Joe Subscriber 
Mary Subscriber 
1000 Maple St. 
St. Louis, MO   63139
  USA

May 10, 1996

Minister of the Interior
Lic. Emilio Chuayffet Chemor 
Secretaria de la Gobernacion 
Bucareli 99, 1er piso 
Col. Juarez, 06699 Mexico DF, 
MEXICO 

or Fax - 52 5 546 5350

Dear Minister,

I am a college instructor. I am seriously concerned for the safety of
inhabitants of San Jeronimo, in Bachajon, state of Chiapas, including
those named below, following a violent attack against the community by a
paramilitary group.  I understand that fears are growing that the
violence may spread to neighboring communities.

Amnesty International reports that at around 6.45 PM on May 5,  1996,
members of the paramilitary group "Los Chincholines", a heavily-armed
youth group reportedly under instructions of the local mayor, a member
of the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) raided and set fire to
the Centro de Derechos Indigenas A.C., the Jesuit mission house and
church, two cars belonging to the Jesuit Fathers, some local houses, the
primary school, and a local health center run by nuns.

I understand that this attack took place after 300 people attempted to
register a complaint concerning harassment and intimidation during a May
4 election.  The people of Chiapas have the right to vote free of
intimidation and harassment. Evidently local officials refused to
respond to their complaint and ordered an attack on their institutions
and homes.  This is no way to promote the peaceful and democratic
resolutions of the conflicts in Chiapas.

I am writing to call for immediate measures to guarantee the safety of
the inhabitants of the community of San Jeronimo, Bachajon and
neighboring communities.  Please initiate a prompt, full and impartial
investigation into the attack.. Those responsible should be brought to
justice.  Please inform me of any action taken and progress made in
responding to this request.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

Joe Subscriber     Mary Subscriber         

Alberto Velazquez, human rights activist; Guillermo Godinez Ramirez,
human rights activist; Ricardo Ayala Lopez, human rights activist; Jaime
Ramirez Maza, human rights activist; Francisco Molina Cortez and his
wife, human rights activists; Amando Herrera Rios, aged 76, member of
the Jesuit community; Eugenio Maurer Abalos, Jesuit priest; Alberto
Velazquez Cruz, member of the Jesuit community; Salvador Quintero
Gonzalez, member of the Jesuit community; Pablo Olivares Martinez,
Jesuit priest