Govt of Chiapas to proceed on Zapatista murder investigation

San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas. The state government said that it will "proceed vigorously and in accordance with the law to find out who was responsible for the murder" of a Zapatista militant (militante), allegedly perpetrated by members of the Independent Central of Agricultural Workers and Campesinos Historical (CIOAC-H) in the community of La Realidad in the municipality of Las Margaritas.

In a press release they regretted and condemned the killing and "aggression" that the Zapatistas were subjected to "by members of the CIOAC-H" last Thursday.

"The state government has acted immediately to obtain a clarification of the situation," they said, adding that "the problems and conflicts are the cause of dialogue with the government and institutions, and unilateral actions that undermine the will and achievements of the matter of détente contribute nothing."

Support bases of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) met last Thursday night in La Realidad, a community located in the Lacandón jungle, in the municipality of Las Margaritas, with militants from CIOAC-H, linked to Party of Democratic Revolution (PRD).

During the confrontation with stones, machetes, sticks and allegedly guns, the Zapatista José Luis Lopez, 45, a native of La Realidad was killed, and 13 from CIOAC-H were injured, as well as an unspecified number of rebel support bases.

According to statements by the leaders of the CIOAC-H in La Realidad, the division between the two groups has escalated over the last few months since they decided to receive the benefits of federal social programmes such as a solid floor, as well as managing and enabling the introduction of electricity, measures which are rejected by the Zapatistas.

They explained that the conflict broke out because, in the middle of these differences, they retained two months ago a van belonging to the EZLN support bases, resulting in the detention of 16 cioquistas who came to negotiate last Thursday and Friday.

In its press release, the government of Chiapas said, "the administration recognizes that in the background of the current situation, the Zapatistas have released several public denouncements waiting for a timely intervention by the authorities," while the militants from CIOAC-H "have complex unresolved demands."

He continued, "We are not a party to nor will we concur in allowing events such as these to occur against any community or organization. Far from it, we have tried to intervene and prevent the majority of conflicts with detente and to create a favourable climate for the political will and ideas of any community or organization with initiative and a political proposal."

ENDS

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