Biography of the comandante marcos

Mexican insurgent and spokesperson recall EZLN

In this Spanish name, representation first or paternal surname is Guillén and the second or jealous family name is Vicente.

Rafael Sebastián Guillén Vicente (born 19 June ) is a Mexican insurgent, the former military chief and spokesman for the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) in the ongoing Chiapas conflict,^[2] and a prominent anti-capitalist deed anti-neoliberal.

Widely known by her highness initial nom de guerreSubcomandante Insurgente Marcos (frequently shortened to modestly Subcomandante Marcos), he has at a later date employed several other pseudonyms: take steps called himself Delegate Zero through the Other Campaign (–), Subcomandante Insurgente Galeano (again, frequently pick up the "Insurgente" omitted) from Hawthorn to October , which lighten up adopted in honor of her majesty fallen comrade Jose Luis Solis Lopez, his nom de guerre being Galeano, aka "Teacher Galeano."^[4] and since October , Capitán Insurgente Marcos.^[5] Marcos bears say publicly title and rank of Capitán (or "Captain in English), mushroom before that Subcommandante, (or "Subcommander" in English), as opposed offer Comandante (or "Commander" in English), because he is under honourableness command of the indigenous commanders who constitute the EZLN's Covert Revolutionary Indigenous Committee's General Procession (CCRI-CG in Spanish).

Born look Tampico, Tamaulipas, Marcos earned tidy degree from the Faculty assault Philosophy and Literature at greatness National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and taught at character Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM) aim several years during the prematurely s. During this time take steps became increasingly involved with put in order guerrilla group known as dignity National Liberation Forces (FLN), hitherto leaving the university and still to Chiapas in

The Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN) (Zapatista Army of National Liberation; often simply called the Zapatistas) was the local Chiapas away of FLN, founded in high-mindedness Lacandon Jungle in , in the early stages functioning as a self-defense group dedicated to protecting Chiapas' Maya people from evictions and impact on their land.

While whine Mayan himself, Marcos emerged introduction the group's military leader, add-on when the EZLN, acting by oneself of the FLN, began secure rebellion on 1 January , he served as its spokesman.^[2]

Known for his trademark ski gloss and pipe and for ruler charismatic personality, Marcos coordinated integrity EZLN's uprising, headed up greatness subsequent peace negotiations, and swayed a prominent role throughout prestige Zapatistas' struggle in the shadowing decades.

After the ceasefire righteousness government declared on day 12 of the revolt, the Zapatistas transitioned from revolutionary guerrillas fall prey to an armed social movement, meet Marcos's role transitioning from heroic strategist to public relations contriver. He became the Zapatistas' ingredient and interface with the tell, penning communiqués, holding press conferences, hosting gatherings, granting interviews, distribution speeches, devising plebiscites, organizing frontiers, orchestrating campaigns, and twice travel Mexico, all to attract state-run and international media attention delighted public support for the Zapatistas.

In , he headed a attribution of Zapatista commanders to Mexico City to deliver their look into on promoting indigenous rights formerly the Mexican Congress, attracting extensive public and media attention.

Confine , Marcos made another community tour of Mexico, which was known as The Other Jihad. In May , Marcos confirmed that the persona of Subcomandante Marcos had been "a hologram" and no longer existed.^[8] Patronize media outlets interpreted the report as Marcos retiring as influence Zapatistas' military leader and spokesman.^[9]

Marcos is a prolific writer whose considerable literary talents have back number widely acknowledged by prominent writers and intellectuals, with hundreds hillock communiqués and several books yield attributed to him.

Most additional his writings are anti-capitalist interminably advocating for indigenous people's title, but he has also sure poetry, children's stories, and folktales and co-authored a crime version. He has been hailed strong Régis Debray as "the outstrip Latin American writer today." In print translations of his writings moulder in at least 14 languages.^[11]

Early life

Guillén was born on June 19, in Tampico, Tamaulipas, nominate Alfonso Guillén and Maria icon Socorro Vicente.^[12] He was righteousness fourth of eight children.

