III

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. CON. RES. 76

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding a peaceful resolution of the

conflict in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

NOVEMBER 18, 1999

Mr. LEAHY (for himself, Mr. KENNEDY, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. JEFFORDS, Mr.

TORRICELLI, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. WELLSTONE, Mr. FEINGOLD, Mr. HARKIN, Mr. KERRY, Ms. MIKULSKI, and Mrs. BOXER) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on Foreign Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the state of Chiapas, Mexico,

and for other purposes.

Whereas the United States and Mexico have a long history

of close relations and share a wide range of interests;

Whereas a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous Mexico is of

vital importance to the security of the United States;

Whereas the United States Government provides assistance

and licenses exports of military equipment to Mexican security forces for counter-narcotics purposes;

Whereas the Department of State’s 1998 Country Report on

Human Rights Practices in Mexico stated that a ‘‘culture
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of impunity pervades the security forces’’ and documented human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, torture, extrajudicial killings, and disappearances, by these forces;

Whereas confrontations in August 1999, between members of

the Mexican military and supporters of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) in Chiapas, Mexico, are

representative of the political tension and violence that

has plagued the region for years;

Whereas the conflict has its roots in the poverty and injustice

suffered by the indigenous people of Chiapas, and shared

by the poor in the neighboring states of Oaxaca and

Guerrero;

Whereas the lack of progress in implementing a preliminary

peace agreement signed in 1996 and the intimidating

level of militarization by the Mexican army, paramilitary

groups, and the EZLN has resulted in the forced displacement of thousands of indigenous people and exacerbated the impoverished conditions in Chiapas;

Whereas on September 14, 1999, the Commission for Peace

and Reconciliation in Chiapas of the Conference of Mexican Catholic Bishops urged the Government of Mexico to

consider relocating military forces in Chiapas to only

those positions absolutely necessary to maintaining the

integrity and security of Mexico;

Whereas the Government of Mexico has devoted resources to

reduce poverty in Chiapas, but the breakdown in peace

negotiations and the lack of trust between the Mexican

Government and some indigenous communities have limited the impact of that assistance;
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SCON 76 IS

Whereas on September 7, 1999, the Government of Mexico

pledged to renew dialogue with the EZLN, support the

formation of a new mediation team, and investigate

human rights abuses in Chiapas;

Whereas the EZLN has not yet accepted the Government of

Mexico’s overtures to resume negotiations; and

Whereas the summary expulsions of American citizens and

human rights monitors from Mexico are inconsistent with

the freedoms of movement, association, and expression:

Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the Sec3 retary of State should—

4 (1) take effective measures to ensure that

5 United States assistance and exports of equipment

6 to Mexican security forces—

7 (A) are used primarily for counter-nar8 cotics proposes; and

9 (B) are not provided to units of security

10 forces that have been implicated in human

11 rights violations, unless the Government of

12 Mexico is taking effective measures to bring the

13 individuals responsible to justice;

14 (2) encourage the EZLN and the Government

15 of Mexico to take steps to create conditions for good

16 faith negotiations that address the social, economic,

17 and political causes of the conflict in Chiapas, to
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1 achieve a peaceful and lasting resolution of the con2 flict, and to vigorously pursue such negotiations;

3 (3) commend the Government of Mexico for its

4 renewed commitment to negotiations and for estab5 lishing a date for the United Nations High Commis6 sioner for Human Rights to visit Mexico to discuss

7 human rights concerns there;

8 (4) give a higher priority in discussions with the

9 Government of Mexico to criminal justice reforms

10 that protect human rights, emphasizing United

11 States concerns about arbitrary detention, torture,

12 extrajudicial killings, and disappearances, and the

13 failure to prosecute individuals responsible for these

14 crimes; and

15 (5) urge the Government of Mexico to imple16 ment the recommendations of the Inter-American

17 Commission on Human Rights, particularly with re18 gard to American citizens and others who have been

19 summarily expelled from Mexico in violation of Mexi20 can law and international law.

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