World Zapatista Feature Archive

On Sunday March 11, the Zapatista Caravan arrived in the capital, greeted and cheered by an impressive crowd of more than 200.000 people awaiting them in the central square of Mexico City. For two weeks, 24 commanders of the EZLN and hundreds of supporters had been travelling through several Southern Mexican states, staging rallies to mobilise civil society. The EZLN commanders are now refusing to leave Mexico City until all Zapatista prisoners are released, Mexican troops withdrawn from the state of Chiapas and a bill guaranteeing the political and cultural rights of the 10 million indigenous Mexicans is passed. For more news and a detailed account of the various stages of the caravan look at our Zapatour features page.

Saturday, March 10: The Zapatista Delegation headed today towards Xochimilco, also in the Federal District of Mexico City. Early in the morning, a thousand strong contingent proceeding from around 400 indigenous and rural communities of the State of Guerrero, as well as a delegation of Barzonistas from Micoacán, have joined the Zapatista march towards the heart of the Republic's capital. "We will not go until there is Institutional recognition of the rights and culture of all Indigenous peoples of Mexico", Marcos affirmed. (full story in spanish)

Also, The "White Overalls/Monos Blancos" have announced today that they are withdrawing from their role as Caravan security. This decision was made public this morning with a flyer that quickly became the focus of conversation of the awakening travellers. The paper is addressed to the Civil Society of the Caravan. (full story)

- The Caravan of Dignity (Part 1)

Friday, March 9: The EZLN Delegation has called today for a mobilisation in the whole country demanding that the Congress of the Union ratifies the San Andres Accords. The EZLN's General Command in Rebellion manifested once more that if Vicente Fox's government wants to dialogue with the EZLN, they will have to accept the Zapatista demands first, and that the "dialogue will have to be sincere and definitive, in which, whatever it is finally accorded will have to be respected and put into practice". "The Zapatistas have already proved that we can comply with our word, now it's the Federal Government's turn". In an earlier communicate, the Zapatista delegation announced that "we are thousands on our way to Mexico DF, and we want to call on all Mexican and International civil society to accompany us in the final leg into Mexico DF this Sunday, be it from the streets, from the pavements, from your windows, balconies and roofs, whatever you choose!" The Caravan spent the night in Milpa Alta.

- EZLN words in Milpa Alta
- Cuernavaca, Zapatista Territory (pic)

Thursday, March 8: On the International Day of the Rebel Women and the 12th of the march, the EZLN caravan entered the Federal District of Mexico City. The day began in Cuautla (Morelos) with the scheduled event being cancelled after the security teams reported they had found an unidentified man carrying a weapon. In Anenecuilco (Morelos) the EZLN delegation visited the museum built around the ruins of the house where General Emiliano Zapata was born and met Zapata's son and daughter.

- EZLN statement at the International Day of the Rebel Women
- 12th day, 5th message and an abundance of good words (La Jornada)
- Narco News report from Anenecuilco
- Sunset in Cuautla (pic)

Wednesday, March 7: The EZLN Delegation left Tepoztlan (Morelos) towards Guerrero, a state with a history of rebellion and social struggle as well as "...the state in which the national drama is synthesized: concentration of wealth in the hands of a few, scandalous social imbalance.." as the EZLN addressed the crowd at the central event in the city of Iguala, Guerrero. At the same event the General Command of the EZLN delivered the third of the seven messages to Mexico City: "This is Mexico. In order to make war one must challenge the government. In order to achieve the peace with justice and dignity, one must also challenge the government. We, thus, are challenging whomever objects. We are challenging them."
The Delegates returned to Cuautla, Morelos. In Cuautla lies in state the tomb of General Emiliano Zapata. In the nearby community of Aninecuilco, Zapata's was born and the ruins of his home still stand. Also nearby, Chinameca, where history says Zapata was assassinated.

- Words of the EZLN March 7, 2001. In Iguala, Guerrero.
- "On the Road with the Subcomandante (Philadelphia City Paper)

Tuesday, March 6: The Zapatista Delegation passed through Cuernavaca (Morelos), and then to Tepoztlán (Morelos), where it spent the night. Large crowds welcomed the Zapatistas all along the way. In Toluca (Morelos) Comandante Zebedeo said that "we have seen that this popular movement it is already like the stars in the sky that are continuously multiplying". Hundreds of men, women and children from Mazahuas and Otomies communities also welcomed the caravan in an unprogrammed stop. Comandante David invited them to join the Caravan "to Mexico DF, to the Congress of the Union, so between all of us we may achieve respect and recognition for the indigenous rights and culture".
It is also important to point out that today, the Cocopa commission has officially recognised Mr Fernando Yanez as the link between the EZLN and the Federal Government.