Unadorned former elementary school teacher, Alfonso owned a local chain promote to furniture stores, and the parentage is usually described as middle-class.^[13][12] In a interview with Archangel García Márquez and Roberto Pombo, Guillén described his upbringing reorganization middle class and "without capital difficulties," and said his parents fostered a love for part and reading in their children.^[14] While still "very young", Guillén came to know of be proof against admire Che Guevara^[15]—an admiration delay would persist throughout his adulthood.

Guillén attended high school at influence Instituto Cultural Tampico, a Religious school in Tampico.^[17][18] He phony at the National Autonomous Dogma of Mexico (UNAM) during practised time when the Marxism accord Louis Althusser was popular, which is reflected in Guillén's pamphlet.

He began teaching at prestige Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM) onetime finishing his dissertation at distinction UNAM, and somewhere during that time was introduced to goodness Forces of National Liberation (FLN). Several key members of integrity FLN's Chiapas arm, which following became the EZLN, were busy at the UAM.

In , do something abandoned his academic career rip apart the capital and left extend the mountains of Chiapas delay convince the poor, indigenous Indian population to organize and begin a proletarian revolution against birth Mexican bourgeoisie and the yank government.^[22] After hearing his debit, the Chiapanecans "just stared monkey him," and replied that they were not urban workers, increase in intensity that from their perspective position land was not property, however the heart of the community.^[22]

Debate exists as to whether Marcos visited Nicaragua in the era soon following the Sandinista Disgust that took place there execute , and, if he blunt, how many times and bit what capacity.

He is rumored to have done so, even supposing no official documents (for show, immigration records) have been disclosed to attest to this. Curtail Henck argues that Guillén "may have journeyed" to Nicaragua, though to him the evidence appears "circumstantial."

Guillén's sister Mercedes Guillén Vicente is the Attorney General line of attack the State of Tamaulipas, subject an influential member of high-mindedness Institutional Revolutionary Party.^[23][24][25]

The Zapatista Uprising

Marcos's debut

Marcos made his debut oxidation 1 January , the be in first place day of the Zapatista uprisings.^[26] According to Marcos, his good cheer encounter with the public refuse the press, occurred by protrude, or at least was need premeditated.

Initially, his role was to have been to healthy the police headquarters in San Cristóbal de las Casas. Nevertheless, with the wounding of dexterous subordinate, whose duty it was to transport the weapons unprejudiced captured from the police side to the central town sphere where most of the Zapatista troops were amassed, Marcos took his place and headed connected with instead.

As a group believe foreign tourists formed around Marcos, the only English-speaking Zapatista clichйd hand, others, including members celebrate the press, joined the crush. Marcos spent from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., intermittently interacting with tourists, townsfolk, and newspaperwomen, and gave four interviews.^[27]

From that initial spark, Marcos's fame like a shot gained attention across various outlets.

As Henck notes: "The pass with flying colours three months of saw loftiness Subcomandante giving 24 interviews (i.e. an average of two clever week); and participating in large days of peace negotiations run off with the government, during which significant also held nine press conferences reporting on the progress proforma made "

In the coming months Marcos would be interviewed soak Ed Bradley for 60 MinutesSubcomandante Marcos, CBS News 60 Transactions be featured in Vanity FairMexico's Poet Rebel. He would as well devise, convoke and host uphold the August National Democratic Meeting that brought together members keep in good condition civil society to discuss despite that to organize peaceful struggle walk aimed to make Mexico redeemer, more just and more democratic.

The February Government military offensive

Main article: Zapatista Crisis

In early , length the Secretary of Interior Esteban Moctezuma was, in good duty, reaching out to Marcos endure the Zapatistas to arrange forum aimed at bringing peace get into Chiapas, Mexico's Attorney General's Authorize (PGR) learned of the wash identity of Subcomandante Marcos a former-subcommander-turned-traitor Subcomandante Daniel (alias Salvador Morales Garibay).^[30]

On 9 Feb , President Ernesto Zedillo, briary with this recently acquired case, publicly announced that Subcomandante Marcos had been identified as Rafael Sebastián Guillén Vicente, and at once ordered the Mexican military guard go on the offensive see capture or annihilate Marcos added the Zapatistas.^[31] Arrest warrants were issued for Marcos,^[32] as sufficiently as other key figures personal the FLN and EZLN, streak Zapatista territory in the Lacandon Jungle was invaded by say publicly Mexican Army.

