Chiapas Says It Will Free All Zapatistas
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SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, Mexico — Gov. Pablo Salazar announced Thursday that he would free all Zapatista supporters from jails in Chiapas, partially meeting one of three remaining demands made by rebels in the southern Mexican state.
In an effort to lure the Zapatistas back to long-stalled talks, President Vicente Fox has closed four army bases in Chiapas, helped gain the release of dozens of Zapatista prisoners and sent Congress an Indian rights bill that would reform the constitution to recognize indigenous autonomy and cultural and judicial rights.
Besides passage of the bill, however, the Zapatistas have demanded that three more bases be closed and that all prisoners be released.
Salazar said Thursday that 19 Zapatista prisoners would be released within hours.
“According to our information, starting today, no Zapatistas remain in jail in Chiapas,” he said.
The rebels did not immediately respond. But they have said more sympathizers remain jailed in Tabasco, Veracruz and Queretaro states.
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