The News Staff
March 7, 2002

Under the close watch of a 7,000-member security force, Zapatistas, bank debtors and feminist groups are expected to peacefully protest during the upcoming International Summit on Economic Development in the northern industrial city of Monterrey.

The announcement of the planned protests was made Wednesday by civil organizations.

In response, Foreign Relations Deputy Secretary Patricia Olamendi said it is the federal government's responsibility to guarantee security during the conference, and civil organizations wanting to demonstrate must do so without breaking the law.

Some 40 world leaders are expected to attend the March 18-22 conference to look for measures to combat poverty.

Anti-globalization groups will hold their own forum on March 14, prior to meetings between businessmen and parliamentarians which will set the stage for world leader discussions March 21-22, news agency AFP reported.

Though organizers expect no violence, the security force for the summit will include 3,000 members of the Presidential Guard, an elite group of the Mexican Army.

The civil organizations said members of the Zapatista National Liberation Army will stage demonstrations March 17-18 to protest the possible privatization of energy resources.

Laura Frade, spokeswoman for the protest organizers, said it was not known if the EZLN delegation will be headed by its indigenous leaders or by Subcomandante Marcos himself.

"On March 21, it'll be the turn of bank debtors," Frade said.

Women clad in mini-skirts will also demonstrate to protest a Nuevo Leon state government ruling prohibiting the use of short skirts in Monterrey's public offices. "It's a demonstration against fundamentalism," Frade said.

The groups' representatives warned they will hold the government of President Vicente Fox responsible for any act of violence which may break out in Monterrey, and demanded respect for human rights.