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Leahy Sense of the Congress Resolution on Chiapas

from the Mexico Solidarity Network, Aug 5, 1998

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

Mr. Leahy (for himself, Mr. Dodd, _________) submitted the following resolution; which was ________________.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding measures to achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, and for other purposes.

Whereas the United States and Mexico have a long history of close relations and share many economic and security interests;

Whereas a democratic and prosperous Mexico is in the economic and security interests of the United States;

Whereas the United States is providing assistance and licensing exports of military equipment to Mexican security forces;

Whereas the Department of State has documented human rights violations by Mexican security forces;

Whereas the conflict in Chiapas, Mexico has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians since January 1994, including the massacre of 45 civilians on December 12, 1997 and the deaths of 10 people, including 2 police officers and 8 villagers, on June 10, 1998;

Whereas the lack of progress in implementing a preliminary peace agreement signed in 1996 and the presence of tens of thousands of Mexican soldiers, as well as armed paramilitary and other groups, have contributed to increased political violence in Chiapas and the absence of basic human rights protections;

Whereas the persistence of political violence has exacerbated the already dismal economic conditions of the majority of indigenous people in Chiapas, and political violence is increasing elsewhere in Mexico, including the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero;

Whereas thousands of indigenous people in Chiapas have fled their homes as a result of the violence and are living in deplorable conditions;

Whereas efforts to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict in Chiapas are at a standstill and the National Mediation Commission has been dissolved by its President, Bishop Samuel Ruiz, due to lack of progress in the peace process;

Whereas the summary expulsions of United States citizens and human rights monitors from Mexico raise concerns about the Government of Mexico's commitment to freedom of movement, association, and expression; and

Whereas the Government of Mexico has expressed concerns about the welfare of Mexican migrant and seasonal workers in the United States who often face discrimination, low wages, and onerous working and living conditions;

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

  • take effective measures to ensure the United States assistance and exports of military equipment do not go to the armed forces or other security forces of Mexico (other than forces primarily involved in counter-narcotics activities); and do not contribute to human rights violations in Mexico;

  • encourage the Government of Mexico to reduce political tension and violence in Chiapas by disarming paramilitary groups and decreasing its military presence there;

  • encourage the Government of Mexico to pursue vigorously negotiations toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Chiapas, and encourage the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to offer to assist in such negotiations;

  • support efforts by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, and other appropriate agencies to provide relief assistance to displaced persons in Chiapas;

  • seek a commitment from the Government of Mexico to respect the rights of United States citizens and human rights monitors in Mexico in accordance with Mexican law and international law; and

  • in conjunction with the Secretary of Labor, discuss with the Government of Mexico ways to address concerns about the working and living conditions of Mexican migrant and seasonal workers in the United States.
Co-Sponsors (as of 8/5/98):

Leahy, Dodd, Durbin, Harkin, Feinstein, Feingold, Bumpers, Bingaman, Murray, Jeffords, Kerry, Wellstone, Boxer, Kennedy

The following are key Senators that have not, as yet, signed on as co-sponsors:

Lugar, Grams, Gorton, Specter, Reed, McCulsky, Wyden, Smith, Biden, Sarbanes, Hagel, Lautenberg, Dorgan, Kohl


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