European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 16, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 12 the stars and stripes world sunday january 16, 1994mexican peasants unite to woes san Cristobal de Las Casas Mexico apr frustrated by government inability to solve the Root causes of an Indian rebellion indigenous groups say they will tackle the problems through their own autonomous organization. Representatives of 140 indigenous peas fat groups from throughout the Southern state of Chiapas announced late Friday that they would form an autonomous statewide organization in the Wake of the Jan. 1 uprising by the Zap Atista army of National liberation. The announcement Carne after two Days of talks that Drew hundreds to a huge warehouse just South of the City. A. A a a Luis Hernandez Cruz the Secretary general for the Independent Central of agricultural workers and Quot peasants based in comity a said that the organization should be fully autonomous free front the control of the a Patistas political parties landowners govern mint and Church. Quot we will not allow this group to be manipulated a Hernandez said during a meeting at the local office of the National indigenous Institute the leaders said they were angry that Manuel Camacho Solis appointed the governments chief negotiator following the rebel uprising did not show up at their meetings. After a two Day visit to san Cristobal de Las Casas Camacho left the City a roman Catholic Bishop Samuel Ruiz in charge of mediation efforts and then returned to Mexico City on Friday to await the guerrillas response to Calls for talks. Last week the rebels had requested that Ruiz aty outspoken Indian rights advocate be a middleman. Quot we Are Here with our antennae up to see if there1 be a response to our Call for negotiations a Ruiz told reporters the rebels who number from 1,000 to 2,000, have not publicly responded to government overtures for dialogue. They had demanded an end to military offensives a withdrawal of troops and recognition As a military and political Force. Camacho said thursday that he received messages that might be an opening to negotiations but it was unclear if he had heard from rebel leaders or sympathize ers. A a a Quot a a a a a a. A on Friday he refused to answer reporters1 questions a funeral procession in Las margaritas Mexico moves past a armed military vehicle guarding the town Plaza Friday. The funeral was for a Man caught in the Cross lire Jan. 1, when peasant rebels stormed the  More possible messages saying that he did not want to endanger the peace process. Quot we have to be very careful with the information we give a he Sard. The indians launched the rebellion new years Day in an attempt to improve the living conditions in Chiapas where most of the 3,2 million people Are. Of indigenous descent and Lack Basic services. All 14,000 soldiers in the Region were pulled Back to the City of san Cristobal de Las Casas and seven other towns the defense department announced late thurs on women Day. \ a a. A a the department said the soldiers would not go on the offensive. They were not completely restrained however some soldiers were making local patrols against possible attacks arid others were doing humanitarian work in affected communities. After seizing the towns the rebels gradually pulled Back to hideouts in the Jungle covered Hills when the army advanced and military aircraft strafed suspected positions in several communities. Raises Over ice Amritsar India apr  that word tattooed on the foreheads of four women in the Northern state of Punjab has unleashed a storm in India. The women say police tattooed them to Settle personal scores. Police say the women were branded by their own neighbors in a warning to others. Although it Isnit unusual in Rural India for Petty criminals to be punished by being paraded on the Back of a Donkey with their faces blackened this would be the first Lime accused criminals have been tattooed. The incident has blown up into a National Eor Trover by Over police conduct and How far authorities will go to control crime. Quot disgraceful police conduct a screamed a mass circulation daily Indian express in an editorial Friday. Quot what is cause for grave concern is the brutal manner in which police in Punjab have started dealing with women held for nothing More serious than suspected Petty crime a the newspaper said. The newspaper said the tattooing occurred because police in Punjab have been Given extraordinary Powers to Deal with a decade Long sikh rebellion. The women were arrested dec. 20 for allegedly stealing a canadians purse police say. A hearing on the Case is scheduled Inis week. The women said that after their arrests a local lat Kooist summoned by police branded the four with the word Jerk Arr or a pickpocket a across their foreheads in Black Ink. The victims lawyer . Arc Wal said a top officer of the Punjab City Amritsar Sukhdev Singh Sheena ordered the tattooing because the women once insulted  Sheena told the associated press on Friday that the women had already been tattooed before their arrest. He claimed the women once picked someone s pocket in a neighbouring District and were caught by local residents and tattooed As a warning to others. Firebombing target 3 Irish stores Belfast Northern Ireland Apt incendiary devices set off fires saturday morning that destroyed a furniture shop in Belfast and severely damaged another in Newtownards nine Miles cast of Belfast police said. No injuries were reported but the two bum cd out stores Mark the Progress that has t been made since Britain and Ireland announced a Quot framework for peace in Northern Ireland. Meanwhile another incendiary device caused extensive damage but no injuries saturday at a Belfast grocery store. No one immediately claimed responsibility but the attacks were similar to a flurry of fires set off by the Irish Republican army in Belfast on new years Day. The Ira is seeking to end British ule in Northern Ireland. / Quot this clearly shows that the terrorists Are not going Down the path of democracy and there is no cause for complacency on anyone a part a said sir John Wheeler the British minister responsible for Security in Northern Ireland. The Ira has killed one British Soldier and seriously wounded another since British prime minister John major and Irish prime minister Albert Reynolds made their joint declaration in London on dec. 15. The declaration proposed exploratory talks with sinn fein the political Arm of the Ira. It also pledged that protestants would not be forced out of the United kingdom so Long As most people oppose a United Ireland. Gunmen of the Ulster defense association a protestant group have also kept up their attacks seriously injuring a Catholic in his Home Jan. 6. Parking problems Chet Paul Bouse takes his dog for a boat ride Fri As he surveys floodwaters in his restaurants Park lot in Coli onges a Mont do or Central France. A town was flooded when heavy Rains in december i Early january caused the sane River to overflow Banks. Earlier last week the rising Saone forced a of the main Paris Lyon Highway to close