Ecobreves – MEXICO: Government on Trial

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

MEXICO CITY, Sep 22 2002 (IPS) - The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) resolved to hear the charges of the Tarahumara Indians from the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua, who accuse the government of allowing the destruction of their forests by lumber companies and illegal loggers. The CEC, a body of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which includes Mexico, United States and Canada, decided to draw up a report, which may detail the alleged crimes of the Mexican authorities.

The government of President Vicente Fox has responded that the charges filed in 2000, under the Ernesto Zedillo administration (1994-2000), are unfounded and were dealt with at that time.