1996-10-17 Local Press - CHIAPAS
Article Index
CHIAPAS
Talks on Re-initiating Dialogue in San Andres
The Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) will begin meetings with the Congressional Mediation Commission (Cocopa) and the National Mediation Commission (Conai) in San Cristobal de las Casas on Wednesday, October E6 to discuss the necessary conditions for re-initiating the peace negotiations. While this is a positive sign, Bishop Samuel Ruiz Garcia, the President of Conai, warned that this would not be the only nor the definitive meeting before reestablishing the talks. Sixteen Zapatista Commanders and Sub-commander Marcos will attend the meeting, along with members of Cocopa and Conai. The government will not participate. The agenda is expected to include the five "minimum conditions" that the EZLN laid out in order for them to return to the dialogue. Bishop Ruiz said he expected the meetings to last a few days. (La Jornada, 15 October).
Larrainzar Mayor Forced to Resign.
A group of 2,000 members of the Pin in San Andres Larrainzar (the location of the peace talks with the EZLN) "detained" the PRI mayor Marcos Hernandez Lopez and the trustee Agustin Lope Gomez and forced them to sign letters of resignation. The two men were held tied up in the hallway of the municipal building for approximately nine hours. Before releasing them, the group destroyed the offices of the municipal government. The situation remains tense, as negotiations between the EZLN and Cocopa are set to begin. (La Jornada, 14 October).