MEXICO: CHIAPAS: POLICE BLAMED FOR CLASHES WITH PEASANTS скачать в хорошем качестве

MEXICO: CHIAPAS: POLICE BLAMED FOR CLASHES WITH PEASANTS

(24 Mar 1996) Spanish/Nat Human rights groups in Mexico have blamed police for clashes with peasants in Chiapas state that have killed eight people, accusing them of using unnecessary force when evicting squatters. The clashed happened Thursday near Nicolas Ruiz south east of San Cristobal de las Casas, the site for ongoing peace talks between the Mexican government and Zapatista rebels. Five peasants and three police officers have died in recent violence in Chiapas. The deaths come as peace talks aimed at resolving a two-year rebel uprising by leftist Zapatista rebels continued in San Cristobal de las Casas. Clashes between police and peasants flared near Nicolas Ruiz on Thursday after authorities broke up a land invasion by peasants. Three peasants and two police were killed; 16 officers and two peasants were wounded. The people here blame the police for the violence. SOUNDBITE: Spanish "They are killing us. Here I have my dead brother and my husband and more people that have been captured and we do not know where they are. They did not notice that they were behind them and then they killed them, just because they are protecting their land, their property. It belonged to our dead grandparents and now they are taking the land away from us. SUPER CAPTION: Gloria Moreno, Sister of Alfonso Moreno SOUNDBITE: Spanish "They say in other versions that we, as campesinos of Nicolas Ruiz, fired our guns. It is not true sir. It was the Public Security that began firing and our people ran in fear. After seeing this, many others began to do the same. I think, how is it possible that in the state of Chiapas there is talk of peace? It is not true my friend." SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop, man. The squatters argue the 1-thousand acre site belongs to them as descendants of the area's Tzeltal Indians, rather than to local ranchers. The Zapatista National Liberation Army, predominantly Maya Indians, is demanding better living conditions for Indians as well as sweeping political and economic changes nationwide. The majority of peasants here support them. SOUNDBITE: "We will not renounce these properties that by right are ours." SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop. On Wednesday two peasants and a policeman died in fighting in the north at Pichucalco. One policeman was wounded and 57 peasants were arrested. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...