Dismantling of Indian Affairs, implementation of self-government in Manitoba top stories for 1994

1994 - Year In Review

Page 2

JANUARY

NAFTA sparks Mexico clashes

Indigenous peoples in and around San Christobal de las Casas in southern Mexico seized control of the resort city and several neighboring towns on Jan. 1, sparking heavy clashes with government troops and police. Most of the guerrillas are Tzotzil or Tzeltal Indians who banded together as the Zapatista National Liberation Army. The rebels opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement between Mexico, Canada and the United States because it represents an injustice to Mexico's Indigenous peoples. The insurrection began on the first day NAFTA was implemented and by sundown Jan. 2, 55 people had been killed. Heavy fighting around the eastern city of Ocosingo on Jan. 3 claimed the lives of as many as 50 more guerrillas. A group of Canadian Native leaders, led by Assembly of First Nations, Grand Chief Ovide Mercredi, travelled to the war zone to support the Indigenous protesters and to encourage them to resolve the issue through negotiations.