resending icchrla message in ascii

[icchrla@xxxxxxxxxxx]

January 7, 1994
For immediate release


  CANADIAN CHURCHES CONDEMN SERIOUS ABUSES BY MEXICAN MILITARY
   SENDING ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR TO MONITOR SITUATION IN CHIAPAS

The 18 Canadian churches and religious communities that make up the Inter-Church Committee
on Human Rights in Latin America (ICCHRLA) are seriously concerned about persistent reports
from human rights groups in Mexico of indiscriminate bombings and attacks on the civilian
population in Chiapas by the Mexican army.  "The Mexican military's crackdown on the
Zapatista Army of National Liberation is putting the lives of innocent civilians in danger," reports
Suzanne Rumsey, Associate Director of ICCHRLA who works extensively with Mexico.  "We
are also extremely concerned about reports of serious human rights violations against suspected
insurgents, including torture and summary executions.  We are calling on the Mexican
government to respect their responsibilities under the Geneva Conventions to which they are
signatory and ensure their troops respect international humanitarian law at all times during the
conflict."

ICCHRLA is also extremely preoccupied that the conflict is being used to target human rights
workers, union activists and members of other popular organizations who have spoken out against
the government's actions.  "The military and government officials are accusing people working
with human rights organizations who have protested against what the military is doing in Chiapas
of being guerillas," reports Rumsey. "We've also heard that members of the Independent
Agricultural Worker and Peasant Central were arrested.  We are very worried about the safety
of church and human rights partners in Mexico and call on the Mexican government to respect
the right of civil and human rights groups to voice their concerns without threat of persecution."

In response to a formal request for international human rights monitors from Bishop Samuel Ruiz
of San Cristobal de las Casas, co-signed by 23 members of the Mexican National Network of
Civil Human Rights Organizations, Suzanne Rumsey will travel to Mexico on Monday, January
10th as part of a church-human rights delegation.  "We have been asked to visit the zone of
conflict specifically to avert the real possibility of a blood bath and the persecution of human
rights and church groups," says Rumsey.  "Our goal is to accompany partners who have been
threatened and to gather objective first hand information about the current human rights situation.

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Given that this is an election year in Mexico, and the Mexican government's concern with its
international image, there is a lot of unreliable information being disseminated.  We will be
presenting the information we collect during our visit, as well as recommendations for appropriate
actions to the Canadian government during the Human Rights Consultations with the Department
of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa on January 19 and 20."

Suzanne Rumsey will travel to Mexico with the Right Reverend Stan McKay, Moderator of the
United Church of Canada, Marthe Lapierre of the Canadian Catholic Organization for
Development and Peace, Gerald McKenzie of La Ligue des Droits et Liberts in Montreal, and
James Weisgerber, General Secretary of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.  Three
members of Mexican human rights organizations will accompany the Canadian delegation.

The Inter-Church Committee for Human Rights in Latin America is a 20-year old ecumenical
social justice coalition supported by Canadian churches and religious communities representing
a wide range of denominations.  Its mandate is to monitor the human rights situation in Latin
America, disseminate information to the Canadian public and press the Canadian government to
develop diplomatic, trade and aid policies which encourage respect for human rights.


                  For more information contact:
                   Kathy Price, Media Liaison
              Tel. 416-921-0801; Fax. 416-921-3843