The Zapatistas in 2015:

A brief context to a long story… continued.
By: Fernanda Sanchez

Here is some more background to the long struggle of the Zapatistas.

It was a late night when the world prepared to receive a new year. The past two years in Mexico had been marked by numerous reforms. The modification of article 27 in 1992 of the Mexican Constitution and the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement were the largest neoliberal transformations stirring the country. The amendment of the 27th article in the Mexican constitution introduced privatization and ended the right to land redistribution gained after the Revolution. NAFTA further liberalized the economy in Mexico by directly introducing US corn and other products that caused millions to migrate, close their businesses, or sell their land. In 1992, members of the EZLN and other indigenous communities organized several marches, one taking place in San Cristobal, during which the statue of the conquistador Diego de Mazariegos was torn to pieces in public protest. This day was to commemorate 500 years since the arrival of conquistadores in 1992, directly challenging “Colombus Day” or “Dia de la Raza” as known in Mexico. During these years, communities discussed, consented, or disapproved on the prospect of going to war. After much deliberation, they planned and prepared for January 1st. Finally the day had come.

During this time, one third of the Zapatista Army was composed of women, not only in the militia but in positions of leadership. Many of these women played key roles in taking over the four main municipal towns of Chiapas, including San Cristobal de Las Casas. Once there, they read the First Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle, a Declaration of War against the Mexican Government, and their demands for work, land, housing, access to food, education, independence, freedom, democracy, justice and peace. During these days, Subcomandante Marcos voiced the demand for the respect of indigenous peoples that mestizos/whites (the state-sanctioned “raza”) had never shown, referencing the racism and conceit blatant in places like San Cristobal de Las Casas. EZLN additionally made public different laws they enacted such as the Ley Revolucionaria de Mujeres (Revolutionary Women’s Law) where the rights of women were outlined, from those participating in the movement to those guaranteeing freedom and wellbeing of women in their daily lives.

(see the link below to access a complete spanish list of each point)
 

http://palabra.ezln.org.mx/ comunicados/1994/1993_12_g.htm

The war between the EZLN and the federal government’s army lasted twelve days. Peace dialogues followed and were mediated by the bishop Samuel Ruiz. The EZLN negotiating committee, made up of three combatant women and Subcomandante Marcos, brought back the government proposals made by Peace Commissioner Manuel Camacho Solís, which completely violated and ignored their initial demands. As such, 98% of the people in their communities rejected the proposal. But despite this overwhelming objection, the government did not negotiate, and instead ignored and further militarized the region of Chiapas to intimidate and minimize EZLN’s presence. To call attention to these injustices and challenge the government, the Zapatistas broke the military siege surrounding them and, without casualties, took over 38 municipal main towns this time on December 1994. The government then created another commission for mediation, known as la Comisión Nacional de Intermediación or CONAI, which was eventually undermined by an overwhelming military presence that threatened communities. In lieu of this failure, the Senate approved COCOPA, a law which stopped military sieges and threats, and advanced negotiations through a commission that included senators and representatives. They agreed to work toward four negotiation areas: 1) indigenous rights and culture, 2) justice and democracy, 3) well being and development, and 4) women’s rights. The first round of negotiations took place in San Andrés Larrainzar. It was agreed that the final decisions on indigenous rights and culture would be sent to congress to be approved or rejected, without any amendments. At the end of the second round, an agreement was never reached. While EZLN stepped back from negotiations, congress, with all their discretionary power, changed the San Andres accords to the extent that they did not reflect the original decision reached. This counterproposal turned into the Indigenous Law, passed in 2001, and was condemned by the Zapatistas as a betrayal of the San Andres accords.

Throughout these events, the Zapatistas have responded to these violation of agreements by founding their own government “El Buen Gobierno” through five different centers called Caracoles. In the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle, the EZLN has declared to follow the San Andres Accords “unilaterally”. Since 2001, this decision marked a turning point, where the Zapatistas decided to stop communications with the government completely and practice and build their own autonomía.  

See you in the next newsletter :)