94 lines
4.2 KiB
Markdown
94 lines
4.2 KiB
Markdown
The '''Zapatista Revolution '''(commonly known as the **Zapatista
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Uprising** or **Chiapas Uprising**) was an [armed
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revolution](Revolution "wikilink") in
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[1994](Timeline_of_Libertarian_Socialism "wikilink") that triggered both
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the [Chiapas Conflict](Chiapas_Conflict "wikilink") and the formation of
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the [Rebel Zapatista Autonomous
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Municipalities](Rebel_Zapatista_Autonomous_Municipalities "wikilink").
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It was fought between the [Zapatista Army of National
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Liberation](Zapatista_Army_of_National_Liberation "wikilink") (EZLN) and
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the Mexican [military](military "wikilink").
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## Background
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The Spanish [colonization](Colonialism "wikilink") of
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[Mexico](Mexico "wikilink") led to [genocide](genocide "wikilink") of
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[indigenous people](Indigenous_People "wikilink") and the
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[expropriation](Privatisation "wikilink") of [communal indigenous
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land](Commons "wikilink"). Although the indigenous led many uprisings
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and guerilla wars against the Spanish colonizers, they largely failed
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due to inferior military technology, genocidal tactics used by the
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Spanish army and the destruction of communities due to diseases. Upon
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Mexico's independence from [Spain](Spain "wikilink"), exploitation of
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indigenous communities and labor intensified.\[1\]
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During the Mexican Revolution (1910 - 1920), several guerilla leaders
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like [Emilio Zapata](Emilio_Zapata "wikilink") advocated the creation of
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autonomous indigenous nations in Southern Mexico and stressed the need
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for common ownership of land. Although he was killed, he inspired
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numerous activists and rebels over the next hundred years. The new
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dictatorship which came out of the Mexican Revolution further
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exploited.\[2\]
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In 1983, in response to massacres of students protesting the Mexican
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dictatorship, six people in Chiapas became rebels and formed the EZLN.
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Training for guerilla warfare in jungle camps, holding reading groups
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and spreading revolutionary propaganda among the impoverished population
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of Chiapas.\[3\] The turning point for much of the population was the
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signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which would
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see indigenous land be handed over to private companies, increased
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income inequality and destruction of ecosystems.\[4\]
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## Events
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December 1993: EZLN guerilla camps in the Lacandon Jungle are raided by
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the Mexican military. In response, the First Declaration of the Lacandon
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Jungle is announced, declaring the Mexican state illegitmate and the
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right for indigenous people to form their own nations, as well as the
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need for common ownership of land.
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1st of January 1994: As NAFTA goes into effect, EZLN seizes seven towns
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in Chiapas, burning down police stations after stealing guns and
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government buildings, barricading the streets and freeing political
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prisoners.
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2nd of January 1994: The Mexican military begins to counter-attack, the
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EZLN kidnaps the governor of Chiapas.
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3rd-11th of January 1994: Skirmishes between the EZLN and Mexican
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military kill hundreds of people as the Mexican military deploys
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helicopters, fighter jets, tanks, APCs and special forces.
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12th of January 1994: Ceasefire is declared between the EZLN and Mexican
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military after pro-EZLN protesters fill every major Mexican city.\[5\]
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## Result
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The Zapatista Revolution was extremely successful, and created a large
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autonomous zone known as the [Rebel Zapatista Autonomous
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Municipalities](Rebel_Zapatista_Autonomous_Municipalities "wikilink").
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The extreme outpouring of support led to the massive growth of the
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[Global Justice Movement](Global_Justice_Movement "wikilink") and the
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fall of the PRI dictatorship in Mexico, beginning a [liberal
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democracy](Liberalism "wikilink").
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## See Also Edit
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- [Chiapas Conflict](Chiapas_Conflict "wikilink")
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- [Zapatista Army of National
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Liberation](Zapatista_Army_of_National_Liberation "wikilink")
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- [Rebel Zapatista Autonomous
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Municipalities](Rebel_Zapatista_Autonomous_Municipalities "wikilink")
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- [Mexican Revolution](Mexican_Revolution "wikilink")
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## References
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<references />
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1. <https://schoolsforchiapas.org/teach-chiapas/zapatista-timeline/>
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2. [Wikipedia](Wikipedia "wikilink") -
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<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiapas_conflict>
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3.
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4.
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5. [Wikipedia](Wikipedia "wikilink") -
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<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapatista_uprising> |