Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 November 2010
On 1 January 1994, Mexico's awakening after New Year's Eve was rude to say the least, for that was the date chosen by a hitherto unknown guerrilla movement, the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (Zapatista National Liberation Army), to launch a simultaneous attack on several municipalities in the south-eastern Mexican State of Chiapas, and particularly on its jewel, well known to tourists — San Cristobal de Las Casas.
Original: French — September 1994.
1 More commonly known as EZLN or just EZ, or as “los Zapatistas”.
2 A body coordinating the work of Mexican NGOs.
3 The Institutional Revolutionary Party, which had held power uninterruptedly for over 65 years.