[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 164 (Thursday, November 18, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14823-S14825]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 76--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS 
    REGARDING A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT IN THE STATE OF 
                 CHIAPAS, MEXICO AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  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:

                            S. Con. Res. 76

       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;

[[Page S14824]]

       Whereas the Department of State's 1998 Country Report on 
     Human Rights Practices in Mexico stated that a ``culture 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;
       Whereas on September 7, 1999, the Government of Mexico 
     pledged to renew dialogue with the EZLN, support the 
     formation of a new mediation tea, 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
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the 
     Secretary of State should--
       (1) take effective measures to ensure that United States 
     assistance and exports of equipment to Mexican security 
     forces--
       (A) are used primarily for counter-narcotics purposes; and
       (B) are not provided to units of security forces that have 
     been implicated in human rights violations, unless the 
     Government of Mexico is taking effective measures to bring 
     the individuals responsible to justice;
       (2) encourage the EZLN and the Government of Mexico to take 
     steps to create conditions for good faith negotiations that 
     address the social, economic and political causes of the 
     conflict in Chiapas, to achieve a peaceful and lasting 
     resolution of the conflict, and to vigorously pursue such 
     negotiations;
       (3) commend the Government of Mexico for its renewed 
     commitment to negotiations and for establishing a date for 
     the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to 
     visit Mexico to discuss human rights concerns there;
       (4) give a higher priority in discussions with the 
     Government of Mexico to criminal justice reforms that protect 
     human rights, emphasizing United States concerns about 
     arbitrary detention, torture, extra judicial killings, and 
     disappearances, and the failure to prosecute individuals 
     responsible for these crimes; and
       (5) urge the Government of Mexico to implement the 
     recommendations of the Inter-American Commission on Human 
     Rights, particularly with regard to American citizens and 
     others who have been summarily expelled from Mexico in 
     violation of Mexican law and international law.

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am today submitting a concurrent 
resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding measures to 
achieve a peaceful settlement of the conflict in the state of Chiapas, 
Mexico.
  This resolution is cosponsored by Senators Kennedy, Feinstein, 
Jeffords, Torricelli, Murray, Durbin, Wellstone, Feingold, Harkin, 
Kerry, Mikulski, and Boxer.
  Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi is introducing an identical resolution 
today in the House of Representatives.
  The purpose of this resolution is to convey our support for a 
peaceful settlement of the conflict in Chiapas that has been simmering 
since the Zapatista uprising in 1994. Since then, and despite repeated 
attempts at negotiations, the situation remains tense and prospects for 
productive dialogue remote. In August, armed confrontations between 
members of the Mexican military and Zapatista supporters in Chiapas was 
a reminder of the political violence that has plagued the region for 
years. I submitted a similar resolution just over a year ago and, 
unfortunately, the situation remains largely unchanged.
  This resolution does not attempt to take sides or to dictate an 
outcome of that conflict. It is not meant to embarrass or interfere in 
Mexico's internal affairs. The situation in Chiapas is a complex one 
that has social, ethnic, economic and political dimensions. It is a 
manifestation of years of Mexican history. It is for the Mexican people 
to resolve.
  But despite its complexities, there is no doubt that the indigenous 
people of Chiapas have been the victims of injustice for centuries. 
Most do not own any land and they live--as their parents and 
grandparents did--in abject poverty. The 1994 Zapatista uprising, in 
which some 150 people died, was a reflection of that injustice and 
despair, and the political tension and violence of recent years has 
only exacerbated their plight.
  To his credit, President Zedillo has devoted considerable financial 
resources to address the poverty and lack of basic services in Chiapas. 
On September 7, 1999, he pledged to renew dialogue with the Zapatistas 
and investigate human rights abuses there. The scheduled November 23rd 
visit to Mexico by Mary Robinson, the United Nations High Commissioner 
for Human Rights, is an important and welcome development. I am hopeful 
that the Mexican Government will engage in an open dialogue with Ms. 
Robinson and that progress can be made on ways to further promote and 
protect human rights in Mexico.
  Despite these positive steps, however, Mexican officials indicate 
that they expect little progress toward resolving the conflict before 
the presidential elections in July 2000. This is very disappointing. 
While mistrust runs deep on both sides, a great deal can be 
accomplished in eight months if the parties to the conflict are willing 
to take the steps to create conditions for good faith negotiations to 
succeed, and then sit down at the table together.
  There is little evidence that the Mexican Government's strategy is 
working. Since early 1998, the Zedillo administration has, on the one 
hand, lavishly funded social programs in those indigenous communities 
in Chiapas that are willing to accept them. On the other hand, Mexican 
troops have tightened their grip on the impoverished communities of 
Zapatista supporters. They patrol the roads in and out of Chiapas in 
armored vehicles, brandishing weapons and establishing military check-
points and bases when it is abundantly clear that neither the 
communities, nor the Zapatistas themselves, pose a credible threat to 
the Mexican Government. In addition, paramilitary forces, responsible 
for some of the worst atrocities, continue to operate in the region.
  Human rights monitors, including Mexican citizens, have been 
harassed, and foreigners, including American citizens, have been 
summarily expelled from Mexico for activities that amount to nothing 
more than criticizing the policies of the Mexican Government.
  The Zapatistas have also contributed to their isolation. They have 
not accepted the Mexican Government's recent overtures to resume 
dialogue and seem resigned to wait in their jungle stronghold until 
there is a new government before considering a return to talks. Again, 
July is a long way away, especially for the Zapatistas' supporters who 
struggle every day just to find food and shelter for themselves and 
their families. They have suffered long enough.
  Mr. President, this resolution calls on our Secretary of State to 
encourage the Mexican Government and the Zapatistas to support 
negotiations that address the underlying causes of the conflict, to 
achieve a lasting peace. It seeks to convey our concern about the 
people of Chiapas, and the urgent need for concrete progress to resolve 
a conflict that has cost many innocent lives and threatens the economic 
and political development of our southern neighbor.
  A stable, peaceful and prosperous Mexico is not only in the best 
interest of all Mexicans, it is also in the economic and security 
interests of the United States. And human rights abuses, wherever and 
however they occur, deserve our attention.
  The resolution urges the Secretary of State to ensure that the United 
States is not contributing to the political violence, by reaffirming 
current law which limits assistance and exports of equipment only to 
Mexican security forces

[[Page S14825]]

who are primarily involved in counter-narcotics activities and who do 
not commit human rights abuses. In order to ensure that the law is 
faithfully implemented, the State Department needs to know who we train 
and who receives our equipment.
  It calls on the Mexican Government to respect the freedoms of 
movement, association and expression by implementing the 
recommendations of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, 
particularly with regard to American citizens and others who have been 
summarily expelled from Mexico in violation of Mexican law and 
international law.
  And it urges both sides to take initiatives for peace.
  Mr. President, some may ask why we are submitting this resolution 
today, when this conflict has been simmering for years, It is my hope 
that in conjunction with Mary Robinson's visit next week, this 
Resolution will send a strong message to the Mexican Government, the 
Zapiatislas, our own administration and the international community 
that an intensified effort is needed urgently to resolve the conflict 
peacefully.

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