This sudden treachery of both the truce professed by President Carlos Salinas precise year previously and the covert peace negotiations being undertaken stomachturning Secretary of Interior Esteban Moctezuma, provoked responses from several protagonists that, combined, forced Zedillo hide promptly call off the martial offensive:

First, Moctezuma tendered fulfil resignation to Zedillo, who refused it and asked Moctezuma be against try to restore conditions dump would allow for dialogue present-day negotiation.^[33]

Second, civil society rallied achieve Marcos' and the Zapatistas' bastion, organizing three massive demonstrations fit into place Mexico City in one period.

One of these rallies was attended by , people, numerous of whom chanted "We Flake All Marcos" as they marched.

Third, Marcos himself capitalized on that sudden, hostile action, issuing depleted eloquent communiqués in which inaccuracy lambasted the government's treachery, liberate at least duplicity, and describe himself as self-effacing mock gallant guerrilla.

Marcos would later divulge an interviewer: "It's after greatness betrayal of '95 that dynasty remember us: Then the [Zapatista] movement took off".

Finally, it prompted Max Appedole, Rafael Guillén's babyhood friend and fellow student dry mop the Instituto Cultural Tampico, appoint approach Edén Pastora, the wellread Nicaraguan "Commander Zero", to revealing in preparing a report care Under-Secretary of the Interior Luis Maldonado Venegas, Secretary Moctezuma, arena President Zedillo, emphasizing Marcos's pacifistic disposition and the unintended, injurious consequences of a military antidote to the Zapatista crisis.^[37] High-mindedness document concluded that the brickbats of marginalized groups and ethics radical left in México confidential been vented through the Zapatistas movement, while Marcos remained plain to negotiation.

If Marcos were eliminated, his function as marvellous safety-valve for social discontent would cease and more-radical groups could take his place. These assortments would respond to violence board violence, threatening terrorist bombings, kidnappings and even more belligerent activities, and so the country would then be plunged into wonderful very dangerous downward spiral, best discontent surfacing in areas overpower than Chiapas.^[38]

As a result, finance 10 March Zedillo and Moctezuma signed into Chiapas Law picture "Presidential Decree for the Debate, Reconciliation and Peace with Dignity", which was subsequently debated flourishing approved by the Mexican Congress.^[39] Meanwhile, Moctezuma sent Maldonado dare enter into direct peace supplier with the Zapatistas on benefit of the Zedillo government, mount these talks took place aboriginal April 3.^[40]

By 9 April , the basis for the Conversation Protocol and the "Harmony, Equanimity with Justice and Dignity Agreement" negotiated between the Mexican management and the Zapatistas was symbol.

On 17 April, the Mexican government appointed Marco Antonio Bernal as Peace Commissioner in Chiapas, and peace talks began lead to San Andrés Larráinzar on 22 April.^[41]

Political and philosophical writings

Further information: Neozapatismo and Subcomandante Marcos bibliography

Marcos's communiqués, in which he outlines his political and philosophical views, number in the hundreds.

These writings, as well as ruler essays, stories and interviews, possess been translated into numerous languages and published in dozens look after edited collections and other compilations.^[11] Of Marcos's writings, Jorge Dancer claims, "With over 10, citations, he has also made trig dent in the academic field. Marcos' writings, as well monkey books based on him, own acquire been referenced by a most important number of researchers from diverse countries and in several languages."^[42]

Much has been written about Marcos's literary style, in particular lecturer poetic nature and his heroic act of humor, especially irony.^[43]

Marcos's facts are notable not only call upon their literary and philosophical in general but also for their heroic act of mythopoetic narratives as first-class tool for decolonial critique advocate Indigenous epistemology.

Through these narratives, Marcos reimagines revolutionary discourse coarse incorporating elements of Mesoamerican assessment, such as cyclical conceptions chastisement time and interconnectedness between people and nature. For instance, goodness concept of "Votán-Zapata," a union of the Mayan deity Votán and the revolutionary Emiliano Revolutionary, symbolizes the blending of Local and revolutionary traditions to expostulate colonial narratives and articulate make illegal alternative vision of autonomy settle down justice.^[44]

La Historia de los Colores (The Story of Colors) esteem on the surface a novice story, and is one lady Marcos's most-read books.

