💾 Archived View for library.inu.red › file › anarchist-federation-1994-the-zapatista-uprising.gmi captured on 2023-01-29 at 06:51:24. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
➡️ Next capture (2024-07-09)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Title: 1994: The Zapatista uprising Author: Anarchist Federation Date: September 19, 2006 Language: en Topics: Zapatistas, 1990s Source: Retrieved on 2nd September 2021 from https://libcom.org/history/1994-the-zapatista-uprising
“¡Ya Basta!” (“Enough is Enough!”) declared the EZLN (Zapatista National
Liberation Army — named after the Mexican revolutionary Emiliano
Zapata), as they burst to international attention on New Years day 1994.
The rebellion started in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico in
the tradition of all peasant armies: ransacking town halls and burning
land deeds! Destroying 10 government offices, freeing 179 prisoners,
then attacking an army garrison, and in one town shooting down an army
helicopter, and torching the town hall before quietly slipping back into
the jungle. The timing for the international “audience” was crucial,
coinciding with the controversial introduction of the North American
Free Trade Agreement.
It didn’t take long for the state to respond, on January 4^(th) ten
towns near San Cristobal were bombed, 400 people died. On the 5^(th)
tanks arrived in the area along with more troops, yet more died. The
government began to distribute black propaganda, and prevent human
rights organisations entering Chiapas. The EZLN then withdrew to the
jungle, and a tense ceasefire began on January 12^(th). Since then the
Mexican army has been using a tactic of low intensity warfare (killing
and displacing civilians), which continues to this day.
The Zapatistas have organised international “encuentros” attracting
thousands of people from around the world which have been influential on
the global anti-capitalist movement.
The Zapatista uprising has allowed over 1,100 communities in Chiapas of
300–400 people to organise federally into 32 autonomous municipalities
where power lies at the base. Local decisions are taken at a local level
and important decisions are made at a wider regional or municipal level,
discussions continuing until something like consensus is reached. In
these areas the people have much more control over their lives than
before and women can play a much bigger role than traditional society
allowed.
On the negative side the EZLN is hierarchically organised with officers
of different ranks and high profile leaders. Their stated aim is a
programme offering little more than liberal capitalism and it’s even
backed up by appeals to the Mexican constitution.
Nevertheless, the struggle of the peasants in Chiapas has been
inspirational to many people around the world and we send our solidarity
to all those struggling for freedom and equality in Chiapas.