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_WORLD WATCH______________________________
______________________MEXICO____________________
Appeal to rebels
Bishop joins President in plea
Mexican President Vicente Fox and Bishop Felipe Arizmendi of San Cristobal de las Casas have joined together in urging rebels in southern Chiapas state to lay down their arms as part of the peace process.
Fox has put pressure on the Zapatista rebels to make concessions as he offered goodwill gestures, including the closing of some army bases in Chiapas, releasing rebel prisoners, and proposing an Indian rights bill to Congress. “We will do our part in meeting the three Zapatista demands, but in exchange, we only ask them to lay down their arms so we can get down to working for peace,” Fox said. Since he took office on December 1, Fox has focused on pushing the rebels to resume peace talks that have been stalled since 1996.
Meanwhile, Bishop Arizmendi said that the rebels would receive more support from Mexicans if they disarmed, and then praised Fox’s actions. The rebels accuse the army of abusing Indians and supporting paramilitary gangs. They have given qualified praise to Fox’s closing of the three army bases but are demanding the closure of four more and the release of about a hundred imprisoned rebels as a condition for talks.