,! ,ZAPATI/AS1 ,AN>*ISM & ',DIRECT DEMOCRACY' 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,&REW ,FLOOD 

,TEXT 3 

,! ,ZAPATI/A REBELLION ( #aiid HAS BECOME ! #i'S EQUIVAL5T ( ! ,CUBAN & ,NIC>AGUAN REVOLUTIONS4 ,IT HAS EXCIT$ ! IMAG9ATION ( A LAY] ( ACTIVE Y\NG4 ,! BALACLAVA & PIPE TOT+ ,M>COS IS BECOM+ ! SAME SORT ( VISUAL ICON ?AT ! BE>D$ & B]ET WE>+ ,*E WAS #c YE>S E>LI]4 ,& P]HAPS IT IS ?IS SIMIL>ITY ?AT HAS SC>$ ! ORGANIZ$ AN>*I/ MOVEM5T 9TO COMP>ATIVE SIL5CE ON ! ON-GO+ REBELLION 9 ,*IAPAS8 

,9 ,*IAPAS TODAY WE SEE AN ON-GO+ ,L[ ,9T5SITY ,W>4 ,ON ONE SIDE WE HAVE ! ,MEXICAN /ATE1 #f TO #g1 OCCUPY+ SOLDI]S & ! %AD[Y PRES5CE ( ,U,S ADVIS]S4 ,ON ! O!R WE HAVE A REBEL >MY CALL+ ITSELF ! ,E,Z,L,N & OV] HUNDR$S ( REBEL COMMUNITIES4 

,?IS C\LD BE A SNAP%OT ( ANY NUMB] ( SIMIL> /RUGGLES4 ,:Y %\LD AN>*I/S S+LE \T ! ,ZAPATI/AS = SOLID>ITY4 ,! ,ZAPATI/AS >E NOT & MAKE NO CLAIM TO BE AN>*I/S4 ,! $UCAT$ LEAD]%IP ( ! ,ZAPATI/AS HAVE !IR POLITICAL BACKGR\NDS 9 ,M>XISM4 ,! LOCAL LEAD]%IP'S POLITICAL $UCATION IS MORE LIKELY TO BE FROM LIB]ATION !OLOGY & ! PRACTICAL EXP]I5CE ( CAMPES9O & 9DIG5\S ORGANIZATIONS4 

,! MILIT>Y ORGANIZATION ( ! ,ZAPATI/AS IS ALSO NOT ONE ?AT AN>*I/S W\LD PREF]4 ,! >MY IS HEI]ICAL4 ,BUT ! >MY IS NOT ! DECISION MAK+ C5T] ( ! MOVEM5T LIKE IT W\LD BE 9 A ,M>XI/ VANGU>D ORGANIZATION4 

,! ,ZAPATI/A >MY HASN'T US$ ITS WEAPONS S9CE ! UPRIS+ 9 #a#i#i#d4 ,SOME ( ITS SUPPORT]S ELSE:]E MAY FETI%IZE ! GUNS BUT ON ! GR\ND 9 ,*IAPAS !Y >E SE5 AS A WAY = PEOPLE TO DEF5D !MSELVES AGA9/ ! ORGANIZ$ VIOL5CE ( ! ,MEXICAN /ATE4 ,:AT ! ,ZAPATI/A MOVEM5T HAS BE5 AB\T S9CE #aiid IS ! CON/RUCTION ( A SY/EM ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY4 

,!SE /RUCTURES >E :AT %\LD BE ( PRIM>Y IMPORTANCE TO AN>*I/S 9 DET]M+ H[ WE RELATE TO ! ,ZAPATI/AS4 ,!Y =M AN ORGANIZATIONAL & DECISION MAK+ NETWORK 9VOLV+ HUNDR$S ( ?\S&S ( PEOPLE4 ,!RE >E #cb REBEL MUNICIPALITIES1 EA* ONE ) #e TO OV] #a COMMUNITIES4 ,MORE !N #e1 PEOPLE LIVE AS P>T ( ?IS DECISION MAK+ NETWORK4 ,!RE >E FIVE LANGUAGE GR\PS - !SE ALONG ) HI< M\NTA9S1 JUNGLE & BAD ROADS MAKE ANY =M ( LIB]T>IAN ORGANIZATION DIFFICULT4 ,YET ?IS IS EXACTLY :AT ! ,ZAPATI/AS APPE> TO HAVE CON/RUCT$4 

