers of the Tehua Nation from New Mexico,
USA, and members of the Democratic Convention for Peace in
Yucatan.
The Ministry of the Interior accepted the Cocopa's recommendation
that the dialogue between the federal government and the EZLN be
held "at any" of the six sites proposed within Chiapas territory. This
was interpreted as a tacit rejection to the EZLN proposition to
dialogue in the Federal District. The Commission's proposal was
drafted since March 25 but was kept in secret until one day after the
guerilla's offer was known. The EZLN communique is dated March
24. The official response of the Secretary of the Interior to the EZLN
regarding the encounter site has never been revealed.
With more than five thousand troops --according to non-official Army
sources, or at least 10 thousand, according to the EZLN-- occupying
the Patihuitz Gully, this has become the most heavily militarized
jungle area. In this Tzeltal region, at least one soldier for every four
inhabitants (others estimation is one soldier for every two inhabitants)
can be currently found. The presence of a civil doctor has never been
recorded, except for the international Red Cross post at San Miguel
village. Only four teachers were but no economists, no engineers, no
lawyers and no sociologists have been ever detected.
In a letter sent to the presidency of the republic, the EZLN, the Conai
and the Cocopa, the Mexican Front for Human Rights (FMPDH)
says that international right principles regarding armed conflicts
"must be observed by the parties in the talks to be held between the
federal government and the EZLN." It also remarks that in the context
of talks, "every form of repression or cruel and inhuman treatment
against women and children, including confinement, torture,
execution, massive detentions, collective punishments, destruction of
homes and violent evictions," shall be considered as criminal acts.
With resignation letters submitted by all officers, the Chiapas
government has started the layoff of approximately 30 percent of its
staff, including secretary of government Eraclio Zepeda and other
secretaries, directors of administrative units and other employees.
The ecumenical mission from Europe and the United States --that
toured Chiapas for a whole week-- said the solution in the state must
"no longer be looked for with weapons, but through a process of
dialogue and negotiation," that includes indigenous and peasant
sectors who are the main actors but "have been excluded from the
political process."
The National Bank of Rural Credit (Banrural) granted 2'300,000
dollars to two organizations of the Chiapas Sierra Madre, that will be
used to collect, process and trade standard organic coffee. From this
amount, 2'010,000 dollars will be for coffee producers of the San
Isidro Labrador organization, in Motozintla, who export their product
to the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and the United States. The
Otilio Montano organization, of the Sierra Madre, received the
balance of 200 thousand dollars.
April 3
In a letter sent to the Guadalupe Basilic Abbot, Guillermo
Schulemburg Prado, Subcomandante Marcos contends that the
government actions of February 9 when arrest warrants were issued
against several alleged Zapatista leaders, was a treason. In the letter
dated March 24, the rebel leader asks the abbot's authorization to
conduct the peace dialogue in this church. Schulemburg's formal
response was negative, arguing that the Basilica receives every year
approximately 1,700 pilgrimages, representing over 10 million people
and that there are always many people praying and taking part in
liturgical celebrations.
The Coordinating Commission of the National Indigenous
Convention (CNI) agreed on accepting "the distinction" of
participating in the EZLN-Federal government dialogue. The
Commission was invited to take part in the talks by the EZLN. The
CNI also considers it is urgent to insist on the dialogue being
conducted in Mexico City and urge the withdrawal of the federal
Army to the positions it held on February 8.
More than 500 hectares of primary forest that are part of the
communal property of the Lacandona groups, have been "devastated"
by the Tzeltal Indians located in the zone, denounced the Research
and Protection Center for the Lacandona Jungle.
Members of the official National Peasant Confederation (CNC)
supposedly "shot to death" a leader of the Agricultural Workers and
Peasants Independent Organization (CIOAC), in the municipality of
Las Margaritas.
