MEXICO CHIAPAS ZAPATISTA NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY

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(19 Dec 1994) Spanish/Nat • • The Zapatista National Liberation Army, headed by Subcomandante Marcos, has staged a bloodless assault on at least 38 towns in the southern state of Chiapas. • • The towns were seized as the guerrilla force prepares to celebrate the first anniversary of its New Year rebellion. • • Mexico City woke up Monday to the news that the Zapatista National Liberation Army (F-Z-L-N) was once again on the move. • • In a press conference held at dawn in the Lacandona jungle in the southern state of Chiapas, FZLN rebel leader Subcomandante Marcos warned that thousands of Indian rebels had taken over at least 38 towns in the southern state, the poorest in Mexico. • • Marcos had recently denounced attempts by the ruling party government of President Ernesto Zedillo to install a multiparty commission to meet with the rebels. • • • SOUNDBITE: • • Well, he (Subcomandante Marcos) has already made it clear that he believes the peace negotiations are over. What has happened today (Monday) makes it clear that Chiapas is in a state of war. The expression of this is the pacific occupation of Simojovel de Allende. It is imperative that something be done. • • SUPERCAPTION: Opposition Revolutionary Democratic Party Senator Herberto Castillo • • The opposition Revolutionary Democratic Party leadership (P-R-D) has called for Zedillo to head the Chiapas peace commission. • • Zedillo's ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (P-R-I) has attempted to downplay the situation in Chiapas. • • Authorities today stated that the peasants that had taken over the towns - among them Simojovel de Allende - were not rebels. • • SOUNDBITE: • • No, there has not been a peaceful occupation of the town of Simojovel de Allende. The peasants there are not Zapatistas. The situation there is as it always was. • • SUPERCAPTION: PRI Senate President Fernando Ortiz Arana • • The situation with Chiapas is uppermost in the minds of most government officials. • • Many fear a repeat of last January 1, when Zapatista rebels launched an offensive to demand a better life for Mexico's peasant poor. • • Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork • Twitter: / ap_archive • Facebook: / aparchives • Instagram: / apnews • • • You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

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