,!RE >E EXT5SIVE 9T]VIEWS ) ! MA9 SPOKESP]SON ( ! ,E,Z,L,N1 ,SUBCOMMADANTE ,M>COS1 :I* DESCRIBE ! DECISION-MAK+ /RUCTURE & H[ IT EVOLV$4 ,H[EV] AN>*I/S %\LD BE SKEPTICAL AB\T TAK+ ! WORD ( ! APP>5T MILIT>Y LEAD] ( ANY REBEL GR\P ALONE - EV5 AS 9 ?IS CASE :]E IT APPE>S IT MAY BE ACCURATE4 

,VILLAGE ASSEMBLIES 

,! >EAS ! ,ZAPATI/AS OP5LY ORGANIZE 9 >E RURAL & EXTREMELY POOR4 ,SMALL COMMUNITIES ( A DOZ5 TO OV] #a FAMILIES >E TYPICAL1 =C$ TO LIVE (F ! L& )\T ! B5EFIT ( MOD]N AGRICULTURAL MA*9]Y4 ,SOME ( ! M5 WILL HAVE WORK$ \TSIDE ! VILLAGE 9 LOCAL T[NS OR EV5 AS F> AS ! ,U,S,A BUT 9 ! VILLAGES !MSELVES ! ONLY POLITICAL PRES5CE T5DS TO COME FROM ! ,CA?OLIC *UR*'S LOCAL V>IETY ( 'LIB]ATION !OLOGY' & ! ,E,Z,L,N ITSELF4 

,PRIOR TO ! REBELLION MANY COMMUNITIES DID NOT HAVE SUFFICI5T F]TILE L& & SO ! PEOPLE HAD TO WORK1 (T5 9 ATROCI\S CONDITIONS1 = LOCAL L&[N]S4 ,) ! REBELLION ! L&[N]S FL$ & 9 MANY CASES !IR AB&ON$ L& WAS TAK5 OV] & SOMETIMES US$ TO E/ABLI% NEW COMMUNITIES4 ,9 DESCRIB+ ! /RUCTURES ( DECISION MAK+ AT ! COMMUNITY LEVEL ,I AM DRAW+ ON MY [N EXP]I5CE 9 ! COMMUNITY ( ,DIEZ DE ,ABRIL & ON 9T]VIEWS ) O!R PEOPLE FROM ! ,IRI% PEACE CAMP !RE 9 ! YE>S FROM #aiif TO #a#i#i#i4 

,DIEZ DE ,ABRIL IS A NEW COMMUNITY F\ND$ ON L& SEIZ$ 9 #a#i#i#e4 ,?OSE :O MOV$ ONTO ! L& HAD WORK$ IT BE=E ! REBELLION4 ,!Y MET 9 ASSEMBLY ON ! L& BE=E ! TAKE OV]1 DECID$ H[ TO DIVIDE UP ! L& & DECID$ TO CALL ! NEW COMMUNITY ',DIEZ DE ,ABRIL' AFT] ! DAY 7#a? ,APRIL #a#i#a#i7 :5 ,ZAPATA WAS ASSASS9AT$4 

,! R\T9E WEEKLY ASSEMBLY HAPP5S AFT] OR EV5 AS P>T ( MASS ON ,SUNDAY4 ,IT IS OP5 TO ALL TO ATT5D & ALL OV] #ab HAVE SPEAK+ & VOT+ RI<TS AL?\< VOTES >E V]Y R>E4 ,?IS MEET+ CAN GO ON = H\RS & TYPICALLY RESOLVES PRACTICAL QUE/IONS CONC]N+ WORK 9 ! COMMUNITY OR EXP5DITURE ( COMMUNITY FUNDS4 ,ONE LONG RUNN+ DEBATE WAS :E!R TO BUY A TRACTOR OR A TRUCK4 ,!RE MAY BE O!R ASSEMBLIES IF NE$$ DUR+ ! WEEK4 

,! ASSEMBLY ELECTS DELEGATES CALL$ 'RESPONSIBLES' TO CO-ORD9ATE WORK 9 P>TICUL> >EAS4 ,!SE DELEGATES S]VE A LIMIT$ T]M 7ONE TO TWO YE>S7 & >E SUBJECT TO RE-CALL )9 ?IS TIME IF IT'S FELT !Y >E NOT 'LEAD+ BY OBEY+' 7I4E4 ! ,ZAPATI/A SLOGAN = FOLL[+ ! M&ATE GIV5 TO !M74 

