Rebellion of the Zapatistas

The Zapatista Rebellion-spearheaded by the Zapatista National Liberation Army or EZLN--erupted in the Southern Mexican state of Chiapas on 1 January 1994, surprising the whole Mexican nation. The EZLN emerged for public view as a well-organized movement that claimed broad membership and support from indigenous peoples in their rights to land, food, and justice. The government of Mexico reacted in an unexpectedly conciliatory manner. As a consequence, the actual armed confrontation ended after only a few days. A Conciliation Commission was appointed to deal with the demands of the Azapatista leadership. National and international public opinion was immediately focused on the southeastern Mexican conflict, one of the first 'post-Cold war' conflicts. A central purpose of this thesis is to highlight the inner and often partially hidden reasons behind the EZLN insurgency. This thesis examines also how knowledge about the origins and ideological foundations of the Zapatista movement emerged. It addresses how this information indicates that the Zapatista leadership is comprised of remnants of earlier Communist-supported groups--individuals who not only seek the overthrow of the established Mexican government, but who also seek the establishment of themselves in power.