TWELVE WOMEN IN THE TWELFTH YEAR “WE LEARN AS WE GO”

MACKENZIE WEATHERLY TWELVE WOMEN IN THE TWELFTH YEAR“WE LEARN AS WE GO”

“We Learn As We Go” By: Hilary Klein

Background • Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) • Best known for the uprising in January 1994 • Broad social movement • Principal demands • Land • Indigenous rights and culture • Constructed indigenous autonomy in its territory • Own government • Health and education infrastructure • Economic institutions

Background • Zapatista territory covers much of the eastern part of the Mexican state of Chiapas. • Hundreds of villages in the Lacandon jungle, the canyon region, the highlands and the northern zone of Chiapas make up the Zapatista support base.

EZLN • 1996-Intercontinental Gathering for Humanity and Against Neoliberalism • Key event for world-wide movement against capitalist globalization • One of the only times public space dedicated to Zapatista women telling their stories • Aprox. 3,000 participants attended this gathering • 3 days of 200 different Zapatista women telling their stories • Each of the five Caracoles, were represented

Before • Many worked on the plantations • Described mothers’ and grandmothers’ lives as: • horrendous, exploitation , violence and discrimination, lack of access to health care and education • Triple discrimination • Women, poor, and indigenous

After • Credit the Zapatista movement to changes • rights as women • Decrease in domestic violence • Right to choose who to marry • Right to choose how many children to have • Not restricted to working in the home and raising children • Women now serve as local and regional representatives, political leaders, and members of the government, health and education promoters

How were these changes achieved? • Women’s collectives • Vegetable gardens, bread-making, artisan. • Source of financial resources invested back into the communities • Collectives acted as a springboard for participation in other areas in the movement

Leadership in the EZLN • ComandantaRamona • Early Political leader • Founded the National Indigenous Congress in 1996 • Major Ana Maria • One of the first military leaders of EZLN • Women slowly started participating politically more and more • 1993-Revolutionary Women’s Law

Rhetoric vs Reality • Common contradiction in radical and revolutionary movements • Rhetoric about women’s rights important first step • However reality needs to catch up to the statements made by the leadership about women's role in the movement • Some Zapatista communities women largely still in subordinate positions • Tension was present at the gathering • Listeners left feeling that the women were describing ideal conditions not how they really are

Political Participation • Women often participated in the autonomous council, they present proposals to the community • Solved problems within the community • Resolved family disputes • Helped women be treated as equals • Encourage others to be active and participate

Health and Education • Autonomous health car and education systems were developed in response to the lack • Common in past for children to die from curable disease • Lived far away from city and even if could get there often denied due to racism against indigenous people • Few schools in the indigenous communities and those that existed did not allow girls • Both schools and health care centers were created within the communities

The Other Campaign & Dialogue with Civil Society • Final theme of the encuentro- gathering was women and the Other Campaign • Most recent mobilization and process of dialogue with civil society • Group traveling to sectors of society those most marginalized and listening to their experiences. • Emphasizes problem is bad government • Part of the vision of the Zapatisa movement • Right to land, housing, education, health-care self-determination for all oppressed communities

The Encuentro • More solid recognition of women’s rights in the Zapatista movement • Those that participated gained confidence and knowledge • Use to reflect how far they have come and where they need to go still

Twelve Women in the Twelfth Year • In the 12th year of the EZLN many important women are forgotten • Tells the stories of 12 different women and their significance • Mainly Night of January 1st 1994 • Night the rebels take San Cristobal de Las Casas

Women of the EZLN • ComandanteRomona • Negotiator during Peace Talks • Insurgent Infantry Captain Irma • Took the plaza of Ocosingo • Insurgent Infantry Captain Elisa • Became Captain during battle after Captain was injured • Give orders in soft murmur but everyone obeys • Insurgent Infantry Captain Laura • Captain of a unit composed of only men • Insurgent Infantry Captain Silvia • Trapped for 10 days after fighting in Ocosingo • Slips past multiple federal soldiers and military checkpoint

Women of EZLN • Insurgent Infantry Captain Maribel • Took Radio Station in Las Margaritas • First rebel to have contact with government • When asked her aged she responds with “502” counts all the years since the rebellion began • Infantry Insurgent Isidora • Rescues unit of 40, all men from the flames in Ocosingo while wounded • First Lieutenant in hospital, Amalia • Saves her Captain and refuses to surrender when surrounded • Lieutenant in hospital, Elena • Illiterate when joined, learn to read, write, and medicine

Twelve Women • December 1994 Ana Mara commands to break through military blockade around the Lacandon Jungle • Monica, Isabela, Yuri, Patricia, Juana, Ofelia, Celina, Maria, Gabriela, Alicia, Zenaida, Maria Luisa • The Zapatistas escaped the blockade • The women are dismissed and made invisible

Conclusion • Dona Juanita • Finally reached her dream • There is still more to fight for • Many of these women are forgotten • Their faced erased, name hidden “Tomorrow, if there is to be one, it will be made with the women, and above all, by them…”

TWELVE WOMEN IN THE TWELFTH YEAR “WE LEARN AS WE GO”