,!RE >E ALSO COLLECTIVES ?AT C>RY \T P>TICUL> TASKS )9 ! COMMUNITY4 ,!Y >E SET UP BY & ANSW]ABLE TO ! ASSEMBLY BUT >E O!RWISE AUTONOM\S4 ,COLLECTIVES 9 ,DIEZ 9CLUDE ONES = C(FEE1 CATTLE HONEY1 HORTICULTURE1 BREAD1 SEW+ & *ICK54 ,SOME ( ! PRODUCTION ( EA* COLLECTIVE GOES TO ITS MEMB]S2 ! SURPLUS GOES 9TO A C5TRAL COMMUNITY FUND CONTROLL$ BY ! ASSEMBLY4 

,\R DIRECT EXP]I5CE ( ,DIEZ DE ,ABRIL CONTRADICTS ! CLAIM ?AT VISITS TO ! REBEL ZONE >E SOMEH[ CONTROLL$ SO ?AT 0,ON A WELL-SIGN$ R\TE1 PEOPLE HAVE TO AGREE TO SEE ONLY :AT !Y HAVE TO SEE & TO BELIEVE 9 ! LEAD]'S WORDS04 ,ISSUES ( SECURITY ( C\RSE DET]M9E ?AT !RE >E MEET+S WE DON'T ATT5D BUT \R PRES5CE OV] ?REE YE>'S MEANS LITTLE HAPP5S ?AT WE >E UNAW>E (4 

,:5 WE MOVE FROM LOCAL ORGANIZATION TO /ATEWIDE ORGANIZATION ,I CAN NO LONG] RELY ON P]SONAL OBS]VATION OR ! ACC\NTS ( PEOPLE KN[N & TRU/$ BY ME4 ,I'VE TALK$ TO 5\< OBS]V]S & RADICAL J\RNALI/S ?\< TO KN[ ?AT AL?\< ,DIEZ MAY BE ONE ( ! MORE POLITICALLY ADVANC$ COMMUNITIES ! /RUCTURES >E BROADLY TYPICAL ( O!R COMMUNITIES4 ,H[EV] TO ?R[ LI<T ON REGIONAL ORGANIZATION ,I'M RELY+ ON REPORTS FROM J\RNALI/S1 ,N,G,O'S & 9T]VIEWS ) 9DIVIDUAL ,ZAPATI/AS4 

,C,C,R,I 

,! ',CL&E/9E ,REVOLUTION>Y ,9DIG5\S ,COMMITTEE' 7,C,C,R,I7 IS ! BODY ?AT ACTUALLY COMM&S ! >MY4 ,?IS BODY 7OR 9DE$ BODIES AS !RE >E ALSO REGIONAL ,C,C,R,I'S7 IS COMPOS$ ( DELEGATES FROM ! COMMUNITIES4 ,IT IS NOT 9 ITSELF A MILIT>Y /RUCTURE4 

,REGIONALLY IT IS CAPABLE ( MAK+ DECISIONS ?AT AFFECT 9DIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES4 ,= 9/ANCE :5 ONE COMMUNITY 9 ! REGION ( ,MORELIA WANT$ TO OCCUPY L& %ORTLY AFT] ! REBELLION 0! LOCAL ,CL&E/9E ,REVOLUTION>Y ,9DIG5\S ,COMMITTEE1 7,C,C,R,I7 ORD]$ LOCALS TO WAIT1 EXPECT+ A REGION-WIDE L& SETTLEM5T AFT] ! #aiid DIALOGUE04 

,?IS 9 ITSELF IS NOT NECESS>ILY A PROBLEM IF ! ,C,C,R,I IS A G5U9E DELEGATE BODY4 ,9 MANY REVOLUTION>Y SITUATIONS IT MAKES S5SE TO HOLD BACK MILITANT SECTIONS 9 CASE PREMATURE ACTION RESULTS 9 ! SUPPRESSION ( ! MOVEM5T4 ,9 ?IS CASE ,I'D PROBABLY HAVE DISAGRE$ ) ! DECISION BUT ! QUE/ION IS H[ IT WAS MADE & :O MADE IT4 ,! PEOPLE ( ! REGION OR SOME UNACC\NTABLE BODY ACT+ 9 !IR NAME8 

,A MON? AFT] ! RIS+ ! ,MEXICAN LIB]AL PAP] ',LA ,JORNADA' :I* EXT5SIVELY COV]S ! ,ZAPATI/AS 9T]VIEW$ SOME MEMB]S ( ! ,C,C,R,I4 ,ONE CALL$ ,ISACC EXPLA9$ ! ACC\NTABILITY ( ! ,C,C,R,I 2 

