Secession: The EZLN in Chiapas



Image of the distribution of Mayan languages, from wikipedia Legend for text in color:
Text Size Speakers
Largest over 500,000
Large over 100,000
Medium over 10,000
Small under 10,000

Compare this map to the regions of the top two non-Spanish languages in Mexico, Mayan and Nahuatl
Mayan Nahuatl
Distribution of Mayan languages across Mexico, from SIL Distribution of Nahuatl languages across Mexico, from SIL
The Chiapas rebels, most widely known for their spokesperson, Subcommandante Marcos, is centered in the Mayan speaking regions of Mexico, and one of their demands is protection for the Mayan people and culture.

The main goal of the rebellion, however was anti-neo-liberalism, it was started the day NAFTA was signed.

There are perhaps 880,000 Mayan speakers and another 400,000 people of native descent per the 1990 census1 in the Mexican State of Chiapas. There are perhaps 6,000,000 total Mayan speakers.

Overall, according to the 1995 census, 88% of Mexicans spoke Spanish as a first language2 .


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Revision 206 as of 2008-05-25 00:36:18
© 2003-2008 by Josh Narins