Mexico: Government Reactions to the Zapatista Mobilization of 21 December

National: Reactions by federal and state governments to the Zapatista mobilization of 21 December
SIPAZ blog – 27 December, 2012

On different occasions, both the federal government and the Chiapas state government have expressed comments about the mass-mobilization of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) that took place on 21 December in 5 cities in Chiapas, as well as on the communique released by the rebel group that same day. In the name of the federal government, Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong, secretary of Governance, declared that “they still do not know us; we hope they do not come out too soon, given that President Enrique Peña Nieto has a great commitment to the indigenous peoples.” In comments published by La Jornada, Osorio Chong added that “President Peña knows of the problems, and for that reason he will support the indigenous peoples and particularly examine the demands of the people of Chiapas.”

For its part, the Chiapas state-government released a press-bulletin affirming that the Zapatista mobilization was carried out peacefully and respectfully. Furthermore, it reported that it was aware of the communique published by the Zapatista leadership, indicating that on that day “all police units in the State were garrisoned so as to allow for the free flow of mobilization.” …source