Mexico's Zapatista rebels defiantly launch self-government

OVENTIC, Mexico, Aug 9 (AFP) - Zapatista rebels supporting indigenous peoples' rights took defiant steps toward self government in Chiapas state Saturday in a peaceful political challenge to Mexico's federal government.

The Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) is transferring control of regions under its authority to newly created town councils, the group's leader told some 5,000 indigenous Mexicans and Zapatista supporters gathered here.

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The guerrilla forces "are withdrawing from all checkpoints" in the region and will return "in case of an emergency," the movement's charismatic masked leader, 'Commander Marcos,' said in a recording played at the gathering.

From now on, five "good governance councils" will handle identification documents, settle land disputes and manage NGOs' projects and aid, and the EZLN will play a supporting role, rebel leaders said.

"We will be prepared to defend you," the Marcos recording promised, but "we believe we have done our part... Armies are for defending, not for governing."

In Mexico City, Interior Minister Santiago Creel said the government would study the EZLN's new plans to determine if they comply with federal and state laws, but that it had not drawn any conclusions yet.

"This is a historic act, because today we are finishing one phase of our struggle and beginning another one of political struggle, resistance and autonomy for Mexico's indigenous people," Zapatista Commander 'Rafael' said earlier in the day before thousands of energized supporters and media.

Buses, mules, horses and trucks streamed in and joined with farmers, many in the traditional dress of their ethnic Maya groups: the Chamulas, Tzotziles and Lacandones. They were also joined by representatives of nongovernmental organizations from Spain, France, Italy and the United States.

The atmosphere was more festive than confrontational with traditional bands playing and hot home-made food steaming away. The government did not boost police or military presence in the area.

It is the latest bid by the Zapatistas to increase autonomy in Mexico's heavily indigenous and impoverished southernmost state, Chiapas, along the Guatemala border.

Mexico's constitution does not allow for self-determination.

Some 12 million of Mexico's 100 million population are indigenous people who are often politically and linguistically isolated, and poorer than the average Mexican.

The EZLN rose up in arms in the southern state of Chiapas on January 1, 1994. About 200 people died before a truce was implemented 12 days later. The truce has widely been respected but tension has remained high and hundreds of people have died in the state in conflicts over land, politics and religion.

Commander Marcos has led a march on Mexico City, and the rebels have appeared in Congress, but the EZLN has not secured the kind of autonomy the movement wants. Critics say the government in theory wants social integration of indigenous peoples but in practice never has done much to achieve it.

The Zapatistas broke off talks with the government in September 1996 over failure to implement an accord on indigenous rights.

Attempts to renew dialogue hit a wall after the leftist rebels said an indigenous rights law passed by Congress fell far short of the constitutional amendment they demanded.

Observers say the EZLN today counts some 200 to 400 armed members, and hundreds of "support centers" in the 30 communities it says it has controlled since 1994. The Mexican army withdrew from the region two years ago.

The announcement Saturday was the latest political setback for President Vicente Fox, who said early in his term he intended to settle the Zapatista insurrection swiftly.

But the rebels have seized the moment of political impasse -- since Fox's party lost seats in the lower house of Congress July 6 -- to try to gain the upper hand.

"I do not think the announcement is a product of the political situation, but it is clear they have taken advantage of the political timing," Pedro Raul Lopez Hernandez, who leads the Chiapas Human Rights Commission, told AFP.

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Mexico-Chiapas