A-Infos (en) /AP/ Chiapas Refugees Ambushed, 1 Killed

["comité Votán-Zapata" <uvipe@sisnet.com.mx>]

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 E/AP/ Chiapas Refugees Ambushed, 1 Killed
 martes 24 de febrero de 1998 2:11
 
 Chiapas Refugees Ambushed, 1 Killed
 
 .c The Associated Press  
 
 SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS (AP) - Attackers ambushed a group of refugees
as
 they returned from a meeting with foreign human rights observers in
bloodied
 Chiapas state, killing one, survivors and rights groups said Monday. 
 
 Witnesses identified the attackers as members of a pro-government group
known
 as ``Peace and Justice'' - an opponent of the rebel Zapatistas in Mexico's
 southernmost state. 
 
 Saturday's attack came two months after pro-government gunmen massacred 45
 people outside a church in rural Acteal. It also came amid an official
 crackdown against pro-Zapatista foreigners, whom Mexico accuses of
meddling in
 events in Chiapas. 
 
 The man killed, Jose Tila Lopez Garcia, and several other men displaced by
 fighting in the region had walked six hours to meet with members of a
Spain-
 based human rights organization. The group's trip was authorized by the
 government. 
 
 As they returned home, the refugees were intercepted by eight heavily
armed
 men, who opened fire on them, according to a press release issued by the
 observer commission. 
 
 The commission called the killing ``reprisal for their participation in
the
 meeting with the observers.'' 
 
 Chiapas state Gov. Roberto Albores Guillen issued a statement Sunday
ordering
 his attorney general to investigate and ``apply the full weight of the law
on
 those who are responsible.'' 
 
 Chiapas has seen repeated clashes between pro- and anti-government
factions
 since the Zapatistas rebelled in January 1994. Thousands of people have
been
 forced from their homes because they were suspected of sympathizing with
 either the government or the rebels. 
 
 AP-NY-02-23-98 1803EST
 
 Copyright 1998 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP
news  report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise
distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. 
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