Glossary
This glossary is intended to help you identify people, places, and ideas that would be difficult to look up in standard reference books. We are not professional glossary writers, and this glossary is not comprehensive or perfect. Some readers will probably wish we had been more political, and others less. Overall, we have tended towards caution.
10 Points--the EZLN's basic demands, these are often cited partially in the text; they include some or all of the following: work, land, housing, food, health care, education, independence, freedom, democracy, justice, and peace
1846 (the Yankee Invasion of 1846)--known in the US as the Mexican War, this was touched off by the forcible US annexation of Texas
1968--the year of an incident in which the Mexican Federal Army sprayed machine-gun fire into a plaza in which students were protesting; more than 300 students were killed; the government denies the incident
1988--the year of the most recent Mexican presidential elections; it is widely believed that Cuauhtémoc Cardenas won the popular vote, although the official results were in favor of the ruling PRI. Public outrage at the alleged fraud resulted in riots, marches, and other protests.
31st Military Zone--the Mexican Army command area that includes Chiapas
Agrarian Reform--the redistribution of land from large-landowners to
the landless, based on Zapata's idea of returning the land to those who
work it. Agrarian reform has been undertaken at various times throughout
the recent history of Mexico, especially during and after the Mexican Revolution.
The plans for reform have consistently been weakened, and were effectively
dismantled by Carlos Salinas de Gortari's re-
definition of Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution.
Amuzgo--an Indigenous ethnicity
ARIC/Union of Unions (Asociación Rural de Interés Colectivo, Rural Association of Collective Interest)--an association of Indigenous campesinos, many of whom have been relocated to the Lacandona Jungle; the EZLN denounced elements of the ARIC for collaboration with the government
Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution--refers to the Agrarian Reform portion of the Constitution, which Salinas altered, effectively ending the redistribution of land
Article 39 of the Mexican Constitution--states that "National sovereignty essentially and originally resides in the people. All political power emanates from the people, and its purpose is to help the people. The people have, at all times, the inalienable right to alter or modify their form of government."
Article 4 of the Mexican Constitution--defines Mexico as a multi-ethnic country and reserves the right of Indigenous people to preserve their language and culture
Banrural (Banco de Crédito Rural)--a national bank that provides credit to rural areas; the EZLN decries the Banrural as a tool of economic control over campesinos
Boggie el Aceitoso--an Argentinean cartoon character by Fontanarosa, he is a mercenary with no ideology except his love of money
Caban~as, Lucio--the founder and caudillo of PROCOUP and PDLP
Cacique--a member of a local ruling class, frequently Indigenous, who maintains political power by supporting and maintaining the power of a particular political party
Camacho Soli's, Manuel--a PRI party official, former mayor of Mexico
City, and anticipated-but-
passed-over candidate for the presidency, Camacho acted as Commissioner
for Peace and Reconciliation in Chiapas in the government negotiations
with the EZLN
Campesino--a person who works the land and lives in the country
Cardenas, Cuauhte'moc--the PRD candidate for the Mexican presidency, he is widely believed to have won the popular vote in 1988
Carranza, Venustiano--a major figure in the Mexican Revolution, he was seen as representing the interests of the national bourgeoisie
Castellanos Domi'nguez, Division General Absalo'n--a Mexican Army General, Castellanos Domi'nguez was captured by the EZLN, put on trial for his oppression of Indigenous peoples during his term as governor of Chiapas, and condemned to life in prison. The sentence was commuted to life working in the fields of Chiapas. Castellanos Domi'nguez was released just before the beginning of the Dialogue for Peace and Reconciliation in Chiapas.
Caudillo/caudillismo--the practice of an individual becoming, or being seen as, the supreme leader of a political movement, especially a guerrilla movement
CCRI-CG--see Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous Committee
Charro--a labor boss
Chiapaneco--of Chiapas, or from Chiapas
Chol--a Mayan Indigenous ethnicity
Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous Committee-
General Command of the EZLN (Comite' Clandestino Revolucionario Indigena-Comandancia
General, CCRI-CG)--the leadership of the Zapatista National Liberation
Army, the CCRI-CG is composed of delegates from various Indigenous Committees,
and is responsible to the Committees, which are in turn responsible to
the local communities
CLETA (Centro Libre de Experimentacio'n Teatral y Artistical, Free Center of Theatrical and Artistic Experimentation)--a leftist arts and culture group in Mexico City
CNPA (Coordinadora Nacional Plan de Ayala, National Plan de Ayala Coordinating
Committee)--
named after Emiliano Zapata's 1914 land redistribution manifesto, and
oversees it's implementation.
