The Struggle of the Zapatatista Movement: Seeking a Solution after 10 years

The Struggle of the Zapatatista Movement: Seeking a Solution after 10 years

"There hasn't been much change. We're still poor," Isaac [A Zapatista Rebel since 1994] acknowledged, as he cast a glance over [his hometown’s] wooden shacks and shoeless children. "But at least now people are aware.

-Isaac, Zapatista Leader Since the Beginning

(CNN Wolrd Article)

Introduction:

The indigenous community of Chiapas, Mexico has been struggling for hundreds of years, ever since the inception of the Spanish conquest. The Indians of Mexico (and especially of Chiapas) have been dehumanized and have been rejected of constitutional rights throughout history. For this reason, and other related reasons, the indigenous population of Chiapas has suffered from hunger, lack of health care access, poverty, loss of agricultural land, and racism over the past four centuries. In particular, the majority of Mayan populations in Chiapas are often forced to bear injustices and infractions of natural human rights. Set deep in the thriving green and fertile jungles of southeastern Mexico, Zapatistas have maintained a resistance movement to stand up for the injustices endured by the approximately 2.3 million people who live and die in the Chiapas countryside. A war broke out in Southern Mexico on New Year’s Day of 1994, 10 years ago. In its first military actions, the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN) demanded from the Mexican federal government democracy, liberty, and justice for all Mexicans. Led by Subcomandante Marcos, the Zapatistas demanded autonomy from the government, legal recognition of Indians in Mexico, demilitarization, and the redistribution of agricultural lands. But time and time again these rights continue to be denied. No president has been able to reach an agreement with the Zapatistas. The war still continues, although the negotiations have halted. The bloodshed still continues, and yet there is still no solution to this conflict.

A solution that satisfies both the Mexican government and the Zapatistas is attainable. A proposed Solution involves a 4 part solution to the four demands of the Zapatistas: health care, indigenous rights, demilitarization, and redistribution of land. But first, a comprehensive history and causes for the lack of success of the movement must be discussed. .

History / Reasons for Lack of Success of the Zapatista Movement:

The Zapatista movement has generally failed to achieve tangible improvements for the indigenous community of Chiapas. There are three key causes for the inability to reach an agreement with the Mexican Government. Contemporary economic policies, the elitism of the Mexican political state, and continued intrusion from international foreign powers such as the U.