Melel News Synthesis 4/20


Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit


Originally published in Spanish by Melel Xojobal
<melel@laneta.apc.org
Translated by irlandesa


Press Synthesis
Tuesday, April 20, 1999.

*********************************
OPERATIONS
*********************************

La Jornada.  OPERATION IN EL BOSQUE ANNOUNCED.
        The Attorney General of Chiapas, Eduardo Montoya Lievano, announced
that two Security Police trucks had left for the municipality of El Bosque,
in order to prevent a purported takeover of the mayoralty by EZLN and PRD
sympathizers.  He added that this same operation would be carried out in
other places, wherever there was a possibility of dissident groups
attempting to take over municipal presidencies.

*********************************
Cuarto Poder.  TAKEOVERS OF MORE MAYORALTIES NOT TO BE ALLOWED.
        In response to rumors that zapatista bases want to re-establish
other Autonomous Municipalities, the state Attorney General's Office said
that they would not allow a small group to violate the state of law.  They
explained that the Zapatista takeover of San Andres had been permitted by
Albores as an act of goodwill, but they added that measures have already
been taken to prevent any new mayoralty takeovers.

**********************************
Excelsior.  ALLEGED ZAPATISTAS ATTACK POLICE.
        The state Attorney General, Eduardo Montoya Lievano, reported that
alleged zapatista bases from the community of Pena Limonar, municipality of
Ocosingo, attacked three police officers and a Public Ministry secretary,
when they were transferring an indigenous accused of theft to the municipal
seat.  He added that, during this incident, the indigenous snatched two
firearms from the police officers, an R-15 and an M-2.  Montoya Lievano
said that the Public Ministry has begun an investigation aimed at arresting
those responsible for the crimes of robbery with violence, injuries and
offenses against officials.

*********************************
PARAMILITARIZATION
*********************************

Cuarto Poder.  REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION INTO ARMED PRI GROUP
        IN THE COAST.
The President of the state PAN, Carlos Raymundo Toledo, said that he agrees
that the Attorney General's Office of the Republic (PGR) should investigate
the alleged appearance of an armed group in the Coastal region, made up of
PRI militants.  He said that this group's primary aim was to overthrow all
opposition governments in the municipalities in that region.

********************************
RELIGION
********************************

Diario de Chiapas.  ASSERTION THAT THERE ARE NO CATHOLIC CHURCHES
        CLOSED IN THE NORTHERN REGION.
Local PRI deputy and member of the Peace and Justice group, Raymundo
Hernandez Trujillo, stated that there are no Catholic churches closed in
the Northern region, and that it is the priests themselves who are not
attending in order to give the sacraments.  He added that there is mutual
respect between evangelical and Catholic indigenous in the region, and that
the absence of priests has caused many indigenous to have to go to Tabasco
in order to receive communion and to be baptized.

*******************************
DIALOGUE
*******************************

Diario de Yucatan.  CHURCH URGED TO SUPPORT PEACE PROCESS
        IN CHIAPAS.
The former government commissioner for dialogue in Chiapas, Marco Antonio
Bernal Gutierrez, said that it is obvious that the church has a strong
presence and is a political factor in Chiapas.  He called on the religious
to be pastors of peace and not spokespersons for war.  He added that the
Diocese of San Cristobal should collaborate in order to achieve peace as
quickly as possible.

*******************************
Cuarto Poder.  ARCHBISHOP CALLS FOR DIALOGUE TO BE RENEWED
        IN CHIAPAS.
The Archbishop of Durango, Antonio Lopez Avina, stated that the conflict in
Chiapas will not be resolved without an open and sincere dialogue on the
part of the federal government and the EZLN.  He added that it is important
for the parties to return to dialogue in order to analyze what is the best
solution for the good of the chiapaneco indigenous communities.

******************************
OFFICIAL POLICIES
******************************

Excelsior.  SECOND INDIGENOUS ENCUENTRO OF THE AMERICAS BEGINS.
        The Secretary for Indigenous Peoples Services, Gustavo Moscoso
Zenteno, reported that the Second Indigenous Encuentro of the Americas
began this Monday in San Cristobal de Las Cass.  Representatives of more
than 60 ethnic groups in America will commit themselves to promoting peace,
harmony and better understanding between the peoples in the region. 
Moscoso Zenteno stated that the government is building a new era for
indigenous communities, based on respect, reconciliation and peace, through
social development.

___________________________________________________
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http://www.nap.cuhm.mx/nap0.htm  (spanish)
 
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