Colima--an indigenous ethnicity
Colosio, Luis Donaldo--the PRI candidate for president, Colosio was assassinated on March 23 while making a campaign speech; the social crisis caused by the assassination caused the EZLN to suspend its community consultations about the results of the Dialogue for Peace and Reconciliation in Chiapas
Commissioner--refers to Manuel Camacho Soli's
Compan~ero--companions and comrades, partners in life and in struggle
Corralche'n--a town in the township of Ocosingo. In May, 1993 the Federal Army discovered an EZLN training camp there, and began to deploy troops to crush the movement. The military operation was quickly called off, to the confusion of many commentators.
Coyotes--profiteering middle-men
Di'az, Porfirio--Dictator of Mexico from 1876-
1880 and 1884-1911, whose rule began with the Revolution of Tuxtepec,
after Di'az lost his bid for the Mexican presidency. He brought capitalist
development to Mexico and also encouraged the concentration of wealth in
the hands of an elite. He was overthrown by the Mexican Revolution.
Ejidos--collectively held land, mostly for farming. Provided for by Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution.
Federation--the Republic of Mexico
Ferna'ndez de Cevallos, Diego--the PAN's presidential candidate
Finquero--a farmer or rancher (see Ganadero)
Flores Mago'n Brothers--Mexican anarchists who organized workers during the Mexican Revolution
FMLN (Frente Farabundo Marti' de Liberacio'n Nacional, Farabundo Marti' Nationnal Liberation Front)--an armed liberation group in El Salvador; they accepted a government amnesty and disarmament in 1992
Foco--a kind of guerrilla cell common to Latin American revolutionary movements; also a theory of guerrilla warfare associated with Che' Guevarra; it involves forming a liberated zone in the mountains and then expanding the liberated area towards the cities
Franco, Aguirre--bishop of Tuxtla Gutierrez
FSLN--see Sandinistas
Ganadero--a rancher; someone who holds a large amount of land as an individual
Geneva Conventions--a series of conventions signed in Geneva, Switzerland between 1864 and 1949 that provide for the humane treatment of combatants and civilians during wartime
Gobernacio'n--the Mexican Department of Government
Godi'nez, General Miguel Angel--the Mexican Army commander for the Southeastern Zone, which includes Chiapas
Gonza'les Blanco Garrido, Patrocinio--a former governor of the state of Chiapas, Garrido was Interior Minister until January 10, 1994, when he was dismissed from that post
de Grijalva, Juan--a Spanish explorer of the Yucata'n in 1518; there is also a river in Chiapas named after him. During the Conquest, Indigenous people resisting the invasion became trapped between the river and the Conquerors; they drowned themselves in the river rather than face defeat.
Guardias Blancas (White Guards)--armed guards hired by the ranchers to protect their property
Guerrero, Vincente--a revolutionary from the time of Hidalgo and Morelos, he joined forces with Morelos
Hectare--a unit of land equivalent to 10,000 square meters, or 2.47 acres
Hidalgo y Costilla, Father Manuel--a creole revolutionary, who, in the early 1800's, when his plans to liberate Mexico from Spanish rule began to fall apart, called on Indigenous people and mestizos to join the struggle. His Declaration of 1810 ignited the Wars of Independence.
Jaramillo, General Rube'n--a major figure in the Mexican Revolution
Kamarrada--a satirical reference to a traditional communist guerrilla
La Fem--a Mexican feminist magazine
Ladino (latino)--another term for mestizo, though it refers specifically to people of primarily Spanish descent, or those associated with Spanish-derived bourgeois culture
Latifundista--wealthy large-land owner
Magna Carta--refers to the Mexican Constitution
Magonismo--the political theory of the Flores Mago'n brothers
Mam--an Indigenous ethnicity
Mayo--an Indigenous ethnicity
Menchu', Rigoberta--Indigenous Guatemalan activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner
Mestizo--a person of mixed Indigenous and European descent; people in the Indigenous communities of Chiapas frequently refer to anyone living in the city as mestizo
Mexican Revolution--the revolution that overthrew Porfirio Di'az, dictator
of Mexico from 1876-
1911, it also transformed Mexican society; many modern-day groups claim
to be the true heirs of the Revolution, including the ruling PRI
Milpas--corn fields
Montoneros--a band of mounted rebels
Morelos y Pa'von, Father Jose' Mari'a--a caudillo who, when he heard of Hidalgo's revolt, organized local troops for the struggle; known for his populist politics, demanding the abolition of privilege and the return of stolen lands to the Indigenous people
Na'huatl--an Indigenous language
Neoliberalism--the political ideology of the PRI; a free-market, anti-state approach to economics and international relations, it encourages privatization of state enterprises, reduction of state subsidies, and fewer constraints on business
Nexos--a Mexican journal with extensive coverage of campesinos
Padrón, Father Joel--a Catholic priest from the Parish of Simojovel who was arrested for initiating and taking part in land takeovers
