Mr. Speaker, I wish to remind the hon. member for Laval-Est that the Government of Canada remains concerned about the conflict in Chiapas State of Mexico in early January, particularly the loss of life and allegations of human rights abuses.
We have conveyed these concerns to the Mexican government, both through our ambassador, David Winfield, in Mexico and through the Mexican ambassador here in Ottawa, Sandra Fuentes-Berain.
The Government of Canada is encouraging the Mexican government to continue the open and conciliatory approach it has taken since the second week of the crisis to address the situation in Chiapas, including the following important steps: the appointment of Manuel Camacho, the former foreign minister and former mayor of Mexico City as the chief conciliator for Chiapas; the appointment of Dr. Jorge Carpizo, the former President of Mexico's human rights commission as the new interior minister; the involvement of Bishop Samuel Ruiz in negotiations to resolve the situation in Chiapas; the ceasefire; the meetings of President Salinas with indigenous groups in Chiapas; the amnesty offered to the Zapatistas by President Salinas, which was ratified by the Mexican Congress; and the appointment of an ombudsman responsible for human rights in Mexico.
The Government of Canada trusts that the Government of Mexico will address and resolve the fundamental underlying causes of the conflict in Chiapas, including social, economic and human rights issues.