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.
In 1996, the Zapatistas invited people from all over the world to Chiapas for an 'Encuentro against Neoliberalism and for Humanity', followed by a similar gathering in Spain one year later. These meetings inspired many people to participate in the creation of global networks of social movements. They became a starting point for the evolving anti-globalisation movement as well as for many recent global days of action, including June 18, November 30 in Seattle, and Prague September 26.
The previous government under President Ernesto Zedillo consistently refused to implement the San Andres accords of Indigenous rights and instead built up more than 300 military bases in the area, creating a climate of continuous military and paramilitary harassment of the Zapatista communities. The new Mexican government led by Vicente Fox, has remained ambiguous about seeking military "solutions"; but is using media and PR tactics to discredit the Zapatistas. In this historical context, the EZLN had decided to send a delegation to Mexico City and announced its intention in several communiques. 24 Commandantes from the General Command of the EZLN left Chiapas for Mexico City on February 25, in order to bring the agreed legislative proposal which reflects the San Andres Accords to the Mexican Congress. The 'caravan' moved through the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Quere'taro, Michoaca'n, the State of Mexico and Morelos, ending in Mexico City. A delegation of more than 200 Italians and groups from the US, Switzerland, Spain, Argentina and France, amongst others, were accompanying the EZLN commanders.
More information:
IMC Chiapas, the official EZLN page, and chiapaslink.
unofficial US Zapatista site
Irish support group for people going to Chiapas
First hand account from the municipality of Chenalho, Chiapas.
Also read Marcos on everything you ever wanted to know about the Zapatista March and on independent media.
PDF file of a 24 page magazine that includes a 12,000 word essay on the way the Zapatistas organise and a 10,000 word article from Marcos on globalisation. Download here
Read a personal opinion on 'the influence of Zapatismo to the Uk's radical scene' by a uk activist accompanying the Zapataista Delegation.
- Naomi Klein's article on the Zapatistas in the Guardian, repostet
