Mexico - Che Wannabes

Since April 1998, two new armed insurgencies in Mexico have announced themselves to the world. Currently there are at least 14 rebel groups active in Mexico. Locals call them encapuchados, or the hooded ones. The first, on April 28, was the Oaxaca state-based National Indigenous Revolutionary Liberation Army (EIRLN), whose agenda is to attack "whatever group might attack it," not dissimilar to what a pack of South African baboons might issue to the press-if baboons could actually send press releases. After apparently hiring a new PR firm, EIRLN cleared things up a little for the befuddled media with a new mandate: to fight the government for "peace, justice and democracy in the name of those with no name, no face, with nothing." That criteria would appear to narrow down its potential constituency to "no one." Still more work to be done on the acronym, which sounds like the name of a power forward on the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Yet another EPR offshoot announced itself in mid-1998: the Revolutionary Army of the Insurgent People (ERPI). Again, a PR problem, as insurgent people often fight for themselves. The name implies there's already been a split in its ranks. Based in Guerrero state, ERPI argues that the EPR's terrorist attacks are counterproductive, or at least less productive than dialogue. Ironically, the ERPI was first heard from not in an attack on government forces but, instead, when government troops staged their own massacre on June 7, 1998, in the village of El Charco, 70 miles west of Acapulco, killing at least 20 people.

Anybody got a press kit on the Armed Revolutionary Southern Command, Popular Revolutionary Insurgent Army or the Clandestine Armed Forces of National Liberation?

Zapatista or Blast-ta-Piece-a-s?

The DP Guide to Revolutionaries

Before you run off to La Realidad to hang with the latest poster boys of the revolution you should know the difference between the EZLN (who don't kidnap, torture and kill people) and the EPR (who do).

The EPR are hard-core terrorists and criminals. Although they wear cute green camouflage and wear brown face masks for the press, the EPR usually operates in 12-man cells in urban areas in plainclothes. If in uniform, the EPR have red and green arm patches and assault rifles. They are very heavily armed, politically indoctrinated and will go out of their way to protect their identity if stumbled upon.

They have bombed U.S and Japanese corporate offices, robbed dozens of banks and kidnapped prominent businessmen in Mexico. Tourists are not specifically targeted but the EPR uses plenty of ammo in their attacks. A tourist was hit by the cross fire at the Huatulco Club Med.

Their training bases are deep in the Sierra Madre mountains. They practice hit-and-run raids and shoot to kill. They are closer to terrorists, have little grassroots support and are in the DP dictionary under "bad guys." If you really want to know if you are in trouble, the EPR wear cloth bags over their head with goofy homemade slits for the eyes.

The Zapatistas are a homegrown Indian group led by poorly trained but laid-back commanders. Most cells are village-based, with no real distinction between the military arm and the political arm. There was only one actual clash, in January 1994. They wear a yellow and red star patch and favor balaclavas. Chances are some will be carrying sticks and their guns will be rusty. The Zapatistas welcome foreigners as insurance policy against military excesses and the government does turn back people at checkpoints in the area. In August 1996, over 2,000 people visited five Chiapas villages in a weeklong convention (called the Intercontinental Encounter for Humanity Against Neo-Liberalism) to hear Marcos crack a few jokes and tell a few stories. By the way, trivia fans, Oliver Stone is a DP reader and Marcos turned down his chance to star in his own feature-length movie. Stay tuned for Revolutionary Land, coming to Orlando soon.