Ezln and Civil Society Urge Respect for Indigenous Rights Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Ezln and Civil Society Urge Respect for Indigenous Rights By Pilar Franco MEXICO CITY, (May 11) IPS - The Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) in Mexico and 2,000 representatives of civil society stressed respect for indigenous rights as a prerequisite for peace and change in Mexican society. After two years of keeping out of the public eye, the EZLN's charismatic leader "Subcomandante Marcos" brought to a close yesterday the Zapatistas' second gathering with representatives of organizations of civil society. Some 2,000 peasants, trade unionists, students, intellectuals and street children were convened by the Zapatistas in a rural village of the municipality of La Realidad -- a bastion of the guerrilla group -- in the southeastern state of Chiapas. As they entered and left La Realidad, participants were questioned and frisked by security agents searching for weapons and foreigners, who were banned from taking part in the gathering. The meeting was focused on the results of a Mar. 21 informal nationwide referendum in which 2.5 million Mexicans voted in favor of respect for the rights of indigenous people and an end to the government's "low intensity war" against the EZLN. The Zapatistas and non-governmental organizations agreed to divulge the results of the referendum. They also reiterated their call for Congress to approve a Law on Indigenous Culture and Rights drafted in 1996 by members of the parliamentary peace commission (Comision de Concordia y Pacificacion -- COCOPA). The law is part of the San Andres Accords signed by the administration of Pres. Ernesto Zedillo and the EZLN, which the government later disregarded. The Zedillo administration's attitude led to a suspension of the peace talks in September 1996. The EZLN accused the government of standing in the way of resumption of the negotiations, and opted for dialogue with civil society. The EZLN first appeared on the scene on January 1, 1994, engaging in just 12 days of fighting with the army before an truce was agreed to. The participants in the gathering in La Realidad left the area with the aim of creating an alternative nationwide network of information and participation "so we won't remain silent, and they won't touch any of us without us finding out," said Marcos. Prior to the referendum, around 5,000 unarmed, masked rebels toured the country, urging people to come out and vote. Through the Mar. 21 referendum, "we have found other pieces that help us imagine a bigger and more powerful" legal mechanism that would permit the recognition of indigenous people, said Marcos. Respect for indigenous rights is a prerequisite for any change in the political and social life of Mexico, the participants in the gathering agreed. Mexico's indigenous groups, which account for around 10 million of the country's 96 million inhabitants, make up the most marginalized and impoverished sector of society. In Mexico, there are more than 13,000 villages and towns where more than 70 percent of residents speak indigenous languages. Nearly one-third of indigenous people have not finished primary school, 51.6 percent of indigenous housing lacks electricity, and 90.4 percent lacks sewerage, according to official reports. Flanked by indigenous commanders Moises and Tacho, Marcos expressed his gratitude for the strength society gave the rebels who promoted the referendum all over the country. Laborers, homemakers, peasants and tenant farmers, people "without faces and without names, made such a big mobilization possible," he said. Marcos said that together, the EZLN and civil society would support "struggles wherever they are." "Together let us support the resistance to the privatization of the state-owned electric industry, as well as the students on strike in the National Autonomous University of Mexico" protesting hikes in fees, he added. The day before the meeting, Pres. Zedillo said the EZLN would sooner or later understand that no provocation or incident would succeed in tempting the government to crack down on the insurgent movement again. The president reiterated his "infinite patience" until "the other side understands that there is no other route but dialogue." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NPC Information Associates "Intelligence for the Underdog!" danceswithducks@mindspring.com 770-457-6758 ================================================================= 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-05.13.99-19:44:17-17611