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It is true that the Mayans and other native groups have been
fighting for autonomy, justice, and illegally confiscated land
against anyone who would deny them those (not just the
Spanish) for a long time The most desperate tend to be
illiterate, without income-producing resources, and lacking in
skills other than traditional ones little valued by our modern
world.
However, the "structural adjustment" policies of the 80s caused even
further hardship on the poor in Mexico just as it did here in the
U.S. under Reagan and in other countries which followed that path.
The Mexican upper classes have prospered during the last decade and
NAFTA has been designed to help them and their businesses (take a
look at the document, which is available by FTP or gopher via
several sites), not the poor or landless. "Trickle down" of some of
the prosperity is the best they can hope for and that may take a
very long time to arrive. Thus NAFTA is a very appropriate
target/symbol for them.
If you have concerns about the treatment of the natives by the
Mexican army et al., please write, call, fax, e-mail, etc. to the
White House, your Congresspersons, and any of the following. The
Mexican people are getting very distorted news and cannot respond
accurately, so we ought to. For international newswire coverage
subscribe to Mexico-L (Internet) or read the newsgroup soc.culture.
mexico (Bitnet) and read the several daily news service submissions
by Sabine Astete, which are in English.
Thanks!
Sue Jarnagin
407 East Hall
Iowa State Univ.
Ames, IA 50011
Addresses from the CIA World Fact Book and from a recent statement
of the Jesuit Refugee Service (Courtesy of Ricardo J. Salvador):
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Gustavo PETRICIOLI Iturbide; Chancery at 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20006; telephone (202) 728-1600; there are Mexican
Consulates General in Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Los
Angeles, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Antonio, San Diego, and
Consulates in Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Brownsville (Texas),
Calexico (California), Corpus Christi, Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Douglas
(Arizona), Eagle Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), Kansas City (Missouri),
Laredo, McAllen (Texas), Miami, Nogales (Arizona), Oxnard (California),
Philadelphia, Phoenix, Presidio (Texas), Sacramento, St. Louis, St. Paul
(Minneapolis), Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, San Jose, San Juan (Puerto
Rico), and Seattle
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PLEASE SEND YOUR MESSAGES TO THE CORRESPONDING FOLLOWING FAX
NUMBERS:
1. TO THE PRESIDENT OF MEXICO, LIC. CARLOS SALINAS DE
GORTARI. FAX: 525 522 05 49 OR 525 271 17 64.
(mail address: Los Pinos; Mexico City; D.F.; Mexico)
2. TO THE STATE MINISTRY, TO SECRETARY OF STATE PATROCINIO
GONZALEZ GARRIDO. FAX: 525 566 81 88.
3. TO UNHCR-MEXICO, TO REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE MR. ALFREDO
WITSCHI CESTARI. FAX: 525 280 21 33.
4. TO UNHCR-GENEVA, TO HIGH COMMISSIONER MRS. SADAKO OGATA.
FAX: 4122 731 95 46.
5. TO COMAR, TO DR. ERASMO SAENZ. FAX: 525 531 77 02.
6. TO THE GOVERNMENT OF GUATEMALA, TO PRESIDENT RAMIRO DE
LEON CARPIO. FAX: 5022 537 472 or 5022 519 702.
7. TO THE MEXICAN MINISTRY OF DEFENSE, TO THE ESTADO MAYOR.
FAX: 525 557 79 04.
8. TO THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN, LIC. JORGE
MADRAZO. FAX:525 681 71 99.
9. TO THE CHIAPAN STATE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
FAX: 52 961 406 74 or 52 961 406 32.
10. TO THE INTERIM GOVERNOR OF CHIAPAS, LIC. ELMAR SELTZER
MARSEILLE. FAX: 52 961 209 17.
11. TO THE GENERAL ATTORNEY OF JUSTICE, LIC. JORGE CARPIZO.
FAX: 525 626 64 47 or 525 626 64 48.
12. TO CHIAPAS' STATE ATTORNEY OF JUSTICE.
FAX: 52 961 30 311.
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