- EZLN words in Cuernavaca
- Awaiting the Zapas in Cuernacava
- Full report and pictures on today's leg (spanish)

Monday, March 5: The Delegates stopped for a planned event in the state capital of Morelia and then passed through Zitácuaro, Michoacán, and entered the State of Mexico. There was a rally in Toluca and another in the Otomí zone of Temoaya. The delegation "share bread and roof with our brothers and sisters" of the Andrés Molina Enriquez housing project known as "La Pila" in the town of Metepec.

-EZLN speech in Morelia (Michoacan) (spanish)
-Even souvenir shops support the EZLN (pic)

Sunday, March 4: Last day of the CNI Congress. 3,300 delegates demanded the recognition of indigenous rights and a demilitarisation of the country. During the three days of the Congress, there were also present oround 3000 "observers" mainly consisting of the internationalists following the Zapatista caravan and several hundred journalists. Read first hand account.

- Results and resolutions from the Indigenous National Congress
- EZLN speech
- Declaration presented by the Purhepecha People: Regional Autonomy
- indigenous women at the congress (pic)
- Anti-corporate media banner at the congress (pic)
- Purhepecha flag at the congress(pic)

Saturday, March 3: More work at the CNI Congress. After several hours of speeches and ceremonies, including the intonation of the Zapatista hymn, the hundreds of indigenous delegates split up into four working groups, where they will discuss proposals and work to forge consensus regarding the Cocopa indigenous rights bill soon to be debated in the Mexican Congress. Read report.

Read today's Editorial of the daily newspaper La Nación de Costa Rica, on the importance of the Zapatista March for the rest of Latin America.
-Photo of Comandantes holding the EZLN flag during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Indigenous National Congress.

Friday, March 2: The Zapatista delegation arrived in city of Nurio (Michoacán) to participate in the Third Indigenous National Congress. More than 1000 delegates have attended the first session of the 3 days event that brings together representatives of indigenous communities from all over Mexico.
Mayan representatives have expressed their doubts about Vicente Fox's "good will". They accused the Federal Government of only having interest in gaining publicity, and not being fully committed to a "just and dignified peace". They also reiterated that the main demands of the indigenous peoples of Mexico are still the same as the resolutions of previous Indigenous Congresses: the withdrawal of military bases and the dismantling of paramilitaries not only from Chiapas, but from all the indigenous communities.
The General Command of the EZLN has confirmed that it is still waiting for reports on yesterday's crash in order to determine if it was indeed and accident or an attack. It also laments the death of the military official that was 'escorting' the caravan.

- Indigenous National Congress Info Page (english)
-Image of Nurio,site of the Indigenous National Congress (pic)

Mexico has recently been the scene of a series of events related to the evolving anti-globalisation and anti-capitalism movement. Not only are the Zapatistas currently marching towards Mexico City, accompanied by hundreds of supporters from all over the world, but protests have also occurred against a meeting of the World Economic Forum in Cancun. On February 26 and 27, 400 protesters blockaded the main road leading onto the hotel strip where the meeting was taking place. After almost four hours, the blockade was violently broken up by police. Sixty demonstrators were arrested, a large number of people were seriously injured. According to mainstream news agencies, Mexican President Fox has reacted furiously to the excessive police violence.

[ Report 1 | Report 2 | Report 3 | IMC-Mexico ]

Pictures:
[Naked protest | demonstration | street blockade | police | police arrest injured protester ]

Thursday, March 1: The Caravan reached the state of Quéretaro where there are Zapatista political prisoners incarcerated. The local governor, Ignacio Loyola Vera (well known for his strong opposition to any form of negotiation with the EZLN), left the state capital of Querétaro (Quéretaro) in sign of protest.
The day began with a tragic road accident in which one of the buses of the caravan ran over two police officers of the escort, killing one. Because of the delay caused by the accident the caravan was unable to get to Nurio (Michoacán) where the Third Indigenous National Congress is due to begin on March 2nd.

- EZLN communique regarding road accident
- People protects EZLN commanders after their bus has crashed (pic)
- EZLN in Querétaro (article from La Jornada)
- Caravan welcomed in Queretaro (pic)

Wednesday, February 28: This morning the delegation left Puebla (Puebla) in direction to the state of Hidalgo. The first stop of the Caravan was in Tlaxcala (Tlaxcala). Then passed through several towns and cities of the state of Hidalgo: Emiliano Zapata, Cuidad Sahagún, Actopan, Francisco I. Madero,Ixmiquilpan and Tepatepec.
During the reception event in the state's capital Pachuca Subcomandante Marcos formally announced the beginning of contacts between the EZLN and the federal legislators.

