NATA-NY’s Anti-Racism

By J. Cypher

Since its inception, NATA-NY has been grossly misunderstood and vehemently attacked for being so-called “racists.”  Despite repeatedly demonstrating the ways in which we are anti-racist, we continue to be labeled “nazis” and “fascists.”  At the same time, our critics are referring to the people of color in NATA-NY as “tokens” who “only get called when the group is accused of racism.”  We find this to be incredibly offensive and much more racist than anything we’ve ever said or done.  In response to this continual misunderstanding, we have reiterated our positions on racism and anti-racism below.  We welcome intelligent dialogue!

We oppose institutional racism.  Although we are against the existence of a state, as individuals who live within the context of a statist society, we oppose all legislation and institutional practices that discriminate on the basis of race, gender, or any other self-identification.

We oppose individualized racism.  On a personal level, we abhor racial hatred and recognize it as the product of ignorance (and/or the influence of propaganda).

We oppose institutional (statist) “anti-racism.”  Recognizing racial hatred as a product of ignorance, we oppose any attempts by the state to prevent and/or punish racist ideologies.  First, people have the right to believe whatever they choose (no matter how ridiculous or undesirable).  Second, the repression of beliefs produced by ignorance only fuels a reactionary upsurge of such misguided hatred (i.e., legislating against racism only makes racists more racist).  And third, we laugh at the attempts of the racist, sexist, imperialist (etc., etc.) state to eliminate racism and sexism while it so blatantly perpetuates these and countless other forms of oppression all around the world.

We support and embrace individualized anti-racism.  It is every individual’s responsibility to follow his or her moral compass.  Whether this means educating one’s peers, defending an outnumbered victim on the street, or any other action, it is important that one’s motivation comes from within rather than from a desire to alleviate guilt or maintain a guise of political correctness.  Furthermore, if racism can ever be extinguished, it will not be through the barrel of a gun (i.e. state enforcement).

We support and embrace diversity.  Anti-racism requires the nurturing of diversity.  Diversity by definition implies difference, not a gray “multicultural” blur of watered down “traditions” that have been coopted by the state and the media.  As such, we support the inherent right of all people to preserve and maintain their cultures however they see fit.  For difference and diversity to exist, some degree of separatism may be necessary to maintain cultural traditions (at the discretion of each community).  We understand and respect this right of all people, regardless of cultural identity.  [Despite this recognition and respect, NATA-NY as a group is ethnically and culturally diverse.  For us, like-mindedness is more important than cultural tradition.]

We support and embrace open dialogue about racism, anti-racism, classism, sexism, and any other form of authoritarianism.  We encourage a candid and honest exchange of ideas, experiences, and analyses.  We discourage the tendency of political correctness or guilt to limit this discourse, as we understand that the intersections of oppression can be both vast and intricate.  We seek to hear everyone’s voice and refuse to filter people’s experiences through the lenses of politics, media, academia, or any other institution.

NATA-NY Interviews Satra Wasserman on Thelema

Based on active discussion of J. Cypher’s recent presentation “Anarchy as Spiritual Practice,” NATA-NY decided to interview Satra Wasserman about the spiritual tradition of Thelema. When Satra suggested that J. expand on her brief mention of Thelema and its potential intersections with anarchy, we decided that Satra was much more qualified to speak on the topic. Read the full interview below.

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This is by no means an "official" statement.

What is Thelema?  What does it mean to be a Thelemite?

Aleister Crowley is a name that many are familiar with. He was born on October 12, 1875. The Crowleys were a Quaker family that ran a brewery for over 200 years. They also owned several pubs. The father, Edward Crowley, left Quakerism behind and embraced a new fundamentalist faith known as the Plymouth Brethren.

From Matthew 18:20: Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

The Plymouth Brethren interpreted this as a new approach to Christianity. They believed that Priests or Ministers were not needed to commune with the Lord. This is significant because it clearly influenced the young AC.

He traveled about and joined the Masons and the Golden Dawn. He was married to Rose Kelly and the two went on a honeymoon in Egypt. They spent time exploring the Pyramids. Rose experienced some things that may be thought of as unusual. Crowley was well versed in the ways of magic and tested her a few times to get a sense of what was going on. This is all known as the "Cairo Working." I will not play biographer here. Suffice it to say that several rituals were performed during this time. Many of them within the inner chambers of the Pyramids. Rose instructed him to enter his temple at noon each day for one hour and record what he heard. On April 8, 9, and 10 of 1904 he followed her instructions and encountered a being named Aiwass. This being described himself as "The Minister of Hoor-Paar-Kraat." Aiwass dictated 3 chapters of what we now know as The Book of the Law.