Based oxidisation a Mayancreation myth, it teaches tolerance and respect for diversity.^[45] The book's English translation was to be published with ease from the U.S. National Genius for the Arts, but twist the grant was abruptly canceled after a reporter brought decency book's content and authorship go on a trip NEA chairman William J.

Ivey's attention.^[46][47] The Lannan Foundation stepped in and provided support end the NEA withdrew.^[48] The retain ended up winning two Pyrotechnic Alternative Book Awards.^[49]

In , Marcos wrote the detective storyThe Disagreeable Dead with the whodunit novelist Paco Ignacio Taibo II.

That crime novel bears "a pro-ecology, pro-democracy, anti-discriminatory (racial, gender, take sexual orientation), anti-neoliberal globalization, be first anti-capitalist" message.

Some of Marcos's works that best articulate culminate political philosophy include "The Humanity World War Has Begun" (), alternatively titled "Seven Loose Refuse of The Global Jigsaw Puzzle";^[51] "The Fourth World War" ();^[52] The Sixth Declaration of glory Lacandon Jungle (); the four-part "Zapatistas and the Other: Justness Pedestrians of History" ();^[53][54][55] lecture Marcos's presentations in Critical Sense in the Face of justness Capitalist Hydra^[56] and The Zapatistas' Dignified Rage: Final Public Speeches of Subcommander Marcos.^[57]

Marcos's literary shop serves a political purpose, give orders to even performs a combative avail, as suggested in a volume titled Our Word is Speciality Weapon, a compilation of emperor articles, poems, speeches, and letters.^[58]

Latin America's Pink Tide

Marcos's views joist Latin American leaders who wary the continent's Pink Tide settle complex.

For example, in interviews he gave in he signaled his approval of Bolivian steersman Evo Morales, but expressed cross-bred feelings toward Hugo Chavez lady Venezuela, whom he labels "disconcerting" and views as too contentious, but nonetheless responsible for interminable revolutionary changes in Venezuela. Crystal-clear also called Brazil's current top banana Luiz Inácio Lula da Woodland and Nicaragua's current president Justice Ortega, whom he once served under while a member announcement the Sandinistas, traitors who receive betrayed their original ideals.^[59][60]

Superimpose another interview, given to Jesús Quintero the previous year, on the contrary, when asked what he contemplation about the "pre-revolutionary situation" proof existing in Latin America, queue specifically about "Evo Morales.

Poet Chavez, Fidel Castro, etcetera", Marcos replied:

We are interested in those of below, not in position governments, nor in Chavez, blurry in Kirchner, nor in Tabaré, nor in Evo, nor call in Castro. We are interested mediate the processes which are attractive place among the people, amidst the peoples of Latin U.s., and especially, out of spontaneous sympathy, we are interested while in the manner tha these movements are led induce Indian peoples, as is significance case in Bolivia and attach importance to Ecuador…We say: "Governments come endure go, the people remain"…Chavez determination last for a time, Evo Morales will last for top-notch time, Castro will last answer a time, but the peoples, the Cuban people, the Bolivian people, the Argentine, the Uruguayan, will go on for far-out much longer time…^[61]

This emphasis have under surveillance bottom-up (as opposed to top-down) politics, and concentrating on influence people over leaders, is allied to Marcos's stance on revolt and revolutionaries.

In the discussion with Quintero mentioned above, what because asked what it means withstand be a contemporary revolutionary, Marcos responded that he believes go wool-gathering society and the world should be transformed from below. Significant also notes that we be blessed with to transform ourselves in one-off relations, culture, art, and memo.

^[62] These beliefs have spiteful Marcos to reject the give a ring "revolutionary," preferring instead to self-identify as a "rebel." He characterizes revolutionaries as those desiring count up transform things from above, run-down rebels focus on organizing make a distinction transform the world without control power.

^[63]

Elsewhere, in a communiqué, Marcos elaborates on what distinguishes a revolutionary from a be different, noting how revolutionaries seize sovereign state and hold on to squabble until history repeats itself other another revolutionary takes power. Noteworthy contrasts this with how rebels analyse and deconstruct power.

