AUT: English Chiapas al Dia 171 I

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ENGLISH VERSION OF "CHIAPAS AL DIA" BULLETIN No. 171
CIEPAC
CHIAPAS, MEXICO

SPECIAL BULLETIN 03

(Wednesday, September 1, 1999)

AUGUST:  CHRONOLOGY OF VIOLENCE (III/III)


We are gathering together in this Bulletin a chronology of the events from
August 25 to 30, 1999.  The information has come from the state and
national press and from denunciations and press conferences held by various
organizations and bodies.

8/25/99:  At 10 AM, 40 unarmed women and 3 men in the community of San Jose
La Esperanza, showed up in the road, in order to demonstrate against the
Army patrol.  Hours later, the Army arrived.  They shoved the women and
detained three of the tojolabales.  The indigenous demanded the release of
their companeros, upon which the Army fired at them, wounding two
indigenous, who were hospitalized.  Pedro Cervantes Aguirre, Brigadier
General of the General Staff - and brother of the Secretary of National
Defense - led the military operation.  He also struck one of the
indigenous, garroted him and kicked him in the ribs.  The three were thrown
on the ground, kicked in the stomach by the soldiers, had their hands bound
and taken to the military camp in Maravilla Tenejapa.

8/25/99:  More than 1500 indigenous and EZLN and ARIC-Independent
sympathizers held a march and gathered in front of the military camp at
Amador Hernandez, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Army from their
lands and freedom of movement.  At the same time, three state PRD Deputies
were visiting the community, in order to learn about the situation there.
They attempted to go onto a 2 hectare piece of land, where the Army had
built their camp and destroyed plantings.  A hundred military police
officers with riot shields prevented them, leading to a verbal
confrontation between Ivan Camacho Zenteno, the Director of Political
Affairs for the State Government, who has remained in the camp, and the
legislators.

8/25/99:  The actress Ofelia Medina, along with non-governmental
organizations and the "SOS For Chiapas" Civil Initiative, denounced - in
the Chamber of Deputies -the "belligerent actions" that are endangering
peace and worsening the political crisis in Chiapas.

8/25/99:  Carlos Payan, COCOPA member, stated that the federal government
should intervene in Chiapas in order to put a stop to the climate of
tension and violence generated by Governor Roberto Albores.  "I nonetheless
have the impression that he is only carrying out the dirty work with which
he has been entrusted."

8/25/99:  The National Immigration Institute cited Marco Ugarte, a
photographer for the US agency, Associated Press, who had been sent by that
company to cover events in the Amador Hernandez ejido.  Two officials
insulted him and spat upon him in San Quintin.

8/25/99:  The Solidarity Collective with the Zapatista Rebellion held a
sit-in in the Plaza Catalunya in Barcelona, in order to protest what has
been going on in Amador Hernandez, the increase in militarization and
attacks against international observers.

8/25/99:  Opposition political parties and the COAO demanded the
resignation of interim governor Roberto Albores Guillen.

8/25/99:  The PAN in Chiapas was reviewing whether or not it would ask for
Albores Guillen's resignation.

8/25/99:  "SOS For Chiapas" activists in San Diego, California, demanded
the withdrawal of the Mexican Army from Chiapas.

8/25/99:  Campesinos of the CIOAC Independent, in the municipality of Las
Margaritas, expressed their opposition to the "policies of terror and
blood" of substitute governor Roberto Albores.  At a press conference, they
accused him of supporting paramilitary groups than have destroyed
Evangelical churches, beaten up indigenous, killed innocent persons, as
well as carried out kidnappings, such as the one that occurred on August
14, when 5 indigenous were held for more than 72 hours.

8/25/99:  The National Indigenous Congress made an urgent call to the
various indigenous organizations and communities to carry out acts of
resistance, such as rallies and sit-ins, at military camps throughout the
country, in order to stop the escalation of the war against the EZLN.

