El Universal
August 17, 2001
By Liliana Alcántaray Laura Cardoso
Translated from the Spanish by Camila Crespo on August 19, 2001

Militarization in Chiapas increased immediately following the approval of constitutional reforms in regards to indigenous matters. Since April there has been at least 104 recorded military operations in 16 municipalities and there has been reinstatement of some military bases.

The network of Community Defenders for Human Rights; Global Exchange and the Center for Economic and Political Investigations for Community Action (CIEPAC) warn that the violent climate could worsen as the elections of October 7th approach.

In view of this possibility, non governmental organizations, indigenous communities and civilians appealed to the International Labor Organization (ILO) claiming that the the Indigenous Rights Law, approved by the Mexican government, does not comply with the provisions as dictated by ILO Convention 169.

In Tlapa de Comonfort, Guerrero forums were held regarding the political reforms and the majority of the political parties, indigenous organizations and the Governor agreed to reject the constitutional reforms dictated by the Law for Indigenous Rights and Culture.

The Governor, René Juárez Cisneros stated that the constitutional reforms are "an advancement which does not satisfy those who it was supposed to benefit... it is a law which needs to be improved and that is the challenge here in Guerrero, to create a judicial document far superior to that which the indigenous people are asking for."

In Michoacán, the PAN Candidate for State Governor, Salvador López Orduña, admitted that the Congress committed an error when approving the reforms, but thinks that the problem does not lie in establishing a law but rather on the political free will of the leaders to support the ethnic groups.

(Information supplied by correspondents Juan Cervantes and Rebeca Hernández.)