Mexican Ethnic Conflict
In the state of Chiapas
History of the Conflict
The Chiapas rebellion started in January 1, 1994. The Mexican state of chiapas erupted into a political upheaval. This happened because farmers and indigenous people of the Chiapas state are being treated unfairly. This was caused because the chiapas where less looked at and developed. For example households with running water, mexico had 79% and Chiapas had 58%. Also household with electricity, Mexico had 88% and Chiapas had 67%. Mexicans where generating electricity from the region of Chiapas but the indigenous people weren't allowed to use it. The Chiapas people were being treated unfairly to the Mexicans. this led up to the zapatistas forming a para-militia to rebel against the government. 41 total attacks by the zapatistas made the rebellion last 20 years.
A man in Chiapas sets himself on fire to protest against the Mexican Government
"They treat us as if we're not human beings..."
Zapatista Army of National Liberation
The effects of the conflict
the Chiapas conflict resulted in many civilian casualties and military deaths. the fight between the Zapatistas and the mestizos caused many brutal events to take place in Chiapas. the first major event of the conflict was in 1997 in the village of Acteal. 45 people were killed in total. also the most recent attack was in 2014 when a Zapatista teacher was murdered and 15 others were severely injured. throughout the 20 year rebellion 118-126 people died. 46+ civilians lost their lives, 3 mestizos soldiers died, and 51 Zapatista soldiers died. the beginning of the fight started when the the government sent in their army to quickly wipe out the Guerrilla army. The mestizos and Zapatistas also made many negotiations and peace treaties that were mostly ignored, so the fighting continued. after the Mexican government won the war they mainly ignored the Zapatistas, but sometimes the Zapatistas make attacks resulting in civilian deaths.