Chiapas Gov. Roberto Albores was set to introduce a proposed state law
                  that would offer an amnesty to anyone who volunteers to disarm. Hundreds
                  of people have died over the past five years from political violence in this
                  impoverished and highly polarised state.

                  Seven other Indians were injured by an ambush in El Bosque, a particularly
                  troubled village in Chiapas, Mexico's southernmost state. It was the sixth
                  ambush against civilians this year in the remote town in the highlands of
                  Chiapas about 500 miles (800 km) southeast of Mexico City.

                  State authorities are investigating at least 12 paramilitary groups operating in
                  Chiapas, many right-wing counters to the pro-Indian Zapatista rebels.

                  Paramilitaries were suspected in the massacre of 45 Indian refugees nearly a
                  year ago in Chiapas, fuelling controversy surrounding the amnesty proposal.

                  Nearly 100 people, including 13 police officers and a local mayor, remain in
                  jail due to charges stemming from the massacre, but Zapatista sympathisers
                  suspect the probe has ignored more senior officials.

                  "There can be no forgiving the assassins of 45 Indians in Acteal last year,"
                  Gabriel Gutierrez, president of the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution
                  (PRD) in Chiapas, told Reuters. "The Attorney General's Office has the
                  obligation to investigate these groups."

                  Other critics say the state has no authority to offer amnesty for federal
                  crimes such as illegal weapons possession.

                  It was unclear who carried out Sunday's attack, although state authorities
                  noted the assailants wore uniforms similar to those of the Zapatistas, who
                  launched a pro-Indian uprising nearly five years ago but for the most part
                  have been militarily silent since.

                  Zapatista leaders like the masked, pipe-smoking Subcommander Marcos
                  have retreated to their jungle stronghold during long-stalled peace talks,
                  surrounded by the army.

                  Four other people have been killed in the attacks dating since April 18, in
                  which typically masked gunmen open fire on a civilian caravan winding its
                  way through the mountain roads.

                  Killed in the ambush was Sebastian Sanchez Hernandez, 11. Seven other
                  people were injured and taken to hospital.

                   Copyright 1998 Reuters.