I am not going to say much about this. Crowley worked diligently, and there is another presence known as V.V.V.V.V.. The Book of the Law is attributed to Aiwass. The other Holy Books of Thelema are attributed to V.V.V.V.V.. In our system, these books are known as "Class A." In The Book of the Law it says: Change not as much as the style of a letter; for behold! thou, o prophet, shalt not behold all these mysteries hidden therein.

Whenever we quote any words that are from these sources, they must be perfectly reproduced.

So, this is all very outrageous indeed. I will now offer some personal interpretation on the subject. Crowley is regarded as our Prophet. He is not a "saint." We do not think of him as being a living god. I do not follow the man or emulate him in any way. However, I am eternally grateful for what he did. I believe that he "cracked the code," and left behind the blueprint for human enlightenment. He put himself through a form of comparative religious training. He traveled the globe and really got into things. He studied Taoism and Buddhism, etc. In my eyes, he distilled the finer essence of these traditions and, "got to the bottom of it."

Thelema represents the evolution of religion. One term you'll see bandied about is The Method of Science, The Aim of Religion. Crowley created a system of attainment that works for the chemist, the baker, the politician, and the anarchist. There's something for everyone.

Is there something for the atheist? There may be. This it a great debate amongst Thelemites. I do not claim to be any sort of authority. In my view, a strict materialist/skeptic need not apply. What is required is an open mind-- the ability to leave the friendly confines of rational thought. What does X mean? Be Silent and perhaps you can tell me what it means.

Many members of the Ordo Templi Orientis call themselves atheists. I am not an atheist.

The Book of the Law lays down a code of conduct:

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

Love is the law, love under will.

Crowley referred to this as, "The most sublimely austere ethical precept ever uttered, despite its apparent license."

What does it mean to be a Thelemite? A Thelemite lives by this code.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law is a challenge. It does not mean, "Do whatever you want." I can tell you that much. Few on this earth are courageous enough to do their Will.

Let's look at the second line. Love is the law, love under will. This part is oft-neglected by many in the community. Love is our value. It is also the technique and medium of our highest aspirations. We strive to attain what is known as Samadhi. This can be thought of as blissful union. You can attain Samadhi with your wife. You can attain Samadhi with a deity. There is something we refer to as the Holy Guardian Angel. Attaining what we call "Knowledge and Conversation" of the HGA is the Grand purpose of our system.

In conclusion, Thelema can be looked at from a philosophical vantage point, or other perspectives. It's quite open. There are fundamentalist types like myself. I am a member of the A.'.A.'.. The Order that hath no name among men. I've met many people who simply like Crowley and dig the vibe. What does Thelema have to offer? About ten years ago, my Father traveled to New York and performed a ritual invocation of the God TAHUTI. I was in attendance. I have seen many rituals. On this day, I saw my Father (the guy who sends checks for $50) become a God upon this earth. The ground shook beneath my feet. I will never, ever forget that day. That’s what Crowley’s system can teach you. 

How does Thelema influence your daily “mundane” life?  Do you find that your decision making process, your interpersonal relations, or your goals are impacted by your belief system?

Yes to all the above. As I mentioned before, I am a member of the A.’.A.’.. As such, I engage in daily practices and keep a magical diary with detailed records of what, when, and where. An example of this would be meditation, simple ritual, and perhaps a few solar adorations. This is where one greets the Sun in a formal matter. It is short and to the point. I also perform a short ritual before eating. In public, it is done under my breath and only an observant person will notice anything unusual.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Every decision is informed by this creed. I can’t even buy a pint of haagen dazs without having a moment to reflect upon the action. The idea is to manifest the True Self. During the course of our lives, every person is lulled into a form of sleep. We all remember “They Live” with Rowdy Roddy Piper. Beneath the veneer of an 80’s flick is a deep philosophical message. We are blind. There is great truth in that film. I am 34 years old. I cannot tell you how much of my time has been spent chasing the false image of an image. Look at the recent phenomenon of financial workers committing suicide. Imagine that. We’re talking about successful people. Were they doing their Will? I would guess the answer is No. 

Who are you? Where are you going? What is your Work? These are questions that must be addressed. We are living in the Aeon of Horus. This time began on the first day Aleister Crowley received The Book of the Law. The Law of Thelema is in effect Now. Forgive me for skipping some explanation here but I will direct everyone to the appropriate resources later on.