0,IF ! PEOPLE SAY ?AT A COMPAN]O :O IS A MEMB] ( ! ,C,C,R,I IS NOT DO+ ANY?+1 ?AT WE >E NOT RESPECT+ ! PEOPLE OR >E NOT DO+ :AT ! PEOPLE SAY1 !N ! PEOPLE SAY ?AT !Y WANT TO REMOVE US 444 

,9 ?AT WAY1 IF SOME MEMB] ( ! ,C,C,R,I DOES NOT DO !IR WORK1 IF !Y DO NOT RESPECT ! PEOPLE1 WELL COMPA1 IT IS NOT Y\R PLACE TO BE !RE4 ,!N1 WELL1 EXCUSE US BUT WE WILL HAVE TO PUT ANO!R 9 Y\R PLACE04 

,! ,CONSULTA 

,EV5 /ILL ! ,C,C,R,I DOES NOT HAVE ! P[] TO MAKE MAJOR DECISIONS1 SU* AS PEACE OR W>4 ,!SE MU/ 9/EAD BE MADE ?R\< A 'CONSULTA' - CRUDELY A REF]5DUM BUT ONE :]E 9T5SE DISCUSSIONS 9 EA* COMMUNITY IS AS C5TRAL TO ! PROCESS AS ! VOTE ITSELF4 ,!SE TAKE MON?S & HAVE BE5 A GREAT S\RCE ( ANNOYANCE TO ! ,MEXICAN GOV]NM5T1 :I* ALWAYS WANTS AN ANSW] TO ITS PROPOSALS ON ! SPOT OR )9 DAYS4 

,ONE ,E,Z,L,N COMMUNIQUE EXPLA9$ ! CONSULTA PROCESS AS FOLL[S2 

0,! CONSULTATIONS TOOK PLACE 9 EV]Y COMMUNITY & EJIDO :]E !RE >E MEMB]S ( ! ,E,Z,L,N4 

,! /UDY1 ANALYSIS1 & DISCUSSION ( ! PEACE ACCORDS TOOK PLACE 9 DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLIES4 ,! VOT+ WAS DIRECT1 FREE1 & DEMOCRATIC4 

,AFT] ! VOT+1 (FICIAL REPORTS ( ! RESULTS ( ! ASSEMBLIES W]E PREP>$4 ,!SE REPORTS SPECIFY3 ! DATE & PLACE ( ! ASSEMBLY1 ! NUMB] ( PEOPLE :O ATT5D$ 7M51 WOM5 & *ILDR5 OLD] ?AN #ab YE>S OLD71 OP9IONS & PR9CIPAL PO9TS DISCUSS$1 & ! NUMB] ( PEOPLE :O VOT$40 

,?IS BROADLY TIES 9TO :AT OBS]V]S :O HAVE SE5 CONSULTAS TAKE PLACE TELL ME4 ,IT WAS SU* A CONSULTA ?AT DECID$ ?AT ! #aiid RIS+ %\LD GO AHEAD1 A YE> BE=E ,M>COS & ! >MY COMM& CONSID]$ !Y W]E READY4 ,CONSULTAS S9CE HAVE DECID$ TO 5T] 9TO TALKS ) ! GOV]NM5T1 TO ACCEPT ! ,SAN ,&RES AGREEM5T & LAT] TO BREAK (F TALKS UNTIL ! GOV]NM5T IMPLEM5T$ :AT HAD ALREADY BE5 AGRE$4 

,! C\NCILS 

,!SE REGIONAL /RUCTURES >E DESIGN$ TO MAKE ! BIG DECISIONS1 ! QUE/IONS ( W> OR PEACE ETC4 ,H[EV] OBVI\SLY /ATE WIDE MEET+S >E F> TOO UNWIELDY TO SETTLE SMALL] QUE/IONS4 ,! REBELLION HAS ALSO MEANT ,ZAPATI/A COMMUNITIES REFUS+ ALL CONTACT ) ! ,MEXICAN /ATE - RI<T D[N TO REFUS+ TO REGI/] BIR?S & DEA?S4 

,! PRACTICAL PROBLEM ?R[N UP BY ! NE$ = 9T] COMMUNITY CO-ORD9ATION SAW ! =MATION ( REGIONAL C\NCILS4 ,!SE >E KN[N AS AUTONOM\S MUNICIPALITIES4 #a COMMUNITIES = 9/ANCE MAKE UP ! AUTONOM\S MUNICIPALITY NAM$ AFT] ! ,MEXICAN AN>*I/ ,RIC>DO ,FLORES ,MAGON4 ,TI]RA Y ,LIB]TAD1 ON ! BORD] ) ,GUATEMALA CONTA9S A TOTAL ( #ab COMMUNITIES4 

