Abstract
ERLACS – European Review of Latin American and Caribbean Studies is an Open Access, scientific journal. It publishes peer-reviewed articles in English and Spanish. Contributions reflect substantial empirical research and/or are theoretically innovative with respect to major debates within social science research (understood in the broadest sense, including history and economics) on Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition to research articles, ERLACS includes 'Explorations' (a section in which new themes are presented and new debates are stimulated), review essays, book reviews, and film reviews. Articles are published online soon after they have been accepted.Sign up for our newsletter and read our latest issue!Special Collections:Violent configurations of power in MexicoVenezuela's crisis from global perspectivesElite and popular responsed to a left in crisisMega-projects, contentious action, and policy change in Latin America ERLACS – Revista Europea de Estudios Latinoamericanos y del Caribe es una revista científica de Acceso Abierto. Difunde artículos bajo la revisión de pares en inglés y español. Las contribuciones reflejan la investigación empírica sustancial y/o son teóricamente innovadoras con respecto a los grandes debates dentro de la investigación social (en el sentido más amplio, incluyendo la historia y la economía) en América Latina y el Caribe. Además de los artículos de investigación, ERLACS incluye 'Exploraciones' (una sección en la que se presentan los nuevos temas con el fin de estimular nuevos debates), ensayos de reseña, reseñas de libros, y críticas de cine. Los artículos se publican en línea poco después de haber sido aceptados.¡Suscríbase a nuestro boletín de noticias y lea nuestro último número!Números especiales:Venezuela's crisis from global perspectivesElite and popular responsed to a left in crisisMega-projects, contentious action, and policy change in Latin America
Highlights
This article focuses on the events leading up to the massacre and addresses the war of counterinsurgency in Chiapas
The Zapatista uprising, which began in January 1994, dramatically increased political protest in Chiapas and led to severe factionalism among indigenous groups
The Pedrano Catholics2 had become divided after the Zapatista uprising since they did not support the use of violence
Summary
Late in 1997 almost four years after the start of the Zapatista uprising in Chiapas, Mexico, forty-five unarmed people were murdered in the community of Acteal. The massacre was the culmination of escalating activity by paramilitaries that had driven thousands from their homes. That the massacre could happen in the vicinity of stationed police forces lead to questions concerning the involvement of the Mexican government in spurring the violence in Chiapas. Since 1994, Chiapas is the most militarized state in Mexico with a presence of possibly up to 70,000 soldiers, constituting one third of the Mexican armed forces (SIPAZ 2001a).. Using the example of the municipality of Chenalhó, it illustrates how paramilitary groups have come to exploit the factionalism that developed in indigenous communities after the Zapatista rebellion, with disastrous consequences for the indigenous population
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