Melel News Synthesis: 5/21 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Originally published in Spanish by Melel Xojobal Translated by irlandesa Press Synthesis Friday, May 21, 1999. ********************************* COMMUNITY CONFLICTS ********************************* Cuarto Poder. CONFRONTATION BETWEEN PURPORTED ZAPATISTAS AND CAMPESINOS IN LAS MARGARITAS. The Government delegate in the Border region, Francisco Torres Vera, reported that there was a confrontation in the Francisco Villa community, municipality of Las Margaritas, between residents of that community and some 300 purported zapatistas, leaving six people wounded. He explained that the confrontation took place because the purported zapatistas were trying to set fire to machinery being used in the construction of a road. He added that the attackers were identified as members of the San Pedro Michoacan Autonomous Council. ********************************** Cuarto Poder. CIVIL RESISTANCE ACTIONS ANNOUNCED IN NICOLAS RUIZ. The Nicolas Ruiz Municipal Assembly announced they would be carrying out civil resistance actions so that the government would respect their customs and meet their social demands. Among their demands are the cancellation of arrest warrants, the return of property titles stolen from them during the police-military operation in 1998, and the release of Armando Jimenez, detained on May 8. They also demanded that the State Congress release funds that belong to the Council. The Assembly said that the conflicts are being provoked by the 23 PRI's who were expelled for not having carried out agreements, and they are holding them responsible for any confrontation that might occur. *********************************** CHIAPANECO CONFLICT *********************************** Diario de Chiapas. ALBORES GUILLEN ALLEGES EZLN LEADERSHIP LOST THEIR CHANCE TO NEGOTIATE WITH HIM. The substitute governor of Chiapas, Roberto Albores Guillen, said that the EZLN leadership lost their opportunity to negotiate with his government, and for that reason dialogue is taking place directly with the indigenous communities. He added that it is not necessary to give up one's way of thinking or one's political affiliation in order to receive social and economic help from his government, but that authority should be respected and violence should not be resorted to. He also said that many EZLN support base communities are requesting government help, because they are poor and marginalized. ************************************ La Jornada. BISHOP SAYS HE IS CONCERNED THAT EZLN IS CONTINUING TO ARM INDIGENOUS. The Bishop of Tapachula, Felipe Arizmendi, said that it is worrisome that the EZLN is continuing to arm the indigenous communities of Chiapas. Meanwhile, he urged the federal army to withdraw their troops from that region, as a demonstration of their willingness to reinitiate dialogue. He added that, as the new Secretary General of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), he would try to take advantage of the experiences of other countries, such as Colombia, where there is a peace process going on, in order to find a solution in Chiapas. ************************************ La Jornada. LABASTIDA BLAMED FOR LOW INTENSITY WAR IN CHIAPAS. PRD Deputy and Cocopa member, Gilberto Lopez y Rivas, said that the Secretary of Government, Francisco Labastida Ochoa, is responsible - along with the government of Chiapas - for the low intensity war that exists in the state. He added that, despite the presidential statements of having patience viz the armed conflict, the counterinsurgency strategy is continuing in order to lessen the EZLN's strength. He added that this would undoubtedly be increased with Labastida Ochoa's candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic. *********************************** ELECTORAL *********************************** Cuarto Poder. CHALCHIHUITAN MAYOR COULD BE DISMISSED. Local PRI Deputy, Martin Gomez Sanchez, reported that the current municipal president of Chalchihuitan, Sebastian Gomez Gomez, could be dismissed in Assembly this Saturday, where State Congress representatives and Department of Government officials will be present. He explained that the interest in dismissing him stems from his inability to deal with and to resolve the people's demands. He added that Gomez Gomez is also implicated in the theft of a Gold Cross that belongs to the town, since he helped the alleged thief, Willo Dominguez, the son of former Mayor Antonio Dominguez Gomez, escape from jail. Lastly, Gomez Sanchez said that the people also want the trustee there to leave, who is accused of having taken precious stones out of the communities in the municipality. ************************************* PARAMILITARIZATION ************************************* Cuarto Poder. SENTENCE OF FORMER SOLDIER IMPLICATED IN ACTEAL APPEALED. The Special Prosecutor for Acteal reported that he would be appealing the two-year sentence handed down to former soldier Mariano Perez Ruiz, who is accused of having trained PRI indigenous in Chenalho who participated in the Acteal massacre in the use of weapons. He added that the appeal is in the process of being prepared, since the federal judge set a deadline of May 25 for the presentation of the appeal. ************************************* RELIGION ************************************* Sin Linea. THIRD DIOCESAN SYNOD CLOSED. The Bishops of the Diocese of San Cristobal, Samuel Ruiz Garcia and Raul Vera Lopez, celebrated the closing mass of the Third Diocesan Synod this Thursday. During the celebration, Don Samuel said that, thanks to the efforts of many people, the diocese has achieved a maturity that has allowed it to become more conscious of its role in history. Meanwhile, Don Raul Vera spoke about the situation being suffered by thousands of displaced indigenous, about the increase in violence and about paramilitary groups. ************************************ La Jornada. INDIGENOUS PRIESTS ASK FOR FULFILLMENT OF SAN ANDRES ACCORDS. At the National Indigenous Priests meeting being held in Oaxaca, hundreds of priests representing various ethnic groups demanded that the government carry out the San Andres Accords and that there be an end to the marginalization of the Indian peoples in the country. In an analysis they made of the social and religious reality of the indigenous communities, they said that it is necessary for the church to walk with the ethnic groups, in order to reach an authentic dignity and so that they themselves can lead their individual and collective development. *********************************** ARMED CONFLICTS *********************************** Cuarto Poder. REPORT OF PRESENCE OF ARMED GROUP IN COMALAPA. The PT Councilperson in the Frontera Comalapa municipality, Jose Luis Carrillo, reported the presence of an armed group in that region, made up of campesinos and humble people in dissent. He added that their disagreements are with the federal and state governments, because they have left them in poverty and marginalizaiton. He explained that he did not know the group's name, and he made it clear that they have not yet engaged in any violence. ********************************* AGRARIAN ********************************* Cuarto Poder. AUTHORITIES NOT HELPING CHIMALAPAS CAMPESINOS. Residents of the Diaz Ordaz ejido, municipality of Cintalapa, denounced that they have not yet received help from the authorities, and they are still not working, in response to the threats made by campesinos of the state of Oaxaca to dislocate them. They added that this situation could lead to a confrontation between the parties in conflict. ********************************* RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS ********************************* Cuarto Poder. BOARD WILL BE CREATED TO DEAL WITH RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS. The Secretary of Government, Rodolfo Soto Monzon, reported that state authorities will create a Religious Affairs Board, which will seek to lessen religious conflicts in the communities. He also reported that there have been more than 20 cases of religious differences this year in the municipalities of Comitan, Villa Las Rosas, Socoltenango and Las Margaritas. ******************************* AUTONOMIAS ******************************* La Jornada. CONTINENTAL FORUM OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN BEGINS IN MICHOACAN. At the opening of the Continental Forum of Indigenous Women of the Americas, that is being held in the state of Michoacan, leaders from 14 countries said that it is necessary to break some of the people's cultural norms, so that they can make progress in their regional, national and international participation. Meanwhile, the Autononomous Plural Indigenous National Assembly (ANIPA) reported that that body is carrying out a new program, in order to establish a new relationship with those making public policy, wiothout losing their identity or culture. *********************************************************** NUEVO AMANECER PRESS-PRENSA NUEVO AMANECER-N.A.P. 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