Zapatistas Call For Wider Struggle


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


Monday, May 10, 1999; 6:58 p.m. EDT

LA REALIDAD, Mexico (AP) -- Southern Mexico's Zapatista rebels ended a
jungle meeting with more than 2,000 supporters Monday after asking them to
take part in other social struggles.

Leaders of the Zapatista National Liberation Army urged organizers of
their national referendum, held in March, to organize as supporters of
student, worker and farmer struggles ``beyond recognition of Indian
rights.''

The idea apparently is to build links to other Mexican protest movements. 
But the meeting ended without a firm statement on the results of the
referendum.

Zapatista supporters say 3 million people across Mexico cast ballots in
the unofficial referendum, 95 percent of them expressing support for
Zapatista positions.

It was a move to build support for the movement, whose rebellion against
the government has been stalled by a cease-fire since two weeks after it
started on Jan.  1, 1994.

Peace talks have been stalled since 1996 over a dispute with the
government over how to enact constitutional reforms guaranteeing Indian
rights in Mexico.

(c) Copyright 1999 The Associated Press
 
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