Two teenagers tried to bully me the other day. It is a long story. I was doing my Will and they sought to interfere. This was not a situation where a show of physical strength was within the realm of possibility.

I put an end to it. I did so with the power of my voice. My victory was total and complete. That was an act of Magick. My goals are to find Love and give love to the world at large. Those are lofty goals indeed. 

Does being a Thelemite have political and/or social implications?  If so, what are they? What are your personal political, social or economic views?  Do you feel that these are influenced by Thelema?

Liber OZ is where the rubber meets the road in terms of Thelema and politics. I am a staunch conservative and a fan of the great Ronald Reagan. Our readers can examine Liber OZ on their own. It can be thought of as the Thelemic Bill of Rights. Simply put, we demand FREEDOM. It is no idle demand.

I take Liber OZ extremely seriously. If Man is free to live by his own law…to work as he will…to think as he will…to move as he will on the face of the earth, then we must live in a land which accommodates those ends. You cannot move as you will on the face of this earth under an oppressive system which stymies the individual and prevents one from achieving economic freedom. It’s also more than just money. Do we want simple jobs that have no relation to our true selves? People should be able to earn money doing the things they would like to do.

I have crunched these numbers and come to the conclusion that free market capitalism is the best and bravest of systems. I am a fan of Peter Schiff. I share his opinion. A person should be able to graduate high school and walk into Goldman Sachs wearing a dandy outfit, courtesy of Mom and Dad. Wearing this outfit, you plunk down in a chair and explain why they should give you a shot. You walk out victorious and spend the next few years getting coffee and making copies. By age 24, you are earning real money and making your mark.

Perhaps you enjoy taking photographs, or would like to make baseball mitts. Whatever the case. A human being should be able to pursue these goals with a realistic chance of succeeding. I Need to live in a world like that. I think all drugs should be legal. Man has the right to play as he will. I support every word of the US Constitution. Man has the right to speak what he will. I certainly support the 2^nd Amendment. Man has the right to kill those who would thwart these rights. And so on, and so Forth.

Get these goddamn autocrats out of our computers. Stay away from my phone. I do not have children. If I saw a man whispering into my son’s ear, I would be extremely interested to know what was being said.

America should have the smallest government possible. Power to the People.

Do you see a connection or intersection between Thelema and libertarianism/ anarchism?

Yes I do. In general, I notice a similarity in energy between what I think of as a fun body of Thelemites and today’s anarchists. There’s a willingness to think outside the box. I spent time around the National Anarchist Tribal Alliance, NY. Fraternity abounds and everyone wanted to hang out. It’s a nice intersection of motivated philosophers and fun loving people. There is a scene. And it’s not just anyone. We’re talking about folks who want to make a difference and impact the world in a positive manner. On the A.’.A.’. website, you will see the following line: “The door is open to all persons who in sincerity wish to join themselves to a Body of Initiates pledged to the Service of Humanity.”

That’s a far cry from the “devil worship” people typically think of when Aleister Crowley’s name is mentioned.

J. Cypher recently put a speech on youtube about Anarchism as Spiritual Practice. It was incredibly well researched. I enjoyed it. One thing in particular caught my ear. She kept using the word “anarch.” That means sovereign individual. It hit me that you could take every occurrence of the word anarch, replace it with the word magician, and end up with the same effect. Almost nothing would change. One of the books I recommend later on is The Temple of Solomon. Ordo Templi Orientis means, “Order of the Temple of the East.” That’s Solomon’s Temple. The idea is to build the Temple within. You are the Tower of Babel. The Arch of the Covenant. Protect yourself.

Getting back to mundane politics, it is my opinion that a Thelemite who embraces communism or its derivatives is suffering from a bit of cognitive dissonance. In the introduction to The Book of the Law, Crowley writes: “Ferocious Fascism, cackling Communism, equally frauds, cavort crazily all over the globe. They are hemming us in. They are abortive births of the Child, the New Aeon of Horus. Liberty stirs once more in the womb of Time. Evolution makes its changes by anti-Socialistic ways.”

These words are not “Class A.” I would like to point that out. If the state is in control then the people are not in control. There is no freedom in slavery.

The Knights Templar. The Masons. Those men came before us. As members of the O.T.O., we bear the same shield. We are Defenders of Society and Western Civilization. I do not sit around yapping about bitcoin and the evils of slavery. I say look at the bright side. How can we save the US Dollar? What can we do to protect this land? If I see a young girl crossing the street, I do not need for her to embrace Thelema. I want to make sure that she is protected and able to pursue her joy, whatever that may be. If America collapses, there is no telling what will happen to her, to me, or those I love.

