Zapatista Uprising (1994)

Sat Jan 01, 1994

Image: Photo credit: Pedro Valtierra, Antonio Turok

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On this day in 1994, the same day that NAFTA took effect, the Zapatista Army of National Liberation declared war on the Mexican state, demanding “work, land, housing, food, health, education, independence, liberty, democracy, justice and peace.”

Following this war declaration, armed indigenous rebels seized four towns in Chiapas, Mexico, releasing nearly 200 predominantly indigenous prisoners and destroying land records. The fighting lasted eleven days and estimates of those killed range from 300-400. The EZLN remains active to this day.

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• Date: 1994-01-01
• Learn More: libcom.org, www.internationalaffairs.org.au.
• Tags: #Indigenous.
• Source: www.apeoplescalendar.org