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opinion:
revelations
Struggle drives
Chiapas rebels
New Year's Day 1994
marked the beginning of revolution in Mexico. Upset with the
rewriting of Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution, which took
away the rights of the indigenous people to own land in Mexico,
the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) seized control
of several towns in the state of Chiapas.
As a result of
the EZLN's call for action, their passionate and revered leader
Subcomandante Marcos has acted as a spokesman for democracy,
liberty, justice and the rights of the indigenous people in
Chiapas and throughout the world.
The indigenous
people of Mexico continue to live in poverty; as families
struggle to make a decent wage, their children die of diarrhea,
dehydration and tuberculosis. The 2000 census put the indigenous
population at 8.7 million in a nation of 97 million, which
proves their existence is not marginal.
The recently elected
president of Mexico, Vicente Fox, has taken a platform condoning
more rights for the indigenous people of Mexico. He hopes
that by improving the situation of the indigenous people,
the quality of life for all Mexicans will be improved.
However, the EZLN
distrusts Fox for many reasons, including his recent statement
that he would only meet with Marcos if he removed his mask,
a mask that not only protects Marcos' identity, but exemplifies
the struggle of a nameless, faceless society. Also halting
the possible negotiations between Fox and the EZLN is Fox's
lack of cooperation in supporting a march that began this
past weekend.
The EZLN's march
through Mexico will eventually end up in Mexico City, where
Marcos is scheduled to speak with the congressional peace-negotiating
commission about how to present the Zapatista plight to congress.
Many groups around
Mexico, including the National Action Party, the Catholic
clergy, the business sector and the Mexican government, are
protesting the march. In an attempt to make the march safer
and to lower the possibility of confrontation, the EZLN asked
the International Committee of the Red Cross to join their
march. The committee agreed, but were soon told by the Mexican
government that they would not be allowed to escort the EZLN.
Once again, the
EZLN and the Mexican government are at a standstill. The EZLN
is blaming Fox and his government in advance for any bloodshed
or problems that occur due to their lack of cooperation.
Since becoming
president, Fox has talked about making changes in Mexico and
ending the years of corruption throughout the local and federal
governments.
By allowing Marcos
and the EZLN to meet with his administration, Fox could show
the world that dialogue and negotiation are the only ways
to end the problems governments face. More importantly it
will show that the government in Mexico is on its way to making
the promised changes.
Alex Roman is
a print journalism major at Cal State Long Beach.
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