Zapatista Prospects in a Changed Environment Essay -- Essays Papers

Zapatista Prospects in a Changed Environment 1994, from the depths of the jungle an ill-equipped army of indigenous farmers storms the state capital of Chiapas, Mexico demanding reform and a shift from neo-liberalist policy. 2002, fast-forward nearly nine years to present and the struggle of this rag-tag guerilla army continues, only the global and national environment has changed. With dramatic internal and external shifts, the hope of a resolution favoring these rebels representing the impoverished communities of southern Mexico has faded. As Mexico tested the perilous waters of neo-liberalism, a group of revolutionary farm workers, calling themselves Zapatistas, after the legendary leader of the Mexican Revolution, prepared themselves to strike out against the injustices of the Mexican government. On New Years Day 1994, the day the North American Free Trade Agreement was to be announced, they took control of the state capital of Chiapas sending a stark cry across the nation against forces of globalization. Their message resonated throughout the world, finding broad national and foreign support. The Zapatistas, under the leadership of the masked Subcomandante Marcos, positioned themselves so as to unveil the hidden side of Mexico to the world and force Mexico to face its harsh reality. Mexican leaders had worked diligently to create a guise of modernity, a picturesque vision of Mexico ready to be displayed on the world scene. As these leaders struggled to shed Mexico’s third world status, attempting to hid e the impoverished, neglected, and largely indigenous populations from public view, they further suppressed those in need of the most attention. The Zapatistas’ reality check for Mexico sent ripples throughout ... ...oston Globe 25 August 2002 sec. A6. Marcos, Subcomandante. Shadows of Tender Fury. Trans. Linda Lopez. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1995. McEntee, Marni. â€Å"Zapatistas Regain Mexicans’ Attention.† The Washington Times 16 September 1997, final ed., sec. The Americas. Ross, John. Rebellion from the Roots. Monroe, ME: Common Courage Press, 1995. Sullivan, Kevin. â€Å"Double-Edged Machete in Mexico Fight.† The Washington Post 9 August 2002 sec. A14. The Sixth Sun: Mayan Uprising in Chiapas. Dir. Saul Landau. Meridian Productions, 1996. â€Å"MEXICO-CENTRAM: Chiapas bishop leads indigenous march against PPP† EFE News Sevices 17 August 2002. â€Å"Plan Puebla Panama† Witness for Peace. â€Å"The Free Trade Area of the Americas† Witness for Peace.