MEXICO UPDATE Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit MEXICO UPDATE #143 October 8, 1997 Produced by Equipo Pueblo ----------------------------------- This edition of the MEXICO UPDATE contains three sections: Human Rights/Justice; Politics/Democracy; and Economy/Trade. Comments welcome; e-mail Pueblodip@laneta.apc.org or fax Mexico City at 525-672-7453. ----------------------------------- HUMAN RIGHTS/ JUSTICE Zedillo Faces French NGO's in Paris During his state visit in Paris, President Zedillo met with a group of French NGO's working on Human Rights issues that warned they would block any trade agreement between the European Union and Mexico if no radical change happens in this country with respect to human rights. The NGO's said that Mexico has the worse levels of "impunity and aggression in Latin America", and mentioned the increasing militarization of the country and in Mexico City. Zedillo defended the legality of the military actions and said that although the violation of constitutional safeguards is still very critical, it is necessary to recognize the efforts made by the government to solve this situation. He also said that he could not accept Mexico being called the worse country in Latin America in this respect, and blamed many of the NGO's opinions on the bad communication existing between them and his government. At the end of the meeting the NGO's issued a document titled "impossible dialogue with the Mexican government" in which they ask for concrete measures that improve the observance of constitutional safeguards. (La Jornada, Reforma, 6 October). Some Political Reactions to the French NGO's The main parties in the Mexican Congress demanded further inquiries into the human rights "crisis" permeating Mexico. However, government officials, like Carlos Rojas, Secretary of Social Development, argued that the analysis made by the French NGO's was biased with clear political interests. Jorge Carpizo, the Mexican Ambassador in Paris, said that the "rough" debate between the Mexican President and the NGO's would not affect the course of trade negotiations with the European Union because the Mexican government has shown good will to dialogue (La Jornada, Reforma, 8 October). Amnesty International Sends New Set of Recommendations Amnesty International (AI) sent a series of recommendations to the Mexican Government to improve the observance of human rights. These were issued by Pierre Sante, the Secretary General of AI who could not have an interview with President Zedillo during his visit to Mexico last September. They include the need to "create an independent and federal entity to investigate and sanction the violation of human rights", "sign and ratify the Inter- American Convention on the Forced Disappearance of Persons", "liberate more than 150 prisoners of conscience", "put an end to impunity", "relieve armed forces from their duties of enforcing public security and from conducting investigations " and, lastly, AI called the Mexican government to "comply with the norms of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights before the end of the century". Among the data provided by AI during its visit to Mexico : there have been more than 40 cases of extra-judicial executions, 70 of torture and 500 illegal detentions, only in the January-September, 1997 period. Zedillo visits Chiapas Before leaving for Europe, President Zedillo visited San Cristobal de las Casas, in the state of Chiapas, where he said that the indigenous "rebellion could not be justified any longer because social conditions are different than those in 1994" (when it irrupted). He called the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) to renew the peace talks, adding that in the last three years public spending in the region has mounted to 56,000 million pesos (some $7,200 million). However, Bishop Samuel Ruiz said that since the EZLN started its rebellion, things have not changed and they are even worse, and that any solution is up to the government and not the indigenous. Moreover, President Zedillo declared to the French newspaper Le Monde that he does not believe possible any solution in the short term and accused EZLN's Sub-commander Marcos as an "idealist". He said that the "intransigence" of the Zapatistas does not allow for any solutions that may be of the benefit of other organizations in Chiapas and the "Mexican society in its entirety". (La Jornada, 2 October). Chapa Bezanilla Extradited from Spain The former prosecutor of the Attorney General's Office, Pablo Chapa Bezanilla, who was arrested in Spain after fleeing from Mexican authorities, arrived on Sunday in Mexico City on a scheduled flight, extradited by the Spanish authorities. Some versions say he returned to Mexico voluntarily. He was immediately taken to the Reclusorio Oriente. Chapa Bezanilla is accused of delinquent association, simulation of material evidence, and violation to the laws on inhumation and exhumation. He will have to respond to charges of illegal use of attributions and authority, and coalition with public servants. However, there are strong possibilities that he may be released on bail. He has declared that he only acted upon orders from superiors, and therefore Antonio Lozano Gracia, former Attorney General and actual Secretary General of the National Action Party, may be requested to appear before judges. (La Jornada, Reforma, 6, 7, 8, October). POLITICS/DEMOCRACY Cardenas Tours Europe Mexico City elected mayor, Cuahutemoc Cardenas, visited France, Belgium and Spain with the purpose of sharing experiences and seeking possibilities of cooperation. In France he met with Lionel Jospin, the French Prime Minister, Laurent Fabius, President of the French National Assembly, and Robert Hue, Secretary of the French Communist Party. He also met with renowned French intellectuals like Regis Debray and Alain Touraine, and with the Mayor of Lille, Pierre Mauroy, President of the Socialist International . In Brussels, Belgium, he spoke with members of the European Parliament (EP), notably with Jose Ignacio Salafranca, President of the EP Delegation to Central America, Cuba and Mexico. In Spain, Cardenas had an interview with Jose Maria Aznar, President of Spain, and with leaders of the Socialist Spanish Workers Party (PSOE). During his visits, Cardenas stressed that public safety will be one of the main cores of his policies as mayor of Mexico City. After his European tour, Cardenas headed for Chile to take part at the Socialist International meeting, of which his party, the PRD, is a member (La Jornada, El Financiero, Reforma, 5,6,7 October). Zedillo Warmly Welcomed In Paris After having dinner in the Elisee Palace, visiting a Mexican art exhibit in the Louvre Museum, and receiving honors at the feet of the Triumph Arch, all of it together with French President Jacques Chirac, President