MEXICO

Peace may yet returnto Mexico. Mexican rebelsfrom the troubled southernstate of Chiapas have signalled their willingness tobury the hatchet and striketruce with the federal government. The ZapatistaNational Liberation Army, ina statement dated March 24,appealed for talks on "politiCal, social, cultural and economic issues."

The rebels first went onthe warpath against the government on January 1, 1994.Their initial demand was forbetter living conditions-for the majority ethnicMayan community in Chiapas. Later, the rebels extended their demand to democratic reforms for Chiapas(see Down To Earth, Vol 3,No 18).