SIPAZ: Armed Attack on Bishops (english) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: sipaz@serve.com Sat Nov 8 00:39:41 1997 SIPAZ Action Alert URGENT ACTION ALERT of SIPAZ November 7th, 1997 Armed Attack on Bishops Samuel Ruiz Garcia and Raul Vera Lopez At 6:40 PM on November 4, a caravan that included the bishops of the Diocese of San Cristobal de las Casas, Samuel Ruiz Garcia and Raul Vera Lopez, was ambushed in a rural part of Tila in northern Chiapas. Two of the vehicles were sprayed with gunfire as they traveled on a remote dirt road. Three pastoral workers were wounded: Jose Pedro Perez Perez, Jose Vazquez Perez, and Manuel Perez Perez. While it is not known who fired the shots, the place where the attack occurred is known as a center of operation of the paramilitary group "Paz y Justicia" (Peace and Justice). Bishops Ruiz and Vera were in the middle of a pastoral mission to the norther n region. They announced that they will continue their community visits, returning as scheduled on November 9. Also, on November 6 in San Cristobal de las Casas the sister of bishop Samuel Ruiz was attacked while she was in the offices of the diocese. Mrs. Maria de la Luz Ruiz Garcia received serious head injuries and is now in critical condition at the hospital o f Tuxtla Gutiirrez. Background In spite of the important progress in the democratization process represented by the July 6 national elections, events in Mexico and in particular in Chiapas show that justice and peace for the Mexican people are not at hand. We view these violent acts against the life of the bishops of San Cristobal and personal of the diocese in general, as part of a plan of aggression against the Catholic Church and its leaders. Msgr. Samuel Ruiz is president of the National Commission for Mediation (CONAI), the mediator in the conflict between the EZLN (Zapatista Army) and the Mexican government. He has become the target of a press campaign that accuses him of destabilizing the peace process. For several months, some local a uthorities in northern Chiapas have padlocked Catholic chapels and prohibited the visits of Catholic priests and other pastoral agents. After a pastoral mission of Msgr. Raul Vera in May 1996, the paramilitary group Paz y Justicia attacked several of the communities he visited, killing a number of people, destroying medical and food supplies, vandalizing chapels, and driving people from t heir homes. These latest attacks add fuel to the ongoing conflict in the northern region of Chiapas that has to date resulted in 300 dead and 4000 people displaced. In another troubling development, recently the violence has extended from the northern region of Chiapas to other municipalities. For example in Chenalho, in recent weeks the press has reported 15 deaths, 25 wounded and 200 displaced families, including b oth PRI and Zapatista supporters. Meanwhile, the threats and repression against Catholic pastoral workers go unpunished, in particular in the north of Chiapas. Recommended Action Please send faxes or letters to the officials listed below, asking them to investigate this and other acts of violence, to punish those responsible, and to guarantee the security of Msgr. Samuel Ruiz Garcia, Msgr. Raul Vera Lopez and the other pastoral wo rkers of the Catholic Church. PLEASE RESPOND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (See sample letter below) The SIPAZ team San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas Adresses: Lic. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon Presidente de la Republica Palacio Nacional: 06067, Mexico, D.F. Fax: int-52-5-516-5762 / 515-4783 email: webadmon@op.presidencia.gob.me Emilio Chuayffet Chemor Secretario de Gobernacion Bucareli 99, 1er piso Col. Juarez 06699 Mexico, DF - Mexico Fax: int-52-5- 546-5350 Jorge Madrazo Cuellar Procuraduria General de la Republica Paseo de la Reforma No. 75 Col. Guerrero 06300 Mexico, D.F. Fax: int-52-5-626-4419 Sample letter Dear We are very concerned about the November 4 attack on the caravan that included the bishops of the Diocese of San Cristobal de las Casas, Samuel Ruiz Garcia and Raul Vera Lopez, in the municipality Tila. It is well known that that area is a center of ope rations of the paramilitary group "Paz y Justicia." This attack, as the attack against the sister of Don Samuel Ruiz, is apparently part of a campaign against members of the Diocese of San Cristobal. It is highly regrettable that in the past, such attacks have met with seeming indifference of the state a uthorities and have gone unpunished. Therefore I request your immediate intervention to see that those responsible for these attacks are apprehended and to stop the violence and other illegal activities of such paramilitary groups. It is difficult to imagine how the peace process can move f orward in such a climate. Finally I request that you take measures to insure the security of Mons. Samuel Ruiz Garcia, Mons. Raul Vera Lopez, and all the pastoral workers of the Catholic Church in Chiapas. Sincerely, For more information, go the the SIPAZ website at http://www.nonviolence.org/sipaz Explore the Nonviolence Web at http://www.nonviolence.org/ ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytcamer-11.08.97-22:28:50-32629