8/25/99:  Roberto Albores Guillen, interim governor, said:  "I will not
resign as governor of Chiapas."

8/25/99:  Peace and Justice, a paramilitary group in the northern region,
lifted the checkpoint in the municipality of Tila that was blocking the
passage of observers.

8/26/99:  The Department of National Defense (SEDENA) stated that a group
of 40 masked persons attacked a military contingent in the Maravilla
Tenejapa region with stones, sticks, machetes and knives, resulting in
machete injuries to seven soldiers.  They characterized the incident as "a
clear provocation, seeking an excessive reaction by the troops."  Three
"aggressors" were detained in the action:  Ramiro Vazquez Rodriguez, Andres
Perez Jimenez and Daniel Gomez Lopez.  The Secretary of Government, Diodoro
Carrasco, said that one should not assume that government strategy has
changed because of these incidents:  that of maintaining a stable climate,
of social peace and of attention to the legitimate demands of the
indigenous peoples.

8/26/99:  Zapatista sympathizers held marches in Ocosingo and Altamirano in
order to protest Albores Guillen's policies.  They accused him of provoking
a "war between indigenous brothers."

8/26/99:  Jose Antonio Pescador Ozuna, Under Secretary of Population and
Immigration Services for the Department of Government, stated that the
Mexican government does not have a persecutory attitude, nor is it against
the presence of, foreign observers in Chiapas, but it does demand that the
country's legislation be observed.  He added that there are between 300 and
400 foreign observers in Chiapas from human rights organizations, who have
been allowed to carry out their work without any obstacles.

8/26/99:  At the Permanent Commission tribunal, the PRD demanded the
resignation of chiapaneco governor Roberto Albores Guillen.  They also
demanded that President Zedillo put aside the attempt at a military
solution and opt for a change in policy in the country's domestic policy
that would bring about reconciliation, and not confrontation.

8/26/99:  A group of PRIs entered a civil peace camp in the Morelia ejido,
attempting to expel the civil observers.  They even threatened to
incarcerate them.  That same night, PRIs took 6 members of the community
prisoner, without explaining the reasons, and they threatened to take over
the Autonomous Municipality facilities after they attacked the offices.
The detainees' houses were stoned and looted.

8/26/99:  The Secretary of Government, Diodoro Carrasco, informed the
COCOPA that, in order to reduce political tensions in Chiapas, a decision
had been made to suspend construction of the road that would cross through
the community of Amador Hernandez.  Other options would be studied, such as
diverting the road from San Quintin to Nuevo Chapultepec.

8/26/99:  Carlos Payan, COCOPA member, said that the only inciting the
governor had done to the "chiapaneco flock" had been that of creating "a
kind of Kosovo in Chiapas, and that alone should be enough for a political
judgment to be made against him for his dismissal."

8/26/99:  Rafael Macedo de la Concha, Attorney General for Military
Justice, stated that the shots fired by the Army against indigenous in the
municipality of Las Margaritas "did not break the cease-fire called in
1994."  He said that it "was an act of provocation against the armed
forces" by EZLN support bases, who were carrying sticks, stones and
machetes.  Because of "meteorological" problems, after 24 hours in military
hands, Ramiro Vazquez, Andres Perez and Daniel Gomez (names released by the
SEDENA), or Enrique Lopez, Estanislao Lopez and Carmelino Mendez (according
to the EZLN), were turned over to the Attorney General's Office of the
Republic, and they were prevented from communicating with their lawyers.
The military prosecutor warned that the Army "would continue acting with
the prudence necessary to avoid acts of violence.  They want to taunt the
soldiers and get a confrontation, but the armed forces will continue
behaving maturely."

8/26/99:  Raul Vera Lopez and Samuel Ruiz, Bishops of San Cristobal, said
that peace in Chiapas is "seriously damaged" and the latest incidents, in
which the Army fired on indigenous, "can be interpreted in no other way
than as provocations of violence."