Peasants of the "Casa del Pueblo" in the Venustiano Carranza
Municipality, who are also members of the Emiliano Zapata Peasant
Organization (OCEZ), reiterated their decision to keep the 23
properties under their control and made state authorities and land
owners of the region responsible for any harm they may suffer. The
OCEZ members denied that the agrarian authorities have complied
with the presidential decree of July 30, 1965 on the distribution of
50,152.95 hectares.
Cardinal Ernesto Corripio Ahumada restated his support to San
Cristobal de las Casas Bishop Samuel Ruiz Garcia in his mission to
look for peace in Chiapas.
Tzeltal Indians from the Ocosingo municipality have predated over
500 hectares of the common property of the Lacandona Jungle and
threaten to continue the devastation until their demands are solved,
informed the Research and Conservation Center for the Lacandona
Jungle (CICPLS). The CICPLS urged the state and federal
authorities to stop this "infamous devastation" that so far has caused
an ecological damage that will take 100 years to be reversed. It also
warned that bio-diversity in this ecosystem, which property rights
were granted by the government to the Lacandona ethnic group since
1972, "is in dire danger."
"We believe that the Secretariat of the Interior --said Cardinal Juan
Sandoval-- has behaved with great prudence. The Zapatistas have
been accused of hiding behind a skimask and a soutane, and to rebut
this, the best is that peace talks are not held in any church." The
Zacatecas bishop, Javier Lozano Barragan, said that more important
than the site "because neutral sites can be found all over Chiapas," is
the agenda and the will of the parties to end with social discontent.
The Tapachula Bishop Felipe Arizmendi mentioned that instead of
"pouring venom" in mutual accusations, every body should try to
correct his own defects.
We have clearly identified those properties that used to be part of the
forest and are now being used for farming, informed Oscar Gonzalez,
Undersecretary of Natural Resources and added that this land will
have to be returned to its original condition.
April 4
The EZLN argued that the dialogue with the federal government
cannot take place in the conflict zone communities due to the lack of
proper conditions and guarantees. Only if the Mexican Army troops
accept to withdraw, the EZLN would admit to conduct talks in
Chiapas.
Only six days before arrest warrants against the Zapatista leaders
expire, an EZLN envoy declared that the government will not frighten
the rebels. "What if the term expires? when will poverty expire? when
will our misery expire? what is expiring is not a term but our own
life."
According to Tapachula Bishop Felipe Arizmendi, peace in Chiapas
does not depend only on the government and rebels signing some
documents and making concessions one to the other. It is essential
that justice and fraternal reconciliation exists. "Enough of mutual
offenses, violent recriminations, suspicions and physical and verbal
aggressions. We no longer want the armies. We are tired of violence
and the dangers of a fratricidal war. It is urgent to find conciliatory
solutions based on firm justice, truth and love."
The ministerial statements of the Tojolabal Indian Sebastian Entzin
Gomez --used by the PGR as main evidence to accuse him of being
an EZLN leader-- has no validity as it was carried out in the absence
of a translator as required by the law. This irregularity adds to a
number of "inconsistencies and vagueness" plaguing his process on
charges of sedition, mutiny, terrorism, rebellion and conspiracy.
Hundreds of Honduran Indians marched to the capital city to show
their support to the EZLN. Demonstrations were held before the
Mexican Embassy in Tegucigalpa and the office of the United
Nations Organization.
Approximately 1,000 members of the CIOAC seized the town hall of
Las Margaritas demanding the dismissal of town councillor Romeo
Suarez Culebro, the disappearance of powers and the integration of a
plural municipal council.
The Conai (National Mediation Commission) sent the Secretariat of
the Interior and the EZLN, a confidential document containing the
"bases" to conduct the first meeting, previous to the direct dialogue
between the two parties. In the meantime, Bishop Samuel Ruiz
advised that due to the difficult conditions prevailing in the conflict
zone, contact with the EZLN rebels had been lost.
