Zapatista Rebels Vow Opposition to Mexico’s New President

Jan 3, 2019
2:27 PM

Members of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) attend during an event marking the 25th anniversary of the Zapatista uprising in La Realidad, Chiapas, Mexico, Monday, December 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s leftist Zapatista movement is continuing its aggressive criticism of the country’s new president, accusing Andrés Manuel López Obrador of dishonesty and vowing to confront him.

Zapatista spokesman Subcomandante Moises reiterated the group’s opposition to some of López Obrador’s big projects such as the “Maya Train,” which would run in part between the beach resorts of Cancún and the Palenque ruins.

The criticisms came as the Zapatistas celebrated the 25th anniversary of their brief armed uprising in 1994. The group continues to push for greater rights for Mexico’s indigenous community.

They said Monday they are not calling for people to take up arms, but they plan to organize opposition.

The Zapatistas have long been at odds with López Obrador. They boycotted the 2006 presidential election in which he narrowly lost.