8/26/99:  Jose Antonio Gonzalez Fernandez, President of the PRI National
Executive Committee, stated that the events in Chiapas are "sporadic
outbreaks of violence."

8/26/99:  Representatives of 70 social, human rights and intellectual
organizations came out for "the immediate withdrawal of the Army from
Chiapas, respect for the right of freedom of movement in the national
territory, as well as of freedom of expression and association, and the
complete carrying out of the San Andres Accords and the Law for Dialogue
and Peace in Chiapas."

8/26/99:  Roberto Albores Guillen, interim governor of Chiapas, stated that
what happened in San Jose La Esperanza, in the municipality of Las
Margaritas, is just an "incident" that would not affect the "calm" in the
state.  "The only thing there is to be sorry for is the attack suffered by
the soldiers," he added.

8/26/99:  Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, head of the capital government, and PRD
aspirant for the presidency, called the military incursion "provocatory."

8/27/99:  Neil Harvey, researcher, stressed that:  "The government's policy
is to contain social discontent and to isolate the zapatista phenomena.
There has been a lot of social spending over the last few days (?) in order
to confront the discontent and to buy a little social peace."

8/27/99:  The "SOS For Chiapas" initiative, promoted by student, human
rights, civil, urban, artists, teachers, and other organizations, called
for the promotion of actions for peace in Chiapas.

8/27/99:  Javier Elorriaga denounced an attack, a car crash in the Angel de
la Independencia in Mexico City during a sit-in against the war in Chiapas,
where the attacker warned:  "First call for Chiapas."

8/27/79:  The three indigenous detained by the Army in San Jose La
Esperanza were released upon payment of 17,000 pesos bail.

8/27/99:  Civil organizations in Chiapas met with the COCOPA and demanded
the departure of the Army, an end to military harassment and a political
judgment against interim governor Roberto Albores.

8/27/99:  PRD Deputies visited San Jose La Esperanza and stated:  "We have
confirmed (Roberto) Albores' lack of authority, we have the facts to ask
for a political judgment.  Let him leave the state in peace, let him stop
provoking confrontations between civilians and soldiers."  They confirmed
that the soldiers had not been relocated, nor had the work on the Amador
Hernandez highway been suspended.

8/27/99:  Ivan Camacho Zenteno, interim governor Roberto Albores' political
operative - who remained in the military camp in Amador Hernandez - warned
that he had no instructions whatsoever to suspend the work.  He added that
"the soldiers are already making fortifications to defend themselves,
that's why they're cutting down more trees."  This confirmed the EZLN
communique:  "The federal Army troops continue in Amador Hernandez, and
they are continuing their work of fortification, provisioning and arms
emplacements, announcing that they will be remaining there for an
indefinite time period."

8/27/99:  Emilio Rabasa, "Coordinator for Dialogue," stated that the EZLN
is trying to draw out the conflict because now it is "a way of life."  He
said the government is willing to negotiate the conditions set by the EZLN,
and that the "incidents" that occurred show that the zapatistas "don't want
to negotiate."  He denied that the government was planning to attack
indigenous communities, or that it had already done so.

8/27/99:  Following a demonstration by 800 zapatistas in the Morelia ejido,
Aguascalientes IV, PRIs released six indigenous whom they had detained.
The community said that the PRIs had received military training, and the
situation is at the point of exploding into violence.

8/28/99:  The PRD announced the existence of 16,450 Mexican Army troops in
13 indigenous communities bordering, and on the outskirts of, the Montes
Azules biosphere reserve in the municipality of Ocosingo, where EZLN
insurgent forces are presumed to be located.  They noted that the presence
of rapid response special forces is striking, as well as artillery
regiments and motorized cavalry, with materiel, including 81 mm. mortars
and 106 mm. high precision, long range and penetration cannons.  There are
2000 troops in Taniperla, 500 in Perla de Acapulco, 2000 in San Caralampio,
450 in Guanal, 800 in Amador Hernandez, 2000 in San Quintin, 2000 in La
Soledad, 500 in La Sultana, 1000 in Patihuitz, 300 in La Garrucha, 3000 in
Ocosingo, 750 in Palestina, 150 in La Trinitaria, and so on.  There are
also 14 Rainbow Task Force groups, 5 Special Forces Airmobile Groups
(GAFE), one unit of the Rapid Intervention Force, a cavalry regiment and a
regiment of Special Operations infantry.  There are 10 Mixed Operational
Bases in Chiapas, four Mexican Navy detachments, and so on.

