Rioters Urge Army to Stay in Chiapas

In a sign of the growing polarization and potential for renewed violence in Mexico’s southernmost state of Chiapas, rioters on Sunday demanded the Mexican army’s continued occupation of their state hours before two rebel communiques arrived here, urging a troop withdrawal.

As President Ernesto Zedillo, in a speech to the troops in Mexico City, praised the military as “an army of peace,” army supporters broke windows at the rectory next door to the San Cristobal de las Casas cathedral and threw eggs and flour at women holding white carnations and lilies as they guarded the building’s doors.

In the hour before riot police moved in, the protesters also beat up a passerby wearing traditional Indian garb.

The mob, which had originally gathered for an Armed Forces Day observance, demanded the resignation of controversial Bishop Samuel Ruiz, who has called for the army to leave the former rebel-held area.

Church officials said in a statement late Sunday that they had warned state government authorities Saturday about the potential for violence and had been assured that they would receive police protection.

But by the time the police arrived, the crowd was dispersing. Church authorities said that they have filed a complaint with the state government.

The Armed Forces Day celebration here became a lightning rod for conservative apprehension that the government may be backing off its hard-line stance toward the Zapatista National Liberation Army and for the increasingly bitter rift between Ruiz’s supporters and detractors.

While the issue of how Zedillo should deal with the Zapatistas is debated all over Mexico, it resonates most in this colonial city that the rebels occupied during their Jan. 1, 1994, uprising over the conditions the state’s peasants endure.

Human rights groups and the National Mediation Commission, led by Ruiz and charged with finding a peaceful solution to the smoldering 14-month conflict, have recommended that the troops sent into rebel territory more than a week ago be withdrawn.

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During his speech to the military at an army base in the capital, Zedillo showed no sign of easing his crackdown on the Zapatistas, which has included arrest warrants for their alleged leaders and an invasion that has sent entire villages into hiding in the jungle.

“In recent days, it has been demonstrated that the Mexican army is an army for defense of sovereignty, achievement of peace and preservation of Mexican institutions,” he said. “The Mexican army has helped establish the clear rule of law across the nation.”

Zedillo added, “Today, Mexico has an army of peace with dignity.”

Three Zapatista subcommanders sharply disagreed in a communique dated Friday--but received late Sunday--in which they accused the government of talking peace while preparing a military offensive. Zedillo has made the same charges against the rebels.

In response to a congressional committee’s peace mission to the state last week, they said, “There are no physical conditions for dialogue. The Zapatista villages along with the Zapatista National Liberation Army troops are refugees in the mountains. Any attempt at communication and consensus . . . is impossible because of the government aggression.”

The communique--signed by rebel leaders Ana Maria, David and Javier--renewed Zapatista demands that the Mexican army withdraw.

Separately, in a poignant videotape, an obviously ill commander Ramona, one of the highest-ranking rebels, also called for government troops to leave.

“At first we asked for democracy, justice and dignity,” she said. “Now we also are asking for peace.”

However, Chiapas residents attending the San Cristobal observance were adamantly opposed to the rebel precondition for talks. Speakers offered perfunctory praise for the army, which still guards the entrances to the city, and then quickly moved on to their real agenda: Ruiz, the Zapatistas and their supporters.

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The Indians recruited into the rebel movement have been tricked, said Francisco Diaz, one of the rally’s organizers. “They have been used like anti-bullet shields and as a cause so that others can become famous,” he said.

While those others include Subcommander Marcos, the rebel leader who the government claims is really Rafael Sebastian Guillen Vicente, Diaz said, “the person responsible is not Marcos, it is Ruiz.”

After Zedillo ordered the arrest of the alleged Zapatista leaders, Ruiz’s enemies leaked reports that the attorney general’s office had proof that he helped organize the guerrilla uprising. Ruiz has adamantly denied any involvement with the armed movement.

Placards at Sunday’s rally accused the bishop of performing satanic Masses, and the crowd frequently interrupted speakers to shout, “Death to Ruiz.”

With the interruptions growing louder and more frequent, a man grabbed the microphone after the final speech and shouted, “Let’s go after him.” The crowd then rushed across the street to the park in front of the cathedral.

As women in Sunday dresses and men wearing sport coats broke up chairs to throw through the rectory windows, one Argentine visitor observed, “So this is the rule of law in Mexico.”

Beatrice Ramos, a 44-year-old schoolteacher, explained the mob’s anger at Ruiz: “He has done nothing but encourage hatred among brothers for 30 years. There are no rich and poor here. We are all poor. We want him to leave.”

But the faithful who still guarded the rectory and cathedral doors late Sunday insisted that Ruiz must stay.