The EZLN is an indigenous rebel group based in Chiapas, Mexico's poorest state. It aims to defend indigenous rights and oppose neoliberal policies like NAFTA. The EZLN's structure is based on traditional indigenous self-governance, with communal assemblies guiding each decision. These assemblies select officers and commissioners to oversee security, education, and health. Assemblies also form five regional centers called Caracoles to coordinate civilian governance, education, sports, politics, and gatherings across ethnic zones. Caracoles are meant to be places where internal indigenous communities and external supporters can meet. The EZLN continues pursuing justice and indigenous autonomy based on its original 11 demands and an evolving

1. Organizational Structure
of the EZLN
By: Saydee Villarruel

2. Chiapas
Chiapas is industrially and agriculturally wealthy, providing
the country with 55% of hydroelectricity, 20% of electricity,
and the estimated potential of Chiapas and Guatemala
combined would exceed that of Saudi Arabia.
Yet 70% of homes in Chiapas do not have electricity, over
50% of the workforce earns less than $3.32 a day; 80% of
children suffer from malnutrition and there are 1500 deaths
that occur each year from curable diseases.
Chiapas has the 2nd highest population of indigenous peoples
in Mexico. Chiapas is also the 2nd poorest state in the nation.
(This has most recently changed as Guerrero is now the
poorest as of 2010 statistics.)

3. Map of Chiapas, Mexico

4. Ejercito Zapatista por la
Liberacion Nacional (EZLN)
Translates to The Zapatista Army of National Liberation,
referred to as Zapatistas.
The Zapatistas began gathering in 1983 but didn’t go public
until January 1, 1994, the same day NAFTA came into
effect. On that day they also issued their Declaration and
their Revolutionary laws.
Since 1994, the group has been in a declared war "against the
Mexican state," though this war has been
primarily nonviolent and defensive against
military, paramilitary, and corporate incursions into Chiapas.

5. EZLN
Today the EZLN has expanded outside of Chiapas into other
marginalized areas of Mexico and created another campaign
called La Otra Campaña ( The Other Campaign) to assist
others in seeking justice.
The EZLN also receives support from Mexican from other
social backgrounds as well as support from local, national
and international grassroots committees and NGOs.

6. Structure of the EZLN
The EZLN’s struture is based on traditional indigenous forms of
organization and governance. The communal assembly guides and
directs its decisions, it is integral to each Zapatista community and
is based on the equal participation of women and men.
Each assembly or Caracol selects its own officers, who are
responsible to secure the community safety, education and health
commissioners who meet regionally. Caracoles are the civilian
government, health, educational, sports, political, and gathering
places for the Zapatista movement.
There are five caracoles in Chiapas; one caracol for each of the five
geographic and ethnic zones of Chiapas.

7. Structure of EZLN
Why Caralcoles?
The Zapatistas have named their civilian centers "Caracoles"
which is the Spanish word for a snail shell. One of the
distinctive features of the snail shell is that it swirls about and
is a living entity where the outside meets the inside. This is a
fitting symbol of the Zapatista Civilian Centers... a place
where the outside (national and international bases of
support) can come to meet and experience the inside (the
Zapatista bases of support)

8. EZLN Today
The Zapatistas began their rebellion with a number of
specific list of 11 demands: work, land, housing, food, health
care, education, independence, freedom, democracy, justice,
and peace. Their First Declaration opens with the statement,
"We are the product of 500 years of struggle.” Over the last
few years the demands and vision of the movement has
deepened and matured. The most complete statement of
their current position is available in a document known as
The Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle.

9. Caracol 4: Morelia

10. Caracol 4 meeting