Reforming the state
An EZLN-sponsored Special Forum on reforming the state was held in San Cristobal (Chiapas) from 30 June to 6 July. It seems to have been a great success. Over 1,000 representatives of a range of parties and dozens of social movements began to define the outines of a programme for retorming the corrupt and authoritarian Mexican state, and discuss the next steps needed for the emancipation of the Mexican people. It also provided the EZLN with a public tribune, in the capital of Chiapas. The meeting was well-covered in the national media. It will have national repercussions.
Among the participants were representatives of two of the country's four parliamentary parties, the (left-wing) PRD of Cuauthémoc Cardenas and the Labour Party (PT),. Of Maoist origin, the PT is now close to the ruling PRI. Also present were El Barzón, (radical organisation of indebted businessmen), the Civil Dialogue Committees (which are forming the Zapatista National Liberation Front), a delegation of the Commission for Conciliation and Peace (COCOA, the Socialist Revolution Party (PRS) and two groups identifying with the Fourth Intermational; the Revolutionary Workers Party (PRT) and the Socialist Unity League (LUS). *
October 1996 #281 7
Latin American left dialogue
Sao Paulo Forum