IV

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 347

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding measures to achieve a peaceful

resolution of the conflict in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, and for other

purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 9, 1998

Ms. PELOSI (for herself, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. BONIOR, Mr. TORRES, Mr. YATES,

Mr. RUSH, Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin, Mr. BLAGOJEVICH, Mr. BROWN

of California, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. MINGE, Mr. SABO,

Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. KLECZKA, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. FARR of

California, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. OLVER, Ms. KILPATRICK, Mr. MEEHAN,

Mr. STARK, Mr. FROST, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mr.

SANDERS, Ms. RIVERS, Ms. WATERS, Mr. LEACH, Mr. PRICE of North

Carolina, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Ms. WOOLSEY, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Ms. LOFGREN, and Mr. DAVIS of Illinois) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred

to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding measures to

achieve 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 many economic and security

interests;

Whereas a democratic and prosperous Mexico is in the interest of the United States;
2

•HCON 347 IH

Whereas the United States is providing assistance and licensing exports of military equipment to Mexican security

forces for counter-narcotics purposes;

Whereas the Department of State has documented human

rights violations by Mexican security forces and paramilitary groups;

Whereas the conflict in Chiapas, Mexico has resulted in the

deaths and disappearance of innocent civilians;

Whereas the lack of progress in implementing a preliminary

peace agreement signed in 1996 and the presence of tens

of thousands of Mexican soldiers, as well as paramilitary

and other groups, have contributed to increased political

tension and violence in Chiapas and the absence of basic

human rights protections;

Whereas the persistence of political tension and violence has

exacerbated the impoverished conditions of indigenous

people in Chiapas;

Whereas thousands of indigenous people in Chiapas have fled

their homes as a result of the violence and are living in

deplorable conditions;

Whereas despite President Zedillo’s calls for negotiations and

repeated visits to Chiapas, efforts to negotiate a peaceful

resolution of the conflict have been unsuccessful and the

National Mediation Commission was dissolved after the

resignation of its President, Bishop Samuel Ruiz, due to

lack of progress in the peace process; and

Whereas the summary expulsions of United States citizens

and human rights monitors from Mexico raise concerns

about the commitment of the Government of Mexico to

freedom of movement, association, and expression: Now,

therefore, be it
3

•HCON 347 IH

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

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-narcot8 ics purposes; and

9 (B) do not contribute to human rights vio10 lations;

11 (2) encourage the Government of Mexico to re12 duce political tension and violence in Chiapas by dis13 arming paramilitary groups and decreasing its mili14 tary presence there;

15 (3) commend the Government of Mexico for in16 viting the United Nations High Commissioner for

17 Human Rights to visit Mexico to discuss the

18 Chiapas conflict;

19 (4) encourage the Government of Mexico and

20 the Zapatista National Liberation Army to take

21 steps to create conditions for good faith negotiations

22 that address the social, economic, and political

23 causes of the conflict to achieve a peaceful and last24 ing resolution of the conflict, and to vigorously pur25 sue such negotiations;
4

•HCON 347 IH

1 (5) support efforts to provide relief assistance

2 to displaced persons in Chiapas and adequate mon3 itoring of such assistance; and

4 (6) seek a commitment from the Government of

5 Mexico to respect the rights of United States citi6 zens and human rights monitors in Mexico in ac7 cordance with Mexican law and international law.

Æ