File spoon-archives/marxism-general.archive/marxism-general_1997/marxism-general.9712, message 15


Subject: M-G: Fw: 10,000 ZAPATISTAS MARCHED Nov 30 (fwd)
From: papadop-AT-peak.org
Date: 02 Dec 1997 15:57:37




Forwarded by Liam R.Flynn <trinity-AT-hot-shot.com>
---------------- Original message follows ----------------
 From: papadop-AT-peak.org

 Date: 02 Dec 1997 15:57:37
 Subject: 10,000 ZAPATISTAS MARCHED Nov 30 (fwd)
--

SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, Mexico, Nov 30 (Reuters) - A march of 10,000
Indians in southern Mexico in support of Zapatista guerrillas demonstrated
that rebel support is not wavering, a leading indigenous activist said on
Sunday. 

Andres Aubry told reporters here in this colonial city of the troubled state
of Chiapas that the march on Saturday was meant to underscore that the
Zapatistas and their sympathizers had not abandoned their struggle for more
rights. 

``The Zapatista movement still has pulling power and this march seems to
confirm it,'' Aubry said. ``It was the biggest gathering of ski-mask-wearing
Indians since the armed uprising in 1994,'' he added. 

Rebels of the Zapatista National Liberation Army declared war on the Mexican
government on Jan. 1, 1994. 

At least 140 died in the initial bloodbath but the guerrillas have not fought
in earnest since mid-January 1994 after declaring a cease-fire. 

Currently, the rebels are cornered in a relatively small area of the Chiapas
jungle by the army. But they still command support among the wider Indian
community in the poor state. Peace talks with the government broke down last
September, leading many to write the Zapatistas off as a force in the Mexican
political arena because of their subdued and non-combative fight against the
government. 

During Saturday's march, rebels blocked roads leading to this former colonial
state capital for more than five hours. Other supporters marched in the city,
some carrying aloft cardboard coffins, demanding an end to violence in the
state. 

Paramilitary and police crackdowns have been stepped up in recent weeks,
claiming at least 10 lives and forcing around 4,500 Indians to flee into
hiding in the state's wild and inhospitable mountains, community leaders have
said. The government has repeatedly denied the allegations. 

Zapatistas threatened during the march to return to arms if the alleged
killing of Indians did not stop. 


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