Members of the Worker-Peasant-Student Coalition of the Soconusco
(COCES) seized the administrative unit of the state government in the
capital city, with 30 government officers and employees inside of the
building. Their demands include financial support to 892 cacao
growers, auditing of the Frontera Hidalgo, Metapa de Dominguez,
Suchiate, Tapachula and Tuxtla Gutierrez town halls, and the
execution of social works.
A group of armed people, covering their faces with skimasks, shot a
truck carrying organic coffee, property of the Motozintla Sierra Madre
Indigenous organizations (Ismam). The assault added to a series of
aggressions against this organization, like the murder of two of its
members, the plundering of one of their storehouses, the kidnapping
of one of their leaders and the beating and illegal detention of one of
their accountants.
The President of the Human Rights Commission of the Federal
District (CDHDF) Luis de la Barreda, informed that torture is no
longer the most denounced violation and has descended to a 28th
place in the list of denounces on human rights violations. This is
explained by the enforcement of the law and the recent reforms that
invalidate the statement of a person under arrest if interrogated in the
absence of the counsellor. He pointed out that now the main cause of
complaint are the delays in judicial processes. He also said that the
human rights commissions will be worthwhile "only if they succeed
in modifying their areas of influence: human rights and their vicious
counterpart, power abuse."
TELEVISION NEWS PROGRAMS MONITORING, MARCH 27-
31, 1995
Between March 27 and 31, 1995, television news programs "24
Horas" of Televisa, "Hechos" of Televisi"n Azteca, "Para usted" of
Multivisi"n and "Enlace" of Channel 11 continued giving priority to
the coverage of Mexico's economic situation. Once again the Chiapas'
conflict was relegated to a second place, well below economic issues,
although relevant information was produced during the week, with
the communiqu issued by the Zapatista Army for National
Liberation (Ejrcito Zapatista de Liberaci"n Nacional, EZLN),
declaring that they are willing to solve the conflict by means of
dialogue and negotiations. On the other hand, the time conferred to
information on the Ruiz Massieu case was similar to that registed
during the previous week, but time received by the Colosio case
plumbeted. The main findings of the broadcast monitoring of the four
mentioned news programs are given below.
The four subjects considered in the contents analysis:
Chiapas, the economic situation, the Ruiz Massieu case, and the
Colosio case, accrued 5 hours, 15 minutes, 29 seconds in the analyzed
programs, slightly below the time registered during the week from
March 20 through 24 (5 hours, 23 minutes, 47 seconds). Conversely,
information on the country's economic situation increased 45 minutes:
from 3 hours, 32 minutes, 44 seconds during the past week, to 4
hours, 17 minutes, 45 seconds. The coverage of the Colosio case
decreased from 1 hour, 21 minutes to only 32 seconds, and the Ruiz
Massieu case kept its low profile with 8 minutes, 35 seconds.
CHIAPAS
With respect to the coverage of the Chiapas' conflict, it registered an
increase of more than twice the time devoted to it by the four news
programs: from 21 minutes, 20 seconds last week, it grew to 48
minutes, 25 seconds during the period from March 27 to 31.
However, the raise in the coverage of the Chiapas issue is hardly
significant if compared to the time devoted by all news programs to
the country's economic situation: of every five minutes devoted to the
economic situation, only one minute was conferred to Chiapas.
"Para usted" registered the longest time given to the Chiapas
issue, with 19 minutes, 59 seconds, seven times that of last week (2
minutes, 36 seconds); in this news program, the ration between times
given to the economic situation and Chiapas was only two to one. On
the other hand, "Hechos" devoted 11 minutes, 31 seconds to the
Chiapas issue, which is twice that registed during the week of March
20 to 24 (5 minutes, 40 seconds); the Television Azteca news
program displayed the largest differences with respect to time devoted
to the economic situation and Chiapas (nine to one). In "24 Horas"
the Chiapas' conflict accumulated 10 minutes, which also represents
an increase with respect to the past week (six minutes, 20 seconds);
the ratio between the economic situation and Chipas was eight to one.
