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Mexico's Fox to take step toward peace in Chiapas
- Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2000 07:08:00 -0700
- From: Kerry Appel <kerry@thehumanbean.com>
- Subject: Reuters 12/04 ~ Mexico's Fox to take step toward peace in Chiapas]
By Lorraine Orlandi
MEXICO CITY, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Mexican President Vicente Fox will take a key
step toward ending the six-year-old Chiapas rebellion peacefully on Tuesday
when he sends Congress Indian rights legislation demanded by Zapatista
rebels.The move will come on Fox's fifth day in office and four days after Zapatista
leader subcommander Marcos said the application of the San Andres accords was
a condition for reopening peace talks with the government.Fox's proposal would make into law a 1996 agreement between rebels and the
Congressional peace commission known as Cocopa."Tomorrow the Cocopa initiative will be presented, and as the president
promised it will be sent to Congress to be discussed and considered,"
Interior Minister Santiago Creel said on Monday. "From today on, actions will
speak for this administration."The Zapatistas took up arms over indigenous rights on New Years Day 1994 in a
surprise uprising that left some 200 dead.They walked away from peace negotiations in 1996 after the government failed
to act on the San Andres accords, remaining at a bitter impasse since then
with former President Ernesto Zedillo's government as the armed conflict
simmered.But Fox's July 2 election ended 71 years of rule by Zedillo's Institutional
Revolutionary Party (PRI), reviled by the Zapatistas for presiding over
rampant social injustice in Mexico's southern backwater, and opened a door to
new talks.PRI COULD DERAIL PROCESS
The PRI, struggling to adapt in the wake of its defeat, could derail the
peace process if it blocks the accord in Congress, analysts warn.Federico Estevez, an ITAM University political scientist, said the PRI may
seize on the issue to demonstrate its power as an opposition force in the
Senate, where at least some of the PRI's 60 votes are needed to pass a bill
through the 128-seat chamber.Congress is divided, with none of the three leading parties holding a working
majority.Fox's first days in office saw a rapid-fire series of developments viewed as
positive signs for peace.Upon assuming the presidency on Friday, Fox ordered federal troops encircling
the rebels in Chiapas to return to their barracks while repeating his pledge
to act immediately to advance the San Andres accords.The next day Marcos made a rare public appearance at his jungle hide-out.
At a press conference, Marcos outlined three conditions that must be met by
the government before the Zapatista leadership would consider returning to
the table: implementation of the San Andres accords; freedom of some 100
jailed Zapatistas; and withdrawal of federal troops at seven Army bases
around Zapatista-controlled territory.FATE OF PRISONERS UNCERTAIN
The Fox administration has not made public declarations about freeing
Zapatista prisoners or withdrawing troops. But during his campaign Fox said
he would reduce the number of troops in the region if given a clear sign from
the rebels of their willingness to return to peace talks.Pablo Salazar, a former opposition senator and human rights lawyer who takes
office as Chiapas governor on Friday, said on Sunday that he would seek the
release of Zapatista prisoners.Marcos lashed out on Saturday at what he called Fox's neoliberal ideology,
marketing-based approach to politics and corporate style of government. But
he said the Zapatistas were willing to give the new president a chance after
seven decades of single-party rule."Mr Fox, if you choose the way of respectful, serious and sincere dialogue,
show your willingness with deeds," said Marcos, reading from a rebel
communique in his trademark black ski mask. "You can be sure you will have a
positive response from the Zapatistas."20:09 12-04-00
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