Subcommander Marcos of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) is back on the rebels' home turf of southern Chiapas state after a months-long tour of Mexico, known as the "Other Campaign" in reference to this year's presidential campaigns. Marcos arrived in the highland city of San Cristobal de Las Casas Dec. 19, with patrols of the Federal Preventative Police escorting his caravan. Before returning to the Lacandon Selva, the EZLN's jungle stronghold, Marcos toured Zapatista support bases in the highlands, such as Oventic. The rebel group is preparing to mark the 13th anniversary of the New Years 1994 uprising with an international gathering entitled the "First Encounter of the Zapatista Pueblos with the People of the World." (APRO, Dec. 19; La Jornada, Dec. 20)

While reports said this was Marcos' first time in Chiapas since the "Other Campaign" departed over a year ago, we noted September news accounts that he briefly returned there before continuing with his tour of Mexico's northern states.

Sources archived at Chiapas95

See our last posts on Mexico and Chiapas and the Zapatistas.