B4-0056, 0057, 0066, 0073 and 0095/98

Resolution on on the murder of 45 indigenous peasants in the Mexican State of Chiapas

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Mexico and Chiapas,

A. horrified by the massacre of 45 peasants by paramilitary groups in Acteal in the State of Chiapas on 22 December 1997,

B. whereas the security forces did not intervene to prevent a massacre which went on for at least four hours,

C. alarmed both by the deteriorating situation in the State of Chiapas, where repeated acts of violence have forced thousands of people to flee their homes, and by the suspension of the peace negotiations and the ensuing impasse,

D. whereas paramilitary groups are widely reported to be operating on an increasing scale in Mexico with the support of some local authorities and political circles, and whereas the protection of human rights is undermined by the fact that so many perpetrators of gross human rights violations go unpunished,

E. welcoming the statements by President Zedillo condemning the massacre and promising speedy action to identify and punish the perpetrators and the instructions given to the federal public prosecutor to bring those responsible for the crimes to trial; noting with satisfaction the resignations of the Minister of the Interior and the Governor of Chiapas and the detention of more than 40 people on suspicion of complicity in the massacre,

F. whereas one of the fundamental new steps taken in the proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of an agreement on economic association, political coordination and cooperation between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the United States of Mexico, of the other part, signed in December 1997, is the inclusion of a democratic clause in Article 1 which places the agreement on a foundation of respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights, as laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

G. mindful of the terms used by President Zedillo himself, when he referred to an inescapable and absolute commitment to human rights and to opening the necessary channels to achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict in the State of Chiapas by means of dialogue and détente,

H. having regard to the efforts made and the work carried out by the CONAI (National Mediation Commission) and the COCOPA (Commission for Agreement and Pacification),

1. Utterly condemns the Acteal massacre, and all violations of human rights and acts of violence, irrespective of the identity of those responsible for such crimes;

2. Voices its deep sympathy for the families of the victims and its solidarity with them;

3. Urges the Government of Mexico, with all due respect for its sovereignty, as a state founded on the rule of law, to carry out an objective, effective enquiry into the events at Acteal, so as to bring to trial those responsible for instigating and perpetrating the massacre, thus demonstrating that crime does not go unpunished;

4. Calls on President Zedillo to do everything possible to find a settlement to the conflict in the State of Chiapas by means of dialogue and negotiation, leading to the establishment of a just and lasting peace and the end of any paramilitary presence in the conflict zone;

5. Calls on President Zedillo not to waver in his commitment to the campaign against violence, the implementation of democracy and respect for human rights, all of which are fundamental to relations between Mexico and the EU;

6. Regrets that the Chiapas conflict, which has been going on since 1994, has not been resolved by dialogue, and calls on the Mexican Government to reaffirm its commitment to a peaceful solution to the conflict in the Chiapas region and, to this end, calls on both parties to resume talks with a view to the implementation of the San Andrés agreements and the provisions of the 11 March 1995 law on dialogue, conciliation and peace with dignity in Chiapas, the demilitarization of Chiapas and the achievement of a peaceful settlement in the area on the basis of respect for the rights and culture of indigenous communities;

7. Acknowledges the efforts made by the CONAI and, in particular, by the Bishop of San Cristóbal de las Casas, Samuel Ruiz, with a view to setting up talks, achieving an immediate ceasefire and making amends for the injustice and discrimination suffered by the poorest members of the indigenous communities of Chiapas;

8. Notes likewise the efforts made by the COCOPA, formally set up on 14 March 1995, which has done remarkable work in seeking solutions to this conflict, with a view to guaranteeing peace and justice, and calls on it to carry out its mandate to the full, in view of the legitimacy it enjoys as a representative citizens' body; in this respect, urges the parliamentary political parties in Mexico to make efforts to secure an agreement on a legal framework of autonomy for the indigenous communities;

9. Condemns unequivocally the use of violence as a political weapon, and regrets, in this connection, the failure of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) to take the necessary steps to lay down its weapons and integrate itself into Mexican political life as a civil organization;

10. Calls on the Commission to examine the feasibility of introducing a programme to aid the inhabitants of Chiapas who have fled their homes, in cooperation with the Mexican federal authorities and the International Red Cross;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, Commission, the governments of the Member States, the Government of Mexico, the Governor of the State of Chiapas, the Presidents of the Mexican Senate and Chamber of Deputies, the National Mediation Commission (CONAI) and the Commission on Agreement and Pacification (COCOPA).