1996-10-24 Local Press - Northern Chiapas

Article Index

Page 7 of 7

 Northern Chiapas; A Social flme Bomb

 According to EZLN Advisor Luis Hernandez Navarro, one of the country's real trouble spots is the northern part of Chiapas. In the municipalities of Tila, Tumbala, Sabanilla and Salto de Agua, 353 people have be killed or have disappeared [ note: the article didn't specify during what period). These are independent figures, he noted, since the National Unman rights Commission has not carried out any work in the region. Hernandez and other NGOs in the region believe that "there is a latent civil war" in the region. Hernandez called on the legislative commission that visited the zone in 1995 to return with organizations of civil society, to launch initiatives that will achieve reconciliation, end the impunity of the paramilitary' group 'Peace and Justice' and establish the rule of law. (La Jornada, 17 October).

 Military Social Workers?

During their eighth day of "social work" in the Sierra Madre of Chiapas, the Mexican army invited reporters from different local media outlets to accompany them on their tour of the community of Nueva Palestina. During the tour, a group of peasants informed the army that militants of the Popular Peasant Union 'Francisco Villa' have threatened to kill those who don't support their agrarian demands. Because of this, the peasants said, they wanted the army to set up a permanent "military detachment". (La Jornada, 18 October).

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