-EZLN Confirms Contact With Legislators
-Carlos Santana says NO to Televisa-Azteca "Peace Concert"
-Televisa's truck gets a Zapatista graffiti (pic)
-Marcos giving a speech in the rain (pic)
-EZLN Delegation in Ixmilquilpan (pic)

Tuesday, February 27: The Caravan, including the Italians who managed to hire other buses, passed through Tehuacán (Puebla) and Orizaba (Veracrúz) where they were greeted by a crowd of 50 thousands. The caravan ended the day in the state capital of Puebla (Puebla) where 15.000 people attended a rally in the Central Square.

-Words of the EZLN in Puebla
-Zapatistas in Puebla (Video)
-EZLN mass reception in Puebla (pic)

Another day of protest against the WEF in Cancun heavily repressed by police.

-Update of the events in Cancun
-Blockade in Cancun (pic)
-White overalls in Cancun (pic)
-police arrest injured protester (pic)

Monday, February 26: Passing through Tehuantepec and Villa de Mitla, the Caravan was travelling to the state capital of Oaxaca, Oaxaca. During the night at Oaxaca, the buses of the Italian supporters miraculously disappeared. A sabotage action by anti-Zapatista groups was considered the most likely cause for this incident. Read more.

-Article in La Jornada on the Oaxaca rally
-The Caravan in Oaxaca (video)

Meanwhile in Cancun, protests and actions took place against a meeting by the World Economic Forum.
[report 1 ¦ report 2 ¦ picture 1 ¦ picture2]

Sunday, February 25: The Zapatista Delegation left San Cristóbal, Chiapas, and was moving through the State of Oaxaca via Tapanatepec and La Ventosa. It stopped to salute a concentration of indigenous allies at the border of Oaxaca, before taking part in the central event of the day - a rally in Juchitán. The citizens of Juchitán were the first to rebel against Mexico's ruling party in 1982. Read first hand account.
See a gallery of images from the first two days of the caravan.

-Communique about the threats to the EZLN¹s Caravan
-Irish anarchist reports from San Cristobel on Zap march

Saturday, February 24: The Zapatista Delegations left from La Realidad, La Garrucha, Oventik and Moises Gandhi where Civil Society met them. A communique (in Spanish) by the EZLN's Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous Committee was read by the Zapatista delegation. This marked the starting point of the Caravan journey that moved towards San Cristóbal de Las Casas.

-Report from EZLN caravan in San Cristobal, Chiapas
-First hand report from Oventic
-Arrival in San Cristobal
-Picture of Zapatistas leaving Oventic
-Picture of Zapatistas as they arrive in San Cristobal

This month the Zapatista Army for National Liberation (EZLN) released several communiques.about its delegation's trip to the capital of the Mexican Republic.

From the General Command of the EZLN, 24 Commandantes will leave Chiapas for Mexico City on February 25. The stated purpose is to "expound upon the virtues of the Cocopa's legislative proposal - which faithfully reflects the San Andres Accords - to the legislators of the Congress of the Union". The 'caravan' will cross through the lands of the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Quere'taro, Michoaca'n, the State of Mexico and Morelos, and ending in Mexico City.

Since 1994 the EZLN has been demanding that those governing recognize the rights and culture of indegenous peoples in Mexico. Already a delegation of between 200 and 300 Italians, groups from San Francisco (US), Switzerland, Argentina and France will be accompanying the EZLN delegation - some for the entire route.

[ IMC Chiapas (Spanish) | Official EZLN page (English) | Chiapaslink | First hand account from Chenalho | Marcos on Chiapas IMC | Photo ]

Following recent developments in Mexico after the election of the new Federal government headed by Vicente Fox, the EZLN defines its position regarding the possibilities for a peaceful solution to the war in Chiapas.

[ EZLN demands to new Fox government | Communique from the EZLN General Command | Letter from Subcommandante Marcos to outgoing President Zedillo | Call for support of indigenous rights | Chiapaslink | Photo ]

On January 1 1994, the Zapatista Army for National Liberation (EZLN) took over several towns in the southernmost Mexican state of Chiapas - timed to coincide with the implementation of the NAFTA 'freetrade' agreement.

Since then, they have been demanding basic human rights and social justice for the indigenous and rural communities of the area. Autonomous communities have meanwhile been set up: which have organised education and health care; collectivized the land; and implemented a grassroots approach to direct democracy decision-making. Outside Chiapas, the Zapatistas are also known for their radical rejection of neoliberal capitalism, as well as for moving away from the traditional strategies of many past guerilla movements in Latin America.