Zapatistas to address Congress

FROM THE ARCHIVE

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MARCH 23, 2001

Just a day before they were set to leave Mexico City for the mountains of southern Mexico, the leaders of the Zapatista Indian rights movement on Thursday accepted an offer to stay and address Congress about the passage of legislation considered key to their struggle.

"Today, in the House of Representatives, a group of legislators of three political parties obtained an agreement that will allow the delegation of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) to appear in Congress," said Subcomandante Marcos, the group's leader. "The EZLN has decided to accept this invitation."

But after waiting nearly two weeks for the invitation, Marcos still appeared characteristically skeptical. "If there are no traps, the Zapatistas will be promoting the constitutional recognition of indigenous rights and culture," he added.

Interestingly enough, however, lawmakers of Mexico's former ruling party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), supported inviting Marcos and his delegation to Congress. Some party members have advocated using military force against the rebels and Marcos had cut off talks with former President Ernest Zedillo, a PRI member.

Marcos blamed Zedillo personally for the massacres of 45 Indian women and children, who in 1997 were killed by a paramilitary group with ties to the previous administration. Zedillo also abandoned the self-determination legislation his administration negotiated with the rebels in 1996.

Known as the San Andrés Accords, they promise self-determination rights to Indian communities, including the right to form local governments based on Indian culture, the right to teach in Indian languages in public schools, and the right to legislative representation. The Zapatistas will be promoting the bill to lawmakers and today plan on discussing how and when they will present their message.

Marcos yesterday once again rejected talks with President Vicente Fox, arguing he has failed to meet conditions necessary for peace in Chiapas. Fox has promised to close all seven military bases in the southern state and release more Zapatista supporters from jail. But the rebels said three bases are still open and they want every single supporter freed.

In Congress yesterday, lawmakers of Fox's own party, the National Action Party (PAN), voted against allowing the masked rebels to speak. The Zapatista invitation passed requires at least 100 members of the 638-seat Congress to attend the session.

Relevant Links:
Zapatista National Liberation Army (In Spanish) - http://www.ezln.org
Zapatista Mexico City Site (In Spanish) - http://www.ezlnaldf.org/index.php
The San Andrés Accords - http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/mexico/SanAndres.html