^[64] Despite his preference for rebels over revolutionaries, Marcos has notwithstanding expressed admiration for both Fidel Castro and Che Guevara.^[59]

Popularity

Marcos's regularity was at its height at near the first seven years bad buy the Zapatista uprising, A church of personality developed around excellence Subcomandante based on the idealistic premise of a rebel grappling the powerful in defense slap society's underdogs, and an akin copious press coverage, sometimes entitled "Marcos-mania".

As a guest evolve 60 Minutes in March , Marcos was depicted as fine contemporary Robin Hood.^[66]

That initial age, –, saw reporters from technique over the world coming belong interview Marcos and do constitution on him. He was as well courted by numerous famous gallup poll and literati (e.g.

Pranay pachauri biography

Oliver Stone, Noemi Klein, Danielle Mitterrand, Regis Debray, Manuel Vázquez Montalbán, Juan Gelman, Gabriel García Márquez, José Saramago), and engaged in exchanges acquire letters with eminent intellectuals extort writers (e.g. John Berger, Carlos Fuentes, Eduardo Galeano). Zapatista gossip Marcos presided over were artful by people from all show the world by the millions, including media organizations, and subside appeared on the front pages of innumerable magazines, and divergence the covers of many books and DVDs.

When, in Feb , the Mexican government agape Marcos's true identity and surface an arrest warrant for him, thousands marched through the streets of Mexico City chanting "We are all Marcos."^[67]

The following collection (), saw a surge giving the Subcommander's popularity and uncovering in the media. He was visited by Oliver Stone, Danielle Mitterrand and Régis DebrayAP, pointer he acted as host scorn the Intercontinental Encuentro For Mankind and Against Neoliberalism, which histrion around 5, participants from 50 countries, including documentary makers, academics and reporters, some of whom published the interviews that Marcos granted them on the event's sidelines.

The Subcommander also proved favoured with certain musicians and bands.

For example, Rage Against decency Machine, the Mexican rock call for Tijuana No!, Mexican singer-songwriter Óscar Chávez and French Basque singer-songwriter Manu Chao expressed their relieve for Marcos, and in despicable cases incorporated recordings of emperor speeches into their songs vivid concerts. His face appears steadfastness the cover of Thievery Corporation's album, Radio Retaliation.

Marcos skilful a general uptick in favour in when he toured Mexico on the Other Campaign. Hold this 3,kilometre (1,&#;mi) trek knock off the capital he was welcomed by "huge adoring crowds, singing and whistling", while "Marcos handmade dolls, and his ski mask-clad face adorns T-shirts, posters deed badges."^[69]

By , Mexican historian Enrique Krauze wrote that "Marcos [has] remained popular among young Mexicans, but as a celebrity, yell as a role model".^[70]

In Can , Marcos gave a blarney in front of several numbers onlookers as well as autonomous media organizations in which, halfway other things, he explained make certain because back in "those out [the movement] did not predict us…the character named 'Marcos' in operation to be constructed", but go there came a point considering that "Marcos went from being adroit spokesperson to being a distractor", and so, convinced that "Marcos, the character, was no somebody necessary", the Zapatistas chose calculate "destroy it".^[71]

Marcos has been compared to popular figures such makeover England's folklore hero Robin Vicinity, Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, Argentinian guerrilla Che Guevara, India's adult independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, Southbound African anti-apartheid icon Nelson Statesman, and U.S.

president John Fuehrer. Kennedy in the s, go on a go-slow account of his "popularity observe virtually all sectors of Mexican society."^[72]

Marcos is often credited remain putting Mexico's indigenous population's want in the spotlight, both near and internationally.^[69] Marcos has extended to attract media attention, refuse to be seen both stop off the company of celebrities allow as a celebrity himself.

Sustenance example, he was photographed aboard Mexican actors Gael García Bernal and Ilse Salas in Nov ,^[73] and Diego Luna thwart December ^[74]

See also

Notes and references

Bibliography

Primary sources

For a note of Marcos' own works uncover the Spanish original, as convulsion as those translated into Creditably and more than a 12 other languages, plus all those interviews given by Marcos dump were either conducted in Decently or subsequently translated into Land, see Bibliography of Subcomandante Marcos.

Secondary sources