Zedillo received the keys of the city of Paris from the hands of Jean Tiberi, Mayor of that city. Tiberi said that "the Mexican institutions achieved an uncontested democratic legitimacy symbolized by the election of the new mayor Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, whom I had the pleasure to receive in this mayoralty only a few days ago" (Reforma, 8 October). Zedillo Speaks in Paris About Democratic Changes in Mexico In Paris, President Zedillo said to French businessmen that the first elections in 70 years for a Mexico City mayor were held "thanks to his own initiative" and that the result does not lead to a cohabitation of power like the one in France. He said that even when the PRI may have lost legislative power in Congress, he won the presidential elections with 50% of the total voting and that makes the functioning of public administration fixed. He concluded his visit to France with a meeting with Lionel Jospin, the French Prime Minister, who praised Zedillo's success in democratizing Mexico and emerging from the economic crisis. Zedillo Arrives in Bonn. President Zedillo departed to Germany on Tuesday where he was received by German President, Roman Herzog, who greeted him with military honors. Later on dinner, Herzog praised Zedillo extensively saying that "Germany advocates for a strategic association with Mexico on equal terms", and greeted Zedillo for the democratic changes in Mexico. He said that "the democratic elections on last July, and the loyal competition among political parties, deserve an unanimous, worldwide, recognition", and concluded saying that "we will continue deepening our relations with Mexico, (a country) that emanates a magic fascination to us". Zedillo replied that "Mexico wishes to maintain an open and permanent dialogue with Germany, and promote democratic and world peace principles, as well as mechanisms that look after international security". He also backed proposals for a renewed Security Council in the United Nations where Germany "plays its role" (Reforma, 8 October). Zedillo Declares to Der Spiegel During his visit in Paris, President Zedillo declared to the German newspaper Der Spiegel that for the elections of the year 2000, the traditional "dedazo" system for choosing the PRI's presidential candidate would be abolished. Zedillo also spoke about his will to forge better cooperation with the European Union and about his unwillingness to make any changes on his economic policies, or even make any negotiations on this matter, or adopt any measure "that makes inflation grow, promotes capital flight or that determines that the Mexican becomes poorer than what he is" (La Jornada, 5 October). The OCDE President Praises President Zedillo During his meeting with President Zedillo in Paris, Donald Johnston, President of the Organization for Cooperation and Development (OCDE), praised his administration because according to him Mexico has followed the "bible" of this rich countries organization which is : "good governance, good respect of Law and economic growth". Johnston said that Mexican authorities "have recognized that economic growth is only possible if you include people and improve the social infrastructure of the country, and if the benefits of economic growth are transferred equitably among the population. That is the OCDE's bible". He also praised the reform the Mexican government has made of the workers pension system (La Jornada, 5 October). ECONOMY/TRADE Chirac and Herzog Support Free Trade Agreement With Mexico French President, Jacques Chirac, offered President Zedillo that his government would not restrain on any effort to accomplish a trade agreement with Mexico, during a dinner held in his honor in Paris. Later, on his arrival in Bonn, Zedillo was also backed by German President Roman Herzog, who said that Mexico is trusted by the international markets and that he hopes the negotiations for a free trade agreement between Mexico and the European Union can be achieved soon. (Reforma 6, 7, 8 October). Herzog Praises Economic Reforms in Mexico Greman President Herzog recognized to President Zedillo that Mexico is the first trading nation in Latin America and one of the 10 most important in the world. He said that it is necessary to conclude as soon as possible an investment protection treaty that strengthens German economic efforts in Mexico. Zedillo replied saying that he was interested in opening a "House of Germany" in Mexico, to foment the investment of small and medium companies from that country. Zedillo Announces Further Privatizations in Paris President Zedillo met with French businessmen in order to attract investment into Mexico, which has been slowing down in the recent years. He announced that airports would be privatized in few weeks, and that ports and railways are following. He also said that basic petrochemical industry will be open to investment, and asked for "patience" in respect to the privatization of natural gas industries (La Jornada, 7 October). Rural Credit Unions Risk to Disappear According to Isabel Cruz, Director of the Mexican Association of Credit Unions of the Social Sector, forty out of ninety rural credit unions are in risk of disappearing due to the lack of support from the government. She said that according to estimates made by the Secretariat of Finance, 60% of the total amount of credits in the countryside are concentrated in only 10% of the transactions, which means that these resources do not benefit most of the peasant families (La Jornada, 6 October). The Private Sector Demands Austerity The Mexican Republic Employers Confederation (Coparmex) demanded from the government austerity measures in the budget of 1998. According to them it is necessary to achieve the economic goals previewed in the Development Financing National Program (Pronafide). However, Gerardo Aranda Orozco, president of that confederation, said that the budget cuts should affect bureaucratic expenditure, that could diminish 10% every year, and not the flow of resources to fundamental areas like investment, maintenance of infrastructure and social spending. "Austerity must fall on bureaucracy and not on society", they declared (El Financiero, 5 October). The WTO Reports on Mexico The World Trade Organization invited Mexico to extend its economic liberalization to all its trading partners and avoid regional schemes. WTO officials said that Mexican policies deriving in trading blocks depict certain potential problems to the organization. In their report, the WTO stated that Mexico is a positive example of sustained trade liberalization despite the economic turbulence it has gone through. However, the report notes that the benefits of these trade policies must be shared more visibly by a larger part of the population (La Jornada, 8 October). 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