Chiapas: Considerations from our Feminist Point of View

1. Chiapas: Considerations from our Feminist Point of View Ximena Bedregal, Feb. 1994 Caitlin Hinschberger

2. To what extent is the EZLN (Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional or Zapatista NationalArmy of Liberation) successful in advancing women’s rights? • How can feminist perspectives be applied to the EZLN? • CICAM = Centro de Investigacióny Capacitaciónde la Mujer/ Center for Women’s Research and Empowerment • Feminism, pacifism, and rebellion • The EZLN’s discourse and its credibility from a feminist viewpoint • Revolutionary Law for Women: change or participation?

3. Traits of feminism • Feminism • Is anti-war and pacifist – aggression will not bring peace • The ends do not justify the means • Rebels against oppressive patriarchal system – a “civilizing rebellion” • Resists the dichotomies that are instrumental to oppression – the powerful, dominant group and the “Other,” which is often silenced, erased, punished, devalued.

4. EZLN use of violence • Results in death & destruction • Uses same instruments which enabled their own subjugation • Turns the resistance fighters into murderers • Often, the “winner” of a violent struggle will go on to impose his will on the rest, reinitiating a vicious cycle. • The patriarchal system is inherently violent for its creation of oppressive systems and definition of “development” as destruction, but will only criticize violence that challenges it • Responding to a violent system with an equivalent ethic of violence is actually “logical” – playing their game • “Peace is only possible when power of death (arms) is balanced among factions” • Same logic of violence will lead to results of oppression • “Ravings”

5. EZLN and rebellion • Rebelled against invisibility, silence, devaluation by asserting their voice and demands, but with arms • BUT not just any form of rebellion can lead to true peace, no matter the intentions or ends. • The feminist rebellion is built upon “The ethic of liberty, life, desire, diversity, peace, and respect.”

6. EZLN and dichotomies • The “ends” and the “means” should not be dichotomous • Negotiation: the negotiators (politics) were separate from the individuals of the region (individuals) as they make decisions that will directly affect the latter • EZLN vsGovernment (negotiators) • Negotiators vs Civilian individuals • No unity

7. Discourse of the EZLN • More than verbal discourse, but the cultural symbols (implicit & explicit) that are produced through activities • Able to reach and resonate with individuals in an unofficial and personal style • Strongly patriarchal in 2 senses: • Strengthens the idea that violence can only be opposed with violence, and that it’s more acceptable when the oppressed engage in it. • Such violence also seeks “permission to kill and die.”

8. Traditionally militaristic tactics (formal declaration of war, military occupation of a territory in which daily life must continue, obtaining and displaying military uniforms, military rank structure) • Shows respect for the preexisting set of patriarchal rules • Gains recognition from dominant society and sympathy from some others • BUT discredits their demands for peace and justice • Promotes idea that this the only model capable of political change

9. Demands of EZLN • To reevaluate and alter the unsustainable neoliberal economic model. • New opportunity and character to the expression of this discontent • To assert their diversity and demand respect as indigenous communities • To act in consideration of the plurality and diversity of positions and not act as a single power • Lost once negotiations begin

10. Negotiation of EZLN • Formal style of 2 forces negotiating the destiny of all • Excludes the average uninvolved or indifferent people • Promotes their own benefits over those of the general public • A peace that is not fully representative is not valid • Arguably, traditional politics is flat, stale, Manichean (dualistic/ black and white) and is not always relevant to an average individual’s daily life

11. Future of EZLN • Systems have been established that are initially equal and admirable, but have failed because they maintain the logic and ethic of oppressive patriarchy • Despite its creativity and ability to educate and startle people, the same could happen with the EZLN • Has imitated the system it wishes to eliminate

12. Revolutionary Law for Women • Not feminist because it consisted only of limited demands, not an inclusive proposal based in “an experience of critical and conscious, criticized, and amended femininity.” • Product of women confronting the violence of patriarchy? OR • Leaders faced with the necessity of incorporating women into traditionally masculine tasks and/or producing a broad image of democracy? • Frequent in guerilla history but has not implied advances in women’s conditions • Women are simply incorporated into the institution of domination, force, and death. • The clause for women’s choice of marriage could be most revolutionary since it affects the cultural and traditional perspectives of ownership of women’s body and pleasure

13. Questions about the EZLN • These questions should be considered when evaluating the future activity of the EZLN from a feminist viewpoint: • Was an uprising truly a surprise to the government? If Chiapas was already militarized and controlled, is it possible that the armed forces were not aware of the people mobilizing? And if they were aware of such a threat, why would they let it happen? • Where did the money for the EZLN’s arms, supplies, and uniforms come from?

14. In the negotiations, why were there only two parties in the conflict? Why is it that relevant parties can only consist of those who have arms? Why are negotiations taking place in arenas where civilian society is not welcomed, and where the voices of individuals from that sector are not heard? • Is it possible to form a diverse, plural, democratizing position in an authoritarian culture like that of Chiapas? Since all of the conflict in this region has been “solved” by force, is there any possibility of a truly successful nonviolent, equal struggle leading to a just and democratic system?