8/28/99:  The COCOPA visited the community of Amador Hernandez, where they
verified that Governor Roberto Albores had not given instructions to
suspend the construction of the road, as the Department of Government had
announced.  General Fermin Rivas himself, the Commander of the 39th
Military Region, confirmed that the soldiers would be remaining in the
community.  At the same time, people were shouting:  "Chiapas, Chiapas,
it's not a barracks, Army get out!" "The San Andres Accords are now, not
later!"  Roberto Albores' political operative told the deputies that there
were no orders to stop the road.

8/28/99:  The interim governor of Chiapas, Roberto Albores Guillen, spent
more than 20 million pesos in 6 months on publicity in order to promote his
image.

8/28/99:  The authorities (7 directors) of the new municipalities, created
by the interim governor, expressed their protest over governing until
December of 2001, and they agreed that there were at least 2 or 3 military
positions in all of them.  Pedro Santiz, president of Maravilla Tenejapa
said that, following the events in San Jose La Esperanza, at least 5000
military forces arrived.

8/28/99:  Tens of thousands of workers and citizens marched in Mexico City
against President Zedillo's proposal to privatize the electricity industry.

8/28/99:  Campesino organizations in Chiapas demanded an end to the
military incursions (OCEZ-BFP, OCEZ-CNPA DI).  The situation "reflects the
social instability and demonstrates the state government's inability to
govern and incapacity to peacefully resolve the conflicts."  They
characterized the interim governor as authoritarian and anti-democratic.

8/28/99:  Department of Government sources said that there was never
confirmation that the project to build a highway in the Montes Azules
region would be completely suspended, just the stretch where the community
of Amador Hernandez is located.

8/30/99:  The Inter-Religious Council of Mexico, during a meeting in
Acteal, called for "the renunciation of violence as an institutionalized
means of resolving conflicts."

8/30/99:  Seventy members of the "SOS For Chiapas" caravan arrived in San
Cristobal de las Casas with 20 tons of humanitarian aid for the communities
of La Realidad and Morelia, among others.

8/30/99:  Organizations making up the Civil Observation Network (RECIO), of
San Cristobal de Las Casas, warned of "possible confrontations" between
PRIs and zapatistas in the community of Morelia.  They also accused interim
governor Roberto Albores of orchestrating a xenophobic campaign that has
also been extended to non-chiapaneco Mexicans, and of inciting PRI groups
to establish checkpoints and to harass campesinos.

8/30/99:  The State Attorney General's Office suspended the arrest warrants
against UNAM strikers and campesinos from the community of Amador
Hernandez, accused of various crimes arising from their opposition to the
building of the road and the presence of the federal Army.

8/30/99:  Opposition parties in Chiapas demanded that President Zedillo
"give an emphatic response of peace in Chiapas, through the political
path."  They demanded the renewal of dialogue, the carrying out of the San
Andres Accords and the demilitarization of the state.

8/30/99:  The ARIC Democratic organization joined in the demand for the
withdrawal of troops from Ocosingo.


Onesimo Hidalgo and Gustavo Soto

Center   of   Economic   and    Political    Investigations   of  Community
 Action,   A.C.
CIEPAC
CIEPAC, member of the "Convergence of Civil Organizations for Democracy"
National Network (CONVERGENCIA), and member of RMALC (Mexico Action Network
on Free Trade)

 ******************************************
Translated by irlandesa for CIEPAC, A.C.
******************************************

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