Finally, "Enlace" devoted 6 minutes, 55 seconds to the Chiapas'
conflict during this period, similar to that of last week (6 minutes, 44
seconds); the ratio between the economic situation and Chiapas was
six to one.
The major events related to Chiapas that received coverage
during this week were:
1.- The EZLN's communiqu reiterating its willingness to
solve the conflict through dialogue and negotiations, while at the
same time proposing different sites for the talks in Mexico City and
the agenda for the dialogue. Reactions prompted by this communiqu
among different sectors of the population were also covered.
2.- The press release issued by the Ministry of the Interior,
which considers that some of the proposals of the EZLN to reinitiate
the dialogue are "worthy of attention", whereas others are
"unfeasible".
3.- The press conference held by the Commision for Concord
and Peace (Comisi"n de Concordia y Pacificaci"n, Cocopa), where it
was affirmed that the Ministry of the Interior had proposed the EZLN
different sites in the state of Chiapas to carry out peace talks.
4.- The transfer of alleged Zapatistas to the high security
prison of Almoloya de Ju rez.
It is worth pointing out that, except for "Para usted", no other
news program covered information related to the International
Caravan to Chiapas.
Conversely, "24 Horas" disseminated the press release of the
Ministry of the Interior asserting that 227 individuals have abandoned
the armed group and have, of their own accord, presented themselves
before the authorities. This news program also made reference to the
communiqu of the National Mediation Commission (Comisi"n
Nacional de Intermediaci"n, Conai) concerning the bases for dialogue
and conciliation in Chiapas, and included information about a
confrontation between community members and small owners in the
municipality of Venustiano Carranza, alongside the confrontation
registered at San Juan Chamula, owing to "religious differences [...]
between Evangelic and Catholic indigenous persons".
On this occasion, the variable Other Authorities received the
longest time in the four news programs: 7 minutes, 46 seconds. The
Ministry of the Interior received 2 minutes, 10 seconds, whereas the
PGR obtained 16 seconds. Neither Ernesto, Zedillo nor the Mexican
Army received any time.
The EZLN registered considerable time: 7 minutes, 29
seconds. "Para usted" was the program where the EZLN obtained
most time: 3 minutes, 10 seconds. In "Enlace" of Channel 11, the
EZLN was the actor that received most time: 2 minutes, 12 seconds.
In "Hechos" the Zapatistas registered 2 minutes, 1 second, and in "24
Horas" the time given to the EZLN amounted only 6 seconds.
The Cocopa received 5 minutes, 47 seconds, and the Conai
obtained 2 minutes, 29 seconds. With respect to political parties, the
PRD accrued the longest time: 3 minutes, 32 seconds; the PRI
obtained 1 minute, 36 seconds, and the PAN 1 minute, 10 seconds.
"24 Horas" covered the EZLN's communiqu most
peculiarly. In contrast to other news programs, the communiqu was
not considered worth mentioning during the presentation of the
transmission, which is the most important segment of news
programs, equivalent to the front page of newspapers. Neither the
contents of the communiqu nor its description received any time;
there was only a 6 seconds' comment at the end of the transmission of
the press release of the Ministry of the Interior in reference to EZLN
proposals. Announcer Amador Narcia, who temporarily substitutes
Jacobo Zabludovsky, read the whole press release of the Ministry of
the Interior and at the end he merely affirmed that "the EZLN
proposed that the first direct dialogue should take place in the Federal
District".
Once again, economic commentator Jos Antonio Prez
Stuart, of "24 Horas" blamed the EZLN for the country's economic
crisis. During his comments of March 29 -same day that the EZLN
issued the communiqu that this news program totally disregarded-
Prez Stuart asserted: "The behavior of Mexico's financial markets
during 1994 went hand in hand with political crimes and violent
events, such as that of Chiapas. As a matter of fact, the only possible
explanation that nationals and foreigners have found for the collapse
of Mexico's international reserves from more than 24 billion dollars in
December, 1993 to 17 million dollars at the end of the government of
Carlos Salinas de Gortari, is mainly due to the lack of confidence
generated by kidnappings, murders, and the guerrilla in Chiapas. This
produced great unsteadiness during the first two weeks of last
December, which translated into an additional demand of dollars.
