The Mexican government has released 17 Zapatista prisoners in the southern state of Chiapas in an effort to promote dialogue with the guerrilla group that broke down four years ago. The move follows the closure earlier this week of a controversial military base in Chiapas, which has been a key military rebel demand for the resumption of peace talks. The releases are seen as a show of good faith by the new government of President Vicente Fox, who took office at the start of the month.
A government negotiator said that the move was significant because it began a new millennium, which, he said, ought to be one of reconciliation and peace. The negotiator said that there was "a new dawn in Chiapas and in Mexico". He said that 33 sympathisers of the Zapatista National Liberation Army would be released in the next few weeks. Non-government organisations estimate that more than 100 Zapatistas are in Mexican jails.