How does Thelema support or facilitate community?

Thelema certainly does facilitate community. There is a great Order by the name of Ordo Templi Orientis. O.T.O. for short. This Order resides in many cities around the world. I am in personal contact with people in Japan, London, California, etc. We share certain bonds. It’s pretty cool.    

What was the Thelema Abbey?  Would you consider this an intentional community?  What lessons can we learn from the Abbey’s history that could be applicable today?

The Abbey of Thelema was a place where Crowley spent a few years of his life. This subject is covered in great depth in many books, some of which I will list later. The path of Magick is one of scholarship. You will find large bookcases in all of our homes.

Your father [James Wasserman] is a major figure in the Thelemic world.  Tell us a little bit about his journey and how he has influenced your spiritual beliefs.

My Father wrote a memoir named, “In the Center of the Fire.” Pick it up. It’s on amazon. All I can say is that I’m the luckiest kid in the world. My Dad is also my Brother. We met before I was born and I love him. I really do. He has devoted his life to Thelema and spent all his years in its great service. What does that mean? Well, this is a guy who knows how to keep Silent. Sometimes he doesn’t talk. That’s a funny thing. What does his silence mean? There is no greater communicator than this. On some levels, Thelemites worship at the Altar of Silence. It runs counter to normal thinking.

Being Silent, and being a Thelemite, he also respects Liber OZ. He knows that Man has the right to think what he will. All my Dad ever told me to do was to be myself, and to find myself. I thank him for that. He talked to me like I was a man when I was five years old. Pretty soon I’ll be 35. Same old Dad. He’s awesome.

For readers who are interested in learning more about Thelema, what recommendations do you have?

Here is a list of Books that I recommend:

The Weiser Concise Guide to Aleister Crowley- Richard Kaczynski

Magick in Theory and Practice- Aleister Crowley

Initiation in the Aeon of the Child- J. Daniel Gunther

In the Center of the Fire- James Wasserman

The Temple of Solomon- James Wasserman

On youtube, my Father has several videos. Search for “in the center of the fire” and watch everything there. Also search for “james wasserman” and watch one titled: The Temple of Solomon and Political Liberty.

The A.’.A.’. has a reading list. You can find the A.’.A.’. at www.outercol.org.

You cannot find the A.’.A.’. anywhere else. Heed these words. Any talk of “lineage” or aught else is fully erroneous. There is One Order.

The O.T.O. can be found at www.oto-usa.org. On this website, you will find links to the A.’.A.’. and a list of Lodges. It is a long list. I would recommend finding the Lodge nearest you and contacting them. Look at their calendar. Attend a Gnostic Mass. Check it out.

Do you have any other thoughts or comments that you’d like to share?

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

Love is the law, love under will.

I am on facebook. Easy to find. Craig and J. are my extended family- my Brother and Sister.

Judge Slaps Down an SPLC Hit Man

January 25, 2014   AFP

• Judge orders leftist group to pay $50K

By Pete Papaherakles

For years, organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the Anti-Defamation League have gotten away with harassing, smearing, suing, threatening and generally irritating prominent patriotic and free speech groups and individuals in the United States. That all changed in January, though, when an American Indian sued one of these groups and won after the conference he was scheduled to speak at was forced to shut down due to threats.

The lawsuit stemmed from an incident in February 2010, when One People’s Project (OPP), founded by Daryle Lamont Jenkins in 2000, targeted a conference set up by the New Century Foundation in North Carolina. After receiving considerable pressure as well as threats, the hotel was forced to cancel because so-called “white racists” and “bigots” were meeting there.

David Yeagley was one of the scheduled speakers. Although Yeagley is a Comanche Indian, he has very strong nationalist convictions and is a fierce advocate for the right of whites to defend their own interests. A true American patriot with multiple master’s degrees and a long list of achievements, he has been called the “American Indian Leonardo DaVinci.” Yeagley took it upon himself to file a lawsuit against  OPP and finally succeeded in getting justice in an Oklahoma court—amounting to a $50K judgment against OPP.

Over the years, OPP has targeted groups such as AMERICAN FREE PRESS, the Council of Conservative Citizens and even prominent revisionists like historian David Irving. OPP is supported by Morris Dees’s SPLC, which has reaped hundreds of millions of dollars by instigating racial tensions and capitalizing on the exploitation of alleged victims of racism.

