Mexico's Zapatistas follow own way of life, maintain autonomy 20 years after rising

Mexico's Zapatistas follow own way of life, maintain autonomy 20 years after rising
By The Associated Press January 21, 2014 1:01 AM

LA GARRUCHA, Mexico - Since their uprising 20 years ago, the Zapatistas of southern Mexico have lived in five secretive, closed-off enclaves that they hold in the poor state of Chiapas.

But the rebels opened up their communities over the past five months to more than 7,000 Mexicans and foreigners who came to learn about how the movement self-governs and maintains its autonomy and way of life. Those invited stayed for a week at a time and lived with a Zapatista family.

Some of the visitors came to the lush, misty mountain Zapatista village of La Garrucha in December. Children and adults wearing ski masks invited their guests to attend classes or spend the day at an arts and crafts workshop.

In all of the Zapatista communities, children attend schools called "Sun Seeds," where they learn to read and write and study about nature conservancy and the environment. They also learn how to be productive members of their communities and how to protect their autonomy.

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