Mexico's Fox on Zapatista Marcos: "I Await His Orders"

Well, here's a novel way to boost sagging popularity in the polls for Vicente Fox: When the guerrilla organization that your government has persecuted for your entire term announces - as the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN, in its Spanish initials) said in a new communiqué this weekend - that it has just decided to expand its cause nationwide, Fox's first instinct is to grope for a photo op with the rebels!

The Mexican president, today in the neighboring country of Belize, alongside that country's President Said Musa, responded to reporters' questions about the possible entrance by the Zapatistas into more above-ground political action (not necessarily electoral, please, nobody jump to conclusions). Fox said specifically about Zapatista Subcomandante Marcos:

“I await his orders to work toward that integration."

More after the jump... The Zapatistas announced that, with their bases ("100 percent indigenous" and "100 percent Mexican") having voted in assemblies throughout their territory and approved the new course of action with 98 percent support:

"...the EZLN shall undertake a new political initiative that is national and international in nature."

And they added:

"In order to report on what was analyzed and discussed in the internal consulta - in addition to explaining and calling for joining in with the new initiative which has been approved - the CCRI-CG of the EZLN will, over the next few days, make public a series of texts which are part of the 'Sixth Declaration of the Selva Lacandona.'"

Fox, seeming to jump to the conclusion that "Mr. Marcos" now wants a political party or some such thing that probably is not very likely, added:

"Not only do I welcome them! I invite Mr. Marcos that, together, we arm a stage of integration into political life and the integration of agreements that benefit the (indigenous) communities."

As difficult as it is to predict what the Zapatistas and "Mr. Marcos" will do when they announce the details of their plans shortly, I'd bet they are not going to make it so easy for Fox to point to the developments as a personal success or triumph of his policies.

For example, some good friends of Narco News (and participants in our School of Authentic Journalism) from Bolivia's social movements were recently in Chiapas conversing quietly with Zapatista leaders, comparing notes on their respective struggles, strategies and tactics.

Fox may thus, similarly, wish to compare notes with his Bolivian counterpart Gonzalo "Goni" Sanchez de Lozada...

Oops, I mean Carlos Mesa...

Oops, I mean Hormando Vaca Diez...

Oops, I mean Mario Cossio...

Oh, right, it's now President Eduardo Rodríguez, at least he still was still president of Bolivia as of a few minutes ago...

Developing...