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EZLN Marks 32 Years, Unveils 'El Común' as Century-Scale Autonomy Project

The leadership cites persistent exclusion alongside mounting threats from armed groups in Chiapas.

Overview

  • The Zapatista base communities gathered in Oventic to commemorate the 1994 uprising and reaffirm their commitment to autonomous self-government.
  • Subcomandante Moisés condemned three decades of what he called 'bad governments,' criticizing current reforms as favoring bankers and transnational companies and questioning cash-transfer programs.
  • The movement introduced 'El Común,' a model of collective ownership that rejects private property and is envisioned to take roughly 100 to 120 years to build.
  • Organizers announced 2026 encuentros and semilleros featuring arts festivals and forums for critical reflection with NGOs and human rights defenders, including discussions on moving beyond dependence on money.
  • Speakers warned that organized crime and armed groups have deepened insecurity in Chiapas, threatening community life and autonomy, while calling on workers in the countryside and cities to organize collectively.