Zapatista uprising

Part of the Chiapas conflict

Date	January 1–12, 1994 (1 week and 4 days)
Location	Chiapas, Mexico
Result	Ceasefire

Belligerents

Mexico

EZLN

Strength

30,000-40,000 (Acc. Government)
60,000-70,000 (Acc. to EZLN)

3,000

The Zapatista uprising was a 1994 rebellion in Mexico, coordinated by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation in response to the implementation of the NAFTA agreement. After 12 days of fighting a ceasefire was called and peace talks began.

The NAFTA agreement included cancellation of Article 27 of Mexico's constitution, the cornerstone of Emiliano Zapata's revolution of 1910–1919. Under Article 27, Native communal landholdings were protected from sale or privatization. However, this barrier to investment was incompatible with NAFTA. With the removal of Article 27, Native farmers feared the loss of their remaining lands, and also feared cheap imports from the US. Thus, the Zapatistas labelled NAFTA as a "death sentence" to Native communities all over Mexico. Then EZLN declared war on the Mexican state on January 1, 1994, the day NAFTA came into force. During the occupation of the city rebels painted pro-zapatista statements on the walls of buildings.

In many cities including San Cristóbal de las Casas, Altamirano, Las Margaritas, Ocosingo, and Chanal, the Zapatista rebels attacked civic centers such as city hall. Once the rebels had taken the building they would use furniture and other office material to barricade themselves in the building. Hours later the Zapatista rebels abandoned San Cristóbal de las Casas so the Mexican Army may later recapture it. 600 zapatista rebels sacked the town of Altamirano which created an ensuing battle with government forces. In Chanal, the Zapatistas stated the purpose of their uprising; days later the town would be recaptured.

The uprising had attracted worldwide media attention. While human rights organisations emphasized the marginalization of the indigenous population, Riordan Roett (adviser to the Emerging Markets Group of the Chase Manhattan Bank) stated in January 1995:

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