PAN (Partido de Acción Nacional, National Action Party)--a political party, founded by Manuel Gome'z Mori'n, embraced by Catholics
PARM (Partido Auténtico de la Revolucio'n Mexicana, Authentic Party of the Mexican Revolution)--a conservative satellite party of the PRI
PDLP (Partido de los Pobres, Party of the Poor)--
a guerrilla group founded in the early '70s that subsequently joined
forces with PROCUP
PDM (Partido Demo'cratica Mexicano, Mexican Democratic Party)--a Mexican political party
Pemex--the Mexican national oil company
PFCRN (Partido Frente Cardenista de la Reconstruccion Nacional, Party of the Cardenista Front of National Reconstruction)--an opposition party which offered to be the political arm of the EZLN, but was quickly refused; led by Aguilar Talamantes
PGR (Procurador General de la Republica, Attorney General's Office)--keeps records of personal information concerning opposition groups and their leadership
Plan de Ayala--the land reform plan proposed by Emiliano Zapata, as a condition for his laying down arms during the Mexican Revolution
Porfirista--of or refering to the rule of Porfirio Díaz or his regime
Pozol--corn meal soup
PPS (Partido Popular Socialista, Popular Socialist Party)--a satellite party of the PRI
PRD (Partido de la Revolución Democratica, Party of the Democratic Revolution)--a center-left opposition party, whose candidate, Cuauhte'moc Cardenas, is widely believed to have won the presidential election in 1988
PRI (Partido Revolucionaria Institucionalizada, The Revolutionary Institutional Party)--the ruling party in Mexico for 65 years
PRM (Partido Revolucionaria de Mexico, Mexican Revolutionary Party)--precursor to the PRI
Procampo--a national aid program similar to Pronasol
PROCUP (Partido Revolucionario Obrero Clandestino-Unio'n del Pueblo, Revolutionary Workers Clandestine Party-Union of the People)--a revolutionary group started in the 1960's by Luis Caban~as
Pronasol (Programa Nacional de Solidaridad, National Program of Solidarity)--a national solidarity program of rural-aid programs aimed at capitalizing small farms
PT (Partido del Trabajo, Workers' Party)--one of the socialist-oriented opposition parties founded in 1991
Rancho Nuevo--a city in Chiapas; the location of an important military barracks unsuccessfully attacked by the EZLN on January 3
Reform Laws--see Agrarian Reform
Republic--the Republic of Mexico
Ruiz Garci'a, Bishop Samuel--the Bishop of the Diocese of San Cristo'bal de las Casas, long-time supporter of Indian rights, liberation theologist, and intermediary between the Commissioner for Peace and Reconciliation and the representatives of the EZLN
Salinas de Gortati, Carlos--the president of Mexico
Salinista--of or referring to Carlos Salinas de Gortari or his regime
Samuel, Don--see Bishop Samuel Ruiz García
Sandinistas (Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional, Sandinsta National Liberation Front, FSLN)--a Nicaraguan revolutionary movement that seized power in 1979. The Sandinistas were later voted out of power, and are now an opposition party.
Sedesol--a Mexican government aid and development project
Setzer Marseille, Elmar--former governor of Chiapas
Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso, Communist Party of Peru)--a Maoist guerrilla army in Peru
Solidaridad--see Pronasol
Superbarrio--a tenant organizer in Mexico City who dresses in a costume reminiscent of the great Mexican wrestlers, including a trademark ski mask. He is thought of as a "superman with class consciousness."
Talamantes, Aguilar--the head of the PFCRN and its presidential candidate, he offered to be the EZLN's candidate for the presidency and was quickly refused
Tarahumaras--an Indigenous ethnicity
Televisa--a privately owned television station, the largest in Mexico; known for parroting government opinion
Televisio'n Azteca--a television station; it's reporters offended the EZLN when they offered money to EZLN combatants in exchange for interviews
Tierra y Libertad--"Land and Freedom"; slogan of Emiliano Zapata
Tlapanecos--an Indigenous ethnicity
TLC--the Spanish initials for NAFTA
Tojolabal--an Indigenous ethnicity
Tupamaros--an Uruguayan armed-struggle group, they faced serious repression in 1972, resurfaced in the late 1980s and became a legal opposition party.
Tuxtla Gutierrez--the capital of Chiapas
Tzeltal--one of the Mayan ethnicities that is widely represented in Chiapas
Tzotzil--one of the Mayan ethnicities that is widely represented in Chiapas
Union--the Republic of Mexico
UNO (Unión Nacional Opositora, National Opposition Union)--a Mexican political party
URNG (Unión Revolucionario Nacional Guatemalteca, Revolutionary National Guatemala Union)--a Guatemalan guerrilla group
Villa, Pancho--a major figure in the Mexican Revolution
XEOCH--a radio station created by the government "for" the Indigenous people of Chiapas
Yaqui--an Indigenous ethnicity
Zedillo, Ernesto Ponce de Leon--the PRI presidential candidate who was nominated after Colosio was assassinated
Zo'calo--town square; capitalized, it refers to the square in front of the Presidential Palace in Mexico city
Zoque--an Indigenous ethnicity