0,)9 ! NEWLY CREAT$ MUNICIPAL /RUCTURES1 ! COMMUNITIES NAME !IR AU?ORITIES1 COMMUNITY TEA*]S1 LOCAL HEAL? PROMOT]S1 9DIG5\S P>LIAM5TS1 & ELABORATE !IR [N LAWS BAS$ ON SOCIAL1 ECONOMIC1 POLITICAL & G5D] EQUALITY AMONG ! 9HABITANTS ( DIV]SE E?NIC COMMUNITIES40 

,A ,MEXICAN ,N,G,O 9 DETAIL+ ! GOV]NM5T'S ATTEMPTS TO SMA% !SE COMMUNITIES EXPLA9S H[ !Y FUNCTION2 

0,! COMMUNITIES ( AN 9DIG5\S ZONE OR >EA >E ! ONES :O DECIDE1 AT AN ASSEMBLY ( ALL !IR MEMB]S1 :E!R OR NOT !Y WILL BELONG TO ! AUTONOM\S MUNICIPALITY 444 ,IT IS ! COMMUNITIES :O ELECT !IR REPRES5TATIVES = ! ,AUTONOM\S ,MUNICIPAL ,C\NCIL1 :I* IS ! AU?ORITY = ! MUNICIPALITY4 ,EA* REPRES5TATIVE IS *OS5 = ONE >EA ( ADM9I/RATION )9 ! AUTONOM\S MUNICIPALITY1 & !Y MAY BE REMOV$ IF !Y DO NOT FULLY COMPLY ) ! COMMUNITIES' M&ATES 444 ,?OSE :O HOLD A POSITION ON ! ,MUNICIPAL ,C\NCIL DO NOT RECEIVE A SAL>Y = IT1 AL?\< !IR EXP5SES %\LD BE PAID BY ! SAME COMMUNITIES :O REQUE/ !IR PRES5CE1 ?R\< COOP]ATION AMONG ! MEMB]S4 ,9 SOME CASES1 MEMB]S ( ! ,C\NCIL >E SUPPORT$ 9 !IR F>M WORK1 SO !Y CAN D$ICATE !MSELVES TO !IR .<,C\NCIL.> WORK1 & NOT HAVE TO GO ! FIELDS40 

,!SE /RUCTURES >E OBVI\SLY ONES COMPATIBLE ) AN>*ISM OR 9DE$ REVOLUTION>Y SYNDICALISM4 ,!Y KEY *ECKS ( M&ATE & RECALL >E !RE4 ,! FACT ?AT !SE /RUCTURES >E NOT CONSCI\SLY AN>*I/ BUT >ISE FROM A BL5D ( 9DIG5\S PRACTICE1 ,M>XISM & ,LIB]ATION ,!OLOGY %\LD NOT PREV5T US /&+ 9 SOLID>ITY ) !M4 

,MORE IMPORTANTLY1 :ATEV] !IR ORIG9S !Y (F] A CURR5T MODEL ( SOME ( :AT WE TALK AB\T 9 PRACTICE4 ,*IAPAS IS ISOLAT$ & EXTREMELY POOR1 ! FACT ?AT LIB]T>IAN /RUCTURES CAN FL\RI% 9 SU* H>% CONDITIONS 9 ! MID/ ( A ,L[ ,9T5SITY W> CAN ONLY DEMON/RATE H[ VALID !Y >E4 

,UN=TUNATELY !RE IS NOT 5\< ROOM H]E TO GO ON TO DISCUSS ! POLITICS ( ! ,E,Z,L,N 9 ANY DETAIL4 ,BUT 9 MANY WAYS !SE >E A SECOND>Y MATT]4 ,= ! COMMUNITY ASSEMBLIES & ! C\NCILS TO SURVIVE !Y NE$ \R CONT9U$ SUPPORT4 ,BUT C5TRALLY ! QUE/ION REMA9S - H[ DO WE CONV9CE WORK]S 9 \R P>T7S7 ( ! WORLD ?AT SU* /RUCTURES >E A VIABLE ALT]NATIVE TO TOP D[N P>TIES4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#c1 #bba 3 ,! ,ZAPATI/AS1 ,AN>*ISM & ',DIRECT DEMOCRACY' -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bbb 3 ,! ,ZAPATI/AS1 ,AN>*ISM & ',DIRECT DEMOCRACY' -- ,UPDAT$4 

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