Zapatista struggle continues
Negotiations between the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) and the Mexican government (see IV#266,
May 1995) were due to resume on June 7. Ulises Martinez Flores of our sister publication Inprecor para América
Latina sent this report on the situation in Chiapas state on May 26.
Mexico
THE CEASEFIRE CONTINUES, as the government attempts to evaluate the strength and disposition of EZLN troops, and find ways of legalising the Zapatista movement.
Rather than demilitarising the region, the government has proposed the creation of seven 'truce' roads - allowing free movement of Zapatista troops in the forest region of Chiapas, under government supervision. No agreement has yet been reached on the confrontation in the Los Altos and Meseta zones, or the other two regions of Chapas state.
The Zapatista strategy in the negotiations reflects a number of non-military factors which oblige them to prefer detente to force. These factors include the exhaustion of the local population, the disarticulation of their social base, and the continuing supression of all social forums where neo-Zapatistism was gaining ground before the government intervention earlier this year.
The government is managing to exploit its aid activities within the social movement born from the EZLN revolt in January 1994. A part of the Democratic Assembly of the People of Chiapas (AEDPCH) has entered negotiations with the state over the Programme for Social Well Being and Economic Development in Chiapas'. This 'divide and rule' strategy will also help the government prepare for the regional and municipal elections in Chiapas — scheduled for October 15, 1995
The legalisation of the Zapatistas opens a range of questions. Above all, what kind of legalisation the government is thinking about - given that all it offers the existing political parties is a One-Party system dominated by the ruling PRI party, dressed up by periodic but ephemeral electoral reforms. Hot May in Mexico City
Over 1/2 million Mexican workers participated in anti-austerity demonstrations on 1 May. This year saw the first May Day demonstrations not controlled by the state, through its servants in the official trade unions. In Mexico city, 26
International Viewpoint #267 June 1995 the most visible elements in the 300,000 strong march were the Independent Proletarian Movement (MPI) and the public sector bus transport trade union.
The cooperation of the MPI and other independent trade unions in the organisation of this demonstration is an important step forward. Nevertheless, the common declarations show the political weakness and lack of leadership of a trade union movement suffering after several years of repression (the public bus transport sector is currently being privatised by the state, and its union leaders have been imprisoned).
May also saw an improvement in the coordination between university unions, now committed to industrial action for wage increases. Small retailers in the pharmaceutical sector also closed their doors for one day in protest over the increase of Value Added Tax (Sales Tax). CND
The National Democratic Convention (CND)! has not fulfilled its ambition of developing as a broad association of militants trying to articulate the link between these various social struggles and the Zapatista-led revolt of the indigenous peasants of the south of the country. There has been a reduction in the pluralistic, open character of the CND, which has increasingly become a talking-shop for the sterile quarrels of the 'old left'. This has frustrated sectors of society which are entering into struggle, and which looked to the CND as a framework for concrete cooperation. As a result, a number of new movements in 'civil society' have been formed, most recently the National Democratic Alliance (founded May 17).
Unfortunately, the unification — or reunification of these forces is not yet possible. This is essential if the left is to bring real support to the Zapatista revolt, and seize the opportunities of the new situation in society to build a broad national movement for democratic and economic transformation. *
1 Created in August 1994 at the initiative of the EZLN as the framework for the blossoming struggles in civil society.