These dollars were covered with resources formerly in the reserves,
that consequently decreased; the peso had to be devaluated". This
kind of comments reflects interpretive reductionism, since Mexico's
economic and financial crisis stems from deeper roots. At the same
time, the EZLN's capacity to induce a lack of confidence throughtout
the country was exaggerated. In any case, the actions of the EZLN are
one of the causes for uncertaintly, but neither the sole, nor the most
important one.
On the other hand, in "Hechos", economist Luis Pazos, who
has a weekly space in that news program of Television Azteca,
expressed negative opinions about the EZLN and the PRD. On
March 30 -one day after the EZLN had issued a communiqu
ratifying its willingness for dialogue and proposing sites and the
agenda for negotiations with the government- Pazos started his
comment saying: "When a bride does not want to get married she
always finds excuses to postpone the wedding. Something similar is
happening in Chiapas: EZLN members talk of peace and dialogue,
but they are always saying that the conditions for peace are absent".
Pazos further added that the EZLN "more than peace, wants to
remain as a permanent pressure group against the government,
supported on many occasions by a political party that considers it as
its armed wing. Marcos was quite happy living in a small hut with
his TV, VCR, and satellite telephone. He was visited by reporters,
received whosoever he wanted or wanted not (sic). Like that, many
would love to be guerrilleros (...) Let's hope they will listen to PRD
Senator Heberto Castillo and become affiliated to that party that has
always given them its support (sic). But we cannot continue violating
the law hidden in cassocks and ski caps. Let these men become
incorporated to democratic life, as they have done in El Salvador, and
in Colombia, because at this moment of crisis the country cannot
accept political blackmail".
On March 30, Pedro Ferriz de Con, commentator of "Para
usted", said: "Among the four proposals made by the EZ, two are
unlawful because no meetings can be held at places of worship
[Metropolitan Cathedral and Guadalupe Shrine]. The other choice is
the UN premises, but they cannot become involved in the political
problems of member countries. Still another is the National
University, but UNAM analysts ask whether they will bear arms". On
the following day, the news program of Multivision presented a note
where the reporter affirmed: "The Faculty of Laws [of the UNAM]
has said that the doors of the University must not be opened to
masked criminals (...)". However, he neither specified his sources nor
presented opinions to prove his assertion.
The examples of 24 Horas, Hechos, and Para usted, lead to
questioning the role that the media should play at a time when the
dialogue between the government and the EZLN seems close. News
programs must inform about the proposals made by both parties, and
about the progress and problems confronted by negotiations. The
attitude of "24 Horas" of totally ignoring the EZLN's communiqu
and not disseminating its contents is reprehensible and does not help
television audiences to obtain a full view of what is really happening;
contrarily, it contributes to misinformation. Also, unjustified attacks
against any of the involved actors must be avoided, as they affect the
perception of the public, and trendy information aimed at
disqualifying the proposals of the EZLN must not be transmitted, as it
can negatively affect the climate for negotiations. It is precisely at this
time when news programs must assume the most objective and
impartial attitude. Additionally, it is evident that news programs
increasingly focus their attention on information related to the
country's economic situation, in detriment of other fundamental
issues. The media continue to show little interest in developing
information that contributes to enrich knowledge and debate on what
is taking place in Chiapas.
