The picture to the right is of the army of the EZLN. The group used this army to take over towns and storm public buildings. By creating an armed force for the revolution, the EZLN were able to fight for the land in Chiapas that they had taken and create a guerilla war with the Mexican army. The violence and fear that this military aspect of the group was important in the early part of the EZLN movement because members of this revolution believed that only through violence would the other side listen to their demand. In many ways, this picture shows the strength of the belief in the cause by the members. This early phase of a militant EZLN, in which an army used violence as a means to achieve the end result of indigenous equality, created the sense that the cause was worth putting a person’s life on the line. By joining the army of the EZLN, one was showing that the their allegiance was no longer with the current Mexican state, but with a future Mexico where equality was for everyone, whether they came from indigenous ancestry or from the mainstream society within a NAFTA partnered Mexico.
The poster which is pictured to the right represents the mindset of the members of the group. The exclamation "Revolucion o Muerte," which translates to revolution or die, shows the importance of winning rights for the indigenous in the Chiapas. The picture depicting masked men gripping guns represents the early stage where the EZLN had a militant side that would use violence in order win the rights for the indigenous population. This poster, which is in support of the revolutionary group, is trying to draw outsiders to have a positive view of the group and the ideological goals that the group wants to achieve in the future. “Viva E.Z.L.N,” translated as long live EZLN, is a slogan that has strong connotations behind it. A poster like this one shows that the group created propaganda slogans in order to garner support from the Mexican people. Members of the EZLN wanted the group to stay active in order to continue the fight for the indigenous of Mexico who faced oppression and economic injustices by the government. By creating posters like this one, the EZLN were able to bring awareness to the cause that the group supported to other Mexicans and people around the world.
http://twitch1.tripod.com/Zapatista_Comunique1.html.
http://twitch1.tripod.com/Zapatista_Comunique1.html.
