1st January 2004 marks 10 Years since the EZLN's uprising in Chiapas (Mexico's south east), and 20 years of modern Zapatismo.
EZLN, 1st January 1994
The 1st of January 2004 marks the tenth anniversary of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation(EZLN) uprising in the state of Chiapas, southern Mexico. Under the campaign "El Fuego y La Palabra - EZLN 20y10" (The fire and the word), thousands of indigenous and non-indigenous peoples of Chiapas, Mexico and all over the world, have been remembering and celebrating that early morning of 1st January of 1994, when an army of primarily indigenous people shouted Ya Basta! (Enough!) whilst taking over San Cristobal de las Casas and several other major towns of the state of Chiapas. With that rebellion, the Zapatistas not only declared war on the Mexican government, but also to NAFTA, the free trade 'agreement' that went into effect that same day, and which, the rebels claimed, "it meant death to indigenous peoples".
Throughout the following decade, the EZLN has been a key reference for anti-neoliberal and anti- racist struggles around the globe. The Zapatistas have not only injected the anti-capitalist and anti-globalisation movement(s) with notions of horizontality and direct democracy as a way of organising and operating, but they have also consistently pointed out the need for autonomy and diversity within a global 'movement of movements', made up by a civil society that has many different faces, voices, ways of expressing and modes of being visible.
To mark this anniversary, the Chiapas Indymedia Center has produced a 30 minute long radio program which reviews the history of the EZLN, the Zapatista autonomous communities and the Zapatista support bases. The 'EZLN 10 Years After' audio document includes interviews and recordings (in Spanish) of some of the key players in the EZLN, as well as audio from the major events of the last 20 years of global Zapatismo. Listen in Real Audio or MP3.
During the evening of the 31st December 2003, as well as during the 1st January 2004, a series of celebrations took place in each of the 5 Zapatista Caracol centers in Chiapas. These were modestly attended by the EZLN and Zapatista communities rank and file, and somewhat more generously by national and international supporters. The Zapatista caracol of La Realidad became one of the major focus of these celebrations in the rebel Zapatista territories, where hundreds of people gathered to dance and listen to radio broadcasts by some EZLN commanders in clandestinity.
- A collection of images of these celebrations, as well as photos [1 | 2 | 3 | 4] from La Realidad on the 1st of January.
- A report of the new year's events in La Realidad.
- Photo from the celebration in the Zapatista municipality of La Garrucha.
Meanwhile, in Oventik, a communique by the EZLN was read at midnight of the 31st December. Amongst other things it stated: "Today we are gathered to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the armed uprising of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation because this is the most important part of our great history as indigenous peoples. Because this was the moment when the zapatista indigenous peoples declared war against being forgotten, against discrimination, against the plundering of our natural resources, against exploitation and oppression, and against all types of injustices that we, the indigenous peoples of these lands, have been suffering for more then 500 years..."
Read full communique in Spanish.
Zapatista solidarity actions and celebrations also took place in many parts of the world, some of which included: Barcelona (Catalunya) | Chicago (US) | Iruña (Euskal Herria) | Helsinki (Finland) | Mexico DF | Sheffield (UK) | Ljubliana (Slovenia). In London, a special Zapatista radio program was streamed worldwide by the community radio station Resonance FM.
For more background information in English, and recent developments of the Zapatista struggle see the links below:
- A collection of Subcomandante Marcos latest communiques.
- From Auguascalientes to Caracoles: A death and a rebirth.
- 'EZLN: 20 & 10: Fire and Word' campaign.
- English translations of recent Communiques by the Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous Committee –General Command of the EZLN from Oventik, by: Comandanta Esther | Comandante Tacho | Comandanta Rosalinda | Comandante David (2) | Comandanta Fidelia | Comandante Brusli | Comandante Omar | Comandante Zebedeo | Subcomandante Marcos
- Video of Caracoles Zapatistas.
Further information and reports: IMC-Chiapas | IMC-Mexico