NGOs' FORUM
COMMITTEE FOR THE LIBERATION OF JORGE SANTIAGO
SANTIAGO
Of February 9, 1995 President Zedillo announced that detention
orders had been issued against EZLN leaders and members. Jorge
Santiago Santiago, a theologian graduated from the Pontificial
University of Rome, is among those arrested due to their alleged links
with the EZLN. Jorge Santiago is a prominent member of the
organization Desarrollo Econ"mico Social de los Mexicanos
Ind!genas, DESMI (Economic and Social Development of
Indigenous Mexicans), that promotes and gives advisory to
production projects for Chiapas' indigenous persons and peasants.
Since his detention on February 10 at Teopisca, Chiapas,
national and international social organizations have claimed for the
liberation of Santiago, adducing that proofs are based on
presumptions and not on real facts. Furthermore, these organizations
have declared that Santiago's detention represents an additional
obstacle for the peace process.
At present, the Committe for the Liberation of Jorge Santiago
Santiago is in charge of promoting actions and initiatives to reverse
the capture sentence. Last March 11, the Committee undertook a
"Journey of solidarity with Jorge Santiago Santiago" that included
several activities. The most important were addressing letters to the
authorities demanding Santiago's liberation. Thousands of citizens,
among them the U.S. movie director Oliver Stone, have endorsed
liberation demands.
With respect to the criminal process, the Committe for the
Liberation of Jorge Santiago Santiago indicates that it has been
characterized by multiple irregularities that resulted in his
confinement at the High Security Prison of Almoloya de Ju rez in the
State of Mexico, and now at the Cerro Hueco Prison of Chiapas,
under case file number 18/95.
The government of Chiapas, through the director of prisons,
organized a press conference to let the media see the condition
Santiago is in, and the treatment given to the prisoner. From prison,
Santiago Santiago asserts that he was never a member of the EZLN,
and affirms that the legal process against him is absurd in view of the
type of proofs that have been presented, based essentially on the
declaration of Salvador Montes Garibay, actually at large, who
revealed Santiago's participation as a member of the Zapatista
leadership.
Santiago's advocates appealed the capture sentence,
considering it is deficient, based on the testimony of one sole witness
and on suspicion, without taking into account the proofs for each
offense, thus violating article 15 of the Constitution. Additionally, the
fact that Jorge Santiago was not summoned by the Office of the
Attorney General (PGR) during the period of the first inquiries, was
not taken into consideration, violating article 124 of the Federal Code
of Criminal Procedures. Finally, the Principle of Presumed Innocence
contained in the Universal Human Rights Declaration and the
American Convention of Human Rights, articles 11 and 8, both
recognized by the government of Mexico, was equally disregarded.
The First District Judge of Tuxtla Gutirrez, Chiapas, Juan
Manuel Alc ntara Moreno accepted the proofs presented by the
defense, and indicated as dates for the hearing Friday, April 7 at
11:00 a.m., and Monday, April 10, at 1:00 p.m. During the hearings,
Salvador Morales Garibay must extend his declaration and the
constitutional confrontation of witnesses between Santiago Santiago
and Salvador Morales Garibay will be effected.
In this context, the Committee for the Liberation of Jorge
Santiago Santiago considers it is indispensable to carry out a strong
campaign in favor of the innocence of Jorge Santiago. The following
actions are proposed:
* To address telegrams, letters, faxes or make telephone calls
demanding the liberation of Jorge Santiago Santiago to the following
government agencies:
Dr. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Le"n, President of the Republic
Faxes: (525) 271-1764, 516-5762 and 515-9141
Lic. Esteban Moctezuma, Minister of the Interior
Faxes: (525) 546-7350 and 546-5350
Telephones: (525) 592-0584 and 566-1459
Lic. Antonio Lozano Gracia, Attorney General of the
Republic
Fax: (525) 626-4475
Telephones: (525) 626-4419 and 626-4476
* To disseminate messages of support among the local, national
and international press.
* To have each organization and individual do the same in their
entour in order to strengthen this campaign.
Commit Pro Liberaci"n de Jorge Santiago Santiago
Medell!n No. 33, Colonia Roma, 06700 Mxico, D.F. - Mxico
Telephone and fax: (525) 525-0881