Melel News Synthesis: 5/27/99 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Originally published by Melel Xojobal Translated by irlandesa Press Synthesis Thursday, May 27, 1999 ************************************* RELIGION ************************************* La Jornada. RUIZ GARCIA SAYS HE WILL LEAVE CHIAPAS FOLLOWING HIS RETIREMENT. The Bishop of the Diocese of San Cristobal, Samuel Ruiz Garcia, said that after he presents his resignation to Pope John Paul II, he will leave Chiapas so as not to get in the way of the work of his successor, Don Raul Vera Lopez. He added that following his retirement he will continue to encourage work involving dialogue in Chiapas, and he will attend to the duties, along with two other bishops, of the presidency of the International Christian Secretariat in Solidarity with Latin America. *********************************** COUNTERINSURGENCY *********************************** Cuarto Poder. PURPORTED ZAPATISTA LEADER DETAINED IN ALATAMIRANO. The state government reported that Emilio Lorenzo Perez, alleged member of the Clandestine Committee of the EZLN, had been detained, accused of stealing cattle in a community in the municipality of Altamirano. They added that Lorenzo Perez was turned over to the penal court of Ocosingo, where the corresponding investigation has been opened. ********************************** Cuarto Poder. ZAPATISTAS ACCUSED OF HAVING STOLEN CATTLE FROM PURPORTED DESERTERS. The state government reported that purported zapatista deserters of the ejido of La Trinitaria, municipality of Ocosingo, presented a complaint against EZLN members from the ejido of Las Tazas, for the theft of ten heads of cattle and five calves. They added that an investigation had been opened in order to find those responsible for the crimes of theft with violence and property damage. ********************************* ACTEAL ********************************* Melel Xojobal. LAS ABEJAS ASK FOR HELP FROM CIVIL SOCIETY. In a letter directed to the UN, the Civil Society Las Abejas asked the relator of that body for Displaced Peoples to demand that the Mexican government carry out the San Andres Accords, so that the conflict in Chiapas might be settled, and the displaced can return to their communities of origin. They also said that they can no longer tolerate their situation, because they lack the basic necessities for survival, and they are being hounded by the paramilitaries. ******************************** Cuarto Poder. CHENALHO MUNICIPAL JUDGE DISMISSED. In an assembly held last Tuesday, rural and traditional authorities of Chenalho dismissed the municipal judge there in protest over his release of Pantelho judge, Antonio Meza. They explained that Antonio Meza's detention - carried out by residents of the community of Canolal - was because of his having supported the arrest warrant for Victorio Arias Perez, allegedly involved in the Acteal massacre. They reported that they replaced him with Andres Ruiz Arias, who is the local secretary of the National Campesino Organization (CNC). ****************************** Cuarto Poder. STATE GOVERNMENT ASKED TO INSTITUTE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES IN CHENALHO AND PANTELHO. The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) asked the State Secretary of Government, Rodolfo Soto Monzon, to take preventative measures in order to avoid confrontations and human rights violations in the municipalities of Chenalho and Pantelho. They added that this request was a result of incidents arising from the recent detention of PRI Victorio Arias Perez, allegedly involved in the Acteal massacre. ****************************** CHIAPANECO CONFLICT ****************************** La Jornada. PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION DAMAGING PEACE PROCESS IN CHIAPAS. During the closing ceremonies of the meeting of priests from Tabasco and Chiapas - held in the city of Villahermosa, Tabasco - the Bishop of the Diocese of Villahermosa, Florencio Olvera Ochoa, said that the start of the presidential succession is hampering the peace process in the state of Chiapas. He added that the political parties are more interested in choosing their presidential candidates than in resolving the problems currently confronting the country. ****************************** JUSTICE ****************************** Cuarto Poder. COMPLAINT TO BE LODGED AGAINST AUTHENTIC COLETOS. The state opposition block, made up of the PRD, the PAN, PVEM and PT, reported that they will lodge a criminal complaint with the public minister, against those who participated in the attack against PRD Federal Deputy Gilberto Lopez y Rivas during a meeting held to analyze the state indigenous rights legislative proposal. They added that the group of attackers was made up of members of the San Cristobal Civic Front, also called the authentic coletos, and by municipal officials. ***************************** COMMUNITY CONFLICTS ***************************** Cuarto Poder. SEARCH CONTINUES FOR STOLEN CROSS IN MUNICIPALITY OF CHALCHIHUITAN. Residents of the municipality of San Pablo Chalchihuitan reported that they are continuing to look for the sacred cross, made of gold and decorated with precious stones, which disappeared from the municipal mayor's office. Theye explained that the cross had been safeguarded for 200 years in the Catholic church there, until councilperson Sebastian Gomez Gomez ordered its removal. In response to these incidents, the residents of Chalchihuitan are holding the municipal president responsible for the theft, and they are demanding that the whereabouts of this religious piece be investigated. ****************************** PARAMILITARIZATION ***************************** La Jornada. DEMONSTRATION AGAINST DISARMAMENT LAW. The Coordinator for the Human Rights Program at the Ibero-American University, Santiago Corcuera, said that he does not agree with the Congress of the Union legislating the proposal by the Chiapas government on Amnesty and the Disarmament of Civilian Groups with the country's Constitution. He added that pardoning those who have committed human rights violations and crimes against humanity is an action in violation of international law. *********************************************************** NUEVO AMANECER PRESS-PRENSA NUEVO AMANECER-N.A.P. 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