OAXACA, Mexico, April 28 (Reuters) - With rudimentary signs posted in telephone booths, a new self-described Mexican rebel army vowed on Tuesday to fight the government in the name of "peace, justice and democracy."

The flyers posted in the southern city of Oaxaca, 284 miles (454 km) southeast of Mexico City, were signed by National Indigenous Revolutionary Liberation Army (EIRLN), which vowed to rebel against the government in the name of "those with no name, no face, with nothing."

"Our men already have the order to attack whatever group that might attack," said the document, with Monday's date and signed "from the mountains of Oaxaca."

State police chief Jose Trinidad Rodriguez said at a news conference police were investigating the origin of the flyers, and that the signs were the first evidence of the group.

Oaxaca police had never before heard of the EIRLN, he said. "We don't know if this is from a real armed group."

The flyer also said the EIRLN was "tired of so much abuse of authority," and called for peace, justice and democracy.

This cry echoed the call made on Jan. 1, 1994, by National Zapatista Liberation Army (EZLN), whose armed attack in the name of peace, justice and democracy shook neighboring Chiapas state.
Some 150 people died in two weeks of combat.

Two years ago armed guerrillas called the Popular Revolutionary Army (EPR) surged in Guerrero, another poverty-stricken southern state. About 20 people died in attacks.

Yet neither rebel group has struck since their initial uprisings, aside from sporadic scuffles with soldiers and police.

The Oaxaca flyers claimed the EIRLN had "a ton of members and nothing to lose and are not afraid of death."
 

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