The 28th Anniversary of the EZLN’s Indigenous Resistance, Self-Determination, & Successes in Chiapas

American Indian Airwaves

Today on American Indian Airwaves, we recognize, celebrate, and reflect on the January 1st, 1994, historical event when the Zapatistas declared war on the Mexican government on behalf of the country’s indigenous people suffering from perpetual state and organized criminal violence throughout the Chiapas, Mexico region. Launched on the same day of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that went into effect, the EZLN seized government offices and occupied thousands of acres of private land and demanded democracy, liberty, and justice for all Indigenous peoples. The EZLN’s General Command issued the First Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle which called for the creation of a National Liberation Movement. A year later, the Mexican government escalated the militarization of Mayan Indigenous peoples when they suddenly launched a military offensive against the EZLN and their communities of supporters, both inside and outside of Chiapas and implemented a strategy of civilian-targeted warfare, which led to the army displacing over 20,000 campesinos, destroying the Zapatista headquarters and started constructing new military bases. The militarized incident led to the negotiating the San Andres Peace Accords in 1996. and the first Intercontinental Encuentro in which during the week of January 3-10 the first National Indigenous Forum was held in San Cristóbal de las Casas. The Forum was attended by 24 comandantes of the EZLN, as well as nearly 500 representatives of over 30 indigenous groups from throughout the country. On month late on February 16th: The Zapatistas and the Mexican government signed the first set of accords which comprises of 40 pages of national reforms to be undertaken regarding Indigenous Rights and Culture. For the hour, our guest provides an in-depth analysis on the importance of 28th Anniversary of the EZLN resistance to systemic state violence against the Mayan, the successes the Mayan peoples exercising their rights to self-determination, sovereignty, and autonomy; and their successes over the past 28 years despite the Mexican governments, the military, and organized criminal syndicates ongoing violence against the Mayan peoples. Guest: Richard Stahler-Sholk, Professor of Political Science at Eastern Michigan University, joins us for this segment of the program to discuss the ongoing impacts organized crimes is having and spreading into Chiapas, Mexico.