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Subcomandante Marcos
For our next spotlight on Take Action Figures we travel to Southern Mexico and to the jungle state of Chiapas to profile the revolutionary leader Subcomandante Marcos...
Not since perhaps the era of Ernesto Che Guevara has someone won the loyalty and awakened the hope of so many indigenous and marginalized people in Latin America.
With his trademark black ski mask, the pipe smoking revolutionary philosopher has captured the imagination of a worldwide audience with his articulate vision for counter cultural change.
Despite his high profile, Subcomandante Marcos' earlier life is shrouded in mystery. The Mexican authorities believe the 47 year old Zapatista leader once taught philosophy at Mexico City University. Then in 1983 he moved to the Chiapas region of southern Mexico to work with Indian communities.
Since then, Marcos has brought the plight of the indigenous people of Chiapas onto the international stage and has inspired a global network of Zapatista supporters. The Zapatista movement, a rebel army, mostly made up of Mexican Indian villagers are inspired by Emilio Zapata who fought for the rights of indigenous people during the Mexican Revolution 1910-1919. Today the Zapatistas want the rights of indigenous people to be recognised in the Mexican Constitution.
1994 Uprising
Subcomandante Marcos and the Zapatista struggle first came to the attention of the world back in 1994. They launched an Indian uprising on the same day that the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) came into being, which they called a 'death sentence' against Indian people. As part of the free trade reforms, local villagers were to lose rights to native lands and oil and gas companies could begin exploration and drilling. As a result of huge peace demonstrations in Mexico City both the Mexican Government and rebels agreed to peace talks but agreement was stalled by the then President Ernesto Zedillo.
A long uneasy standoff between both sides began. Despite the constant military presence of thousands of Mexican soldiers and regular intimidation and attacks on local villages, Marcos maintained pressure on the Government. The Zapatistas called for a right to own their own lands, practice their own culture and govern their own villages.
Atrocities included the 1997 massacre in the village of Acteal when 21 women, 15 children and 9 men were gunned down by pro-government paramilitaries because they were Zapatista sympathisers. Marcos realised the importance of bringing their struggle under the international spotlight. Peace camps were set up in rebel held territories and volunteer observers from all over the world were invited to monitor the Mexican Army's treatment of villagers.
The Zapatista March to Mexico City
Then in 2001, Marcos and the Zapatista rebel army made the bold decision to leave their Jungle strongholds and set off on an epic march to Mexico City. During their trek to the capital, Subcomandante Marcos and the Indian rebels were welcomed by huge crowds who treated them like heroes. Marcos saw the limitations of an armed struggle and realised the importance of popular support and international pressure in gaining rights for indigenous people from the new Mexican President Vicente Fox.
In August 2003 the Zapatistas dream of self-autonomy came one step closer to reality with the announcement of Good Government Juntas. Marcos openly welcomed the Government concessions but a final resolution to the crisis has yet to be reached and the Mexican army still remain in the region.
One thing, however, seems certain, Subcomandant Marcos will continue the struggle until the issue of indigenous rights for all Mexico's peoples are recognised.
By Keith Corcoran
