MEXICO ZAPATISTA NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY

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(23 Nov 1994) Nat/Sot • In Mexico the Zapatista National Liberation Army is poised to launch a national offensive. • It's almost a year since the rebellion in the southern highland state of Chiapas. • APTV has exclusive pictures of the call to arms. • Associated Press Television has been to the headquarters of the rebel Zapatista National Liberation Army in the southern state of Chiapas. • In these exclusive pictures their leader Subcomandante Marcos addressed his troops during a ceremony on November 17. • The ceremony itself stands as a call to arms to rebel forces to prepare for a national offensive. • The F-Z-L-N staged a revolt on New Year's Day almost a year ago. • The revolt, which was quickly crushed by government forces, stunned the administration of President Carlos Salinas de Gortari and brought international attention to the plight of the Mayan-descendant Indians who reside in this poor southern region. • After almost ten months of negotiations, peace talks between the rebels and the government recently came to a standstill. • It is up to President-elect Ernesto Zedillo, who will assume power on December 1, to attempt to strike a deal with the rebels before it is too late. • A key date is December 8, when the governor of Tuxla Gutierrez assumes a second term after being reelected into office after the August 21 general elections. The Zapatistas have said that the elections were fraudulent. • The rebels, many armed with wooden rifles, sang the F-Z-L-N anthem as they assembled. • Sources close to the rebels said the ceremony is known as the passing of the baton , a symbolic call to arms to rebel forces. • During the ceremony, Subcomandante Marcos - the masked voice of the rebels - said the F-Z-L-N is now stronger in number than a year ago. • SOUNDBITE: Those that historically invaded the • lands that belong to those native to these highlands. The powerful cattle farmers and businessmen reclaim their history. They are arrogant and threatening to those that are different in color and speech, but they act humble and servile • before those that sacrifice them to the North America Free Trade Agreement, which sentences them to be devoured by the real giants of exploitation in Mexico. • The party system in Mexico is exhausted and threatens with burying the • the nation. In light of the threats and the insecurity that exists inside the Mexican political system, the FZLN decided to end talks with the government. Mr. Salinas de Gortari, who has usurped power since 1988, is showing definite signs of dementia. • We (the F-Z-L-N) have made a lot of mistakes, but not the mistake of trusting the heart and word of those that misgoverns us, that oppresses us, that even asks for our death. • That is why we have spread our flag all over the national territory. We are more and we are stronger than in December 1993 when we prepared for war. We have more towns, more regions, more zones over which the proud flag of the F-Z-L-N waves. • Our just cause now finds an echo in all corners of our land. Zapatista arms are now ready • in the mountains of the north of Mexico, in the northeast, the south, the east and • in the heart of our motherland. SUPER CAPTION SUBCOMANDANTE MARCOS, REBEL LEADER • • 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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