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 **  *****  *****    ***           COMMUNIQUE # 4 - 29
 **  **     **      ** **          24 July 1995
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International Freedom of Expression eXchange Clearing House
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MEXICO: JOURNALISTS ATTACKED FOR REFUSING TO CONDEMN OPPOSITION

Journalists who refuse to criticize Chiapan Bishop Samuel Ruiz
have suffered serious repercussions, says a double report on
Mexico issued by the Inter-Church Committee on Human Rights in
Latin America (ICCHRLA). This is just one of many conclusions of
the reports, "A Dirty War in the Making" and "In the Face of this
Injustice...", which were based on visits to Mexico early this
year. ICCHRLA condemns the human rights violations committed
under the auspices of the government's drive to eradicate the
Ejercito Zapatista de Liberation Nacional (EZLN).

Following negotiations between the government and the EZLN in
April in San Andres Larrainzar, ICCHRLA says "Mexican and foreign
journalists published a letter in the Mexican daily, `La
Jornada', denouncing the `distortion of information' on the talks
by the television monopolies, Televisa and TV-Azteca, who are
aligned with the ruling [Partido Revolutionario Institucional]
PRI party." At that time, journalist Jesus Gonzales Schmall was
not permitted to broadcast his daily commentary at the radio
station Formula "because he refused to attack and criticize
Bishop Ruiz on the air." In addition, political columnist Carlos
Ramirez was also the subject of death threats. The Caracas
affiliate of the International Federation of Journalists (FIP)
reported last week that Mexican journalist Javier Elorriaga
Berdegue has likely been wrongly detained since February for
allegedly collaborating with the EZLN.

The "Dirty War" report also refers to a "black list" of 2,275
people, reportedly compiled by the Mexican military intelligence,
which alleges that those names are Zapatista collaborators. The
list names alleged members of the EZLN, human rights workers and
priests, including foreigners, and may likely include
journalists. For a copy of the double report, contact ICCHRLA at
129 St. Clair Ave. W., Toronto, Ontario M4V 1N5, Canada; tel: +1
416 921-0801; fax: +1 416 921 3843; e-mail: icchrla@web.apc.org.

Meanwhile, President Ernesto Zedillo has been criticized by the
Inter American Press Association (IAPA) for praising the
Newspaper Vendors Union even though they have been impeding
distribution of the progressive daily "Reforma" in Mexico City
since November. The June issue of "IAPA News" reports that
Zedillo referred to the union as "exemplary" and commended it for
demonstrating "that there is an independent press and that
freedom of expression is respected in Mexico." IAPA Press Freedom
Committee Chairman Danilo Arbilla protested to Zedillo that his
statement "could be interpreted as support for the union, which
unilaterally has been staging a boycott against the daily
newspaper `Reforma', hindering citizens' ability to choose by
which media they prefer to be informed." IAPA reported that the
Mexican Monopoly Commission is currently investigating
"allegations of restrictive practices by the union," the federal
district attorney's office is investigating alleged attacks by
union members on non-union vendors of "Reforma", and a lawsuit
against "Reforma" by the union.

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The IFEX "Communique" is published weekly in English, French and
Spanish by the IFEX Clearing House, Toronto. The facility is
operated by the Canadian Committee to Protect Journalists in
partnership with the member organizations of the International
Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX). Material for the
"Communique" may be submitted to the CCPJ, 490 Adelaide Street
West, Suite 205, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1T2, CANADA; E-mail:
ifex@web.apc.org; Tel: (1-416) 703-1638; or Fax: (1-416)
703-7034. Editor: Kristina Stockwood. Subscriptions are available
by e-mail and surface mail. The views expressed in the
"Communique" are the responsibility of the sources to which they
are attributed.
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   Association mondiale des radiodiffuseurs communautaires
      World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
          Asociacion mundial de radios comunitarias
3575 Blvd. St. Laurent, Suite 704     Email: amarc@web.apc.org
Montreal, Quebec                         Tel: (1-514) 982-0351
CANADA  H2X 2T7                          Fax: (1-514) 849-7129
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