Zapatistas Reject Mexican Indigenous Rights Bill

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Tuesday May 1, 2:51 AM (via Yahoo)

Zapatistas reject Mexico's indigenous rights law

SAN CRISTOBAL, Mexico, April 30 (AFP)--Pro-indigenous Zapatista rebels said
Monday they would continue their uprising, rejecting a new indigenous rights
law passed by Congress.

The statement, signed by enigmatic rebel leader "Marcos", also stressed the
rebels would not return to the negotiating table with the Mexican
government.

Last week, Mexico's Senate passed a bill granting explicit constitutional
rights to all indigenous groups in Mexico.

The measure, granting far-reaching autonomy to indigenous communities,
passed by a unanimous vote in the Senate late Wednesday. It now needs
approval by the Chamber of Deputies and the legislatures of Mexico's 32
states before becoming law.

The Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN), which rose up in the
impoverished and mostly indigenous Chiapas state in early 1994, had been
demanding the indigenous rights bill as one of three conditions to resuming
peace talks with the government.

President Vicente Fox has met one Zapatista condition by withdrawing seven
army garrisons from Chiapas. The release of some 100 jailed Zapatista
rebels, the second condition, is almost complete as only 10 rebels remain to
be freed in Tabasco state.

The indigenous rights bill was drafted in 1996 by a negotiating committee
that met with the Zapatistas. It was sent by Fox to Congress on December 5,
five days after he was sworn in. He had campaigned to put an end to the
rebel conflict in Chiapas.

The law would reform the constitution to grant indigenous communities the
right to create their own political, economic, social and cultural
organizations, and to impart justice according to their customs and
traditions, with respect for human rights.

Indigenous communities would also have the right to all natural resources
within their territories, excluding mineral rights which are national
property.

The bill would also promote indigenous languages, cultural identities,
strengthen their representation in congress and outlaw all forms of
discrimination against indigenous people.

Eleven million Mexicans belong to 57 different indigenous groups.

 
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