"THE DIGNITY of Mexican youth, as they form torrents in the streets, reminds us of another time - 1968. In the open space of the grand Plaza they cry 'Peace yes! War no!' *They are talking about a popular peace. The peace which has been proposed by the Zapatistas - peace for the peoples of Chiapas.? The words are those of Rosario Ibarra.
If today's Zapatistas symbolise the struggles and fortunes of Mexico's ancient indigenous peoples, Rosario !International Appeal i To: Dr Ernesto Zedillo President of the United States of Mexico The Mexican people 'We the undersigned, citizens of different countries, are following with great attention the political crisis which began In Mexico in January 1994.
We are concerned that the legitimate demands of I the Indian peoples of the State of Chiapas, which are I supported by millions of Mexicans, should not be sti1 fled.
Up until now these demands have been raised without obtaining a positive response from the government.
We think that the only way of avoiding war breaking i out in Mexico would be to meet the economic, cuttural, political, and social demands expressed by theseg communities.
We will remain vigliant In our different countries, in order to ensure that the demands for democracy, Justice, and freedom raised by these communities be answered positively." has for more than a decade symbolised the struggles of the country's urban poor and dispossessed.
Founder of the Mexican Committee of Relatives of Prisoners, Hunted, Exiled, and 'Missing Persons' detained for Political Reasons, in 1982 she was the first woman to nal: stand as a presidential candidate, at the head of the list organised by the Fourth Internationalist Revolutionary Workers Party (PRT).
Today, she is setting another precedent. Alongside the Zapatistas' enigmatic Subcommandante Marcos, sembly movement. dent must respond Rosario speaks as president for the National Democratic Convention (CND), the most important alliance to have bridged the gulf between the struggles of the city and the countryside for many years.
Rosario explained why in El Navegante, the CND jour"We are now together in struggle against those who want to make Mexico little more than a factory in the service of the Yankees', an people will be matus... The impotent reservation' A deputy in the Federal As1988-85, Rosario was re-elected in August 1994. In the traditions of