Jenkins, an obviously self-indulgent man with secretive funding, directs small groups of young, unemployed leftists with too much time on their hands. He operates OPP’s website, which publishes phone numbers, home addresses and workplace addresses of individuals  OPP has targeted and slandered as being far right or racist.

This writer has also been a victim of OPP’s harassment. In 2009 Canadian free speech activist Paul Fromm spoke to a small gathering at my home. Members of OPP placed fliers throughout the neighborhood with my name, address and pictures of hooded Klansmen, misinforming them that a Klan meeting was taking place at my house.

The local media was even contacted, and the event made the evening news as a half-dozen disheveled demonstrators with signs protesting racism marched in front of my house.

Craig FitzGerald NATA interviewed by Dutch Zine Green Nationalist

From Green Nationalist

Can you please introduce yourselves for our Dutch readers?

My name is Craig FitzGerald, I am a spokesperson and co-founder of the National Anarchist Tribal Alliance of New York (NATA-NY).

How and against which back round NATA was founded?

NATA was founded in late 2010.  We organized as an alliance of anarchists of all hyphenations, along with libertarians and nationalists disenchanted by elections and political parties. Over fifteen years of on-and-off involvement with the anarchist movement in the NYC area left me very disillusioned. This was due mainly to constant infighting, denunciation of those who dissent or disagree, and a tendency to embrace leftwing and statist pet causes.  NATA was formed as an alternative to an anarchist movement that had become stale, reactionary, dogmatic and even statist.

You call yourselves NA what exactly is National Anarchism?

The “nation” in National Anarchism (NA) does not refer to a government, state, or arbitrary borders. The word nation comes from the Latin Natiowhich literally translates as "that which has been born." NA is essentially Pan Anarchism or anarcho-pluralism.   Anarchism in general can never be a one-size-fits-all label that means the same thing to everyone; the philosophy’s very nature requires heterogeneity.  Unlike the dogmatic, utopian, universal egalitarianism of many anarchists, NA is a realistic and pragmatic approach to the differences in opinion among anarchists.  I believe that NA has the potential to be a large umbrella under which numerous groups could identify; it can philosophically unite diverse hyphenated anarchists with one another, and with other anti-statist groups. This is because the people/community are the nation, not the state.

What would a National anarchist society look like?

A National Anarchist society would be extremely diverse,  seeing that the very nature and essence of NA is that each community has every right to self-determination.  This could manifest as a planned communist economy, a laissez-faire free market, a religious or racially separatist enclave, an environmentalist eco-tribe, or anything else. 

What are your most important source of inspiration?

My wife Jamie and other members of NATA are my greatest source of inspiration. That being said, I find great inspiration in the writing and work of Josiah Warren, Henry David Thoreau, Max Stirner, Benjamin Tucker, Gustav Lauder, Friedrich Nietzsche, Ricardo Flores Magon, Karl Hess, Richard Hunt, Ashanti Alston, Hakim Bey, the EZLN and many others.

How do you put your ideas into practice? What kind of activism are you engaged in & what kind of projects did you realize?

  

NATA and I are involved with a wide range of activities including homesteading, permaculture and organic farming, urban gardening, beekeeping, community organizing, intentional communities, alternative currencies, etc.  NATA has been involved with a variety of movements.  We support gun rights, antiwar efforts, 911 truth, an end to the Federal Reserve, Cannabis legalization, and Occupy Wall Street (OWS), among other movements. We have hosted film screenings, poetry readings and lectures, and provided much needed supplies to NYC’s homeless.

 and confronted “antifa” on multiple occasions.

How are your relations with the anarchist and nationalist scenes in general? 

 Do you cooperate with any other organizations, collectives or political parties/movements?

Despite opposition by some so-called “anarchists,” NATA has many allies in the greater anarchist and OWS movements. Those who have open minds and do not blindly believe the smear campaign “antifa” has levied against us continue to work with and support NATA. We also have many allies amongst populist/libertarian nationalists. Whether anarchist or nationalist, left or right, we put our differences aside and focus on working together on what we do agree upon: local autonomy and individual autarchy. NATA’s members continue to collaborate with groups as diverse as We Are Change, Occupy Wall Street, Earth First, the Libertarian Party and others.

Does Ecology have a role in your opinions, and so how?

Ecology absolutely has a role in NATA’s outlook.  We try as much as possible to be involved with and promote a culture of small scale  organic family farms and intentional communities.  Because the natural environment plays such a central role in all of our lives, it should be a local focus for moving forward in a decentralized world.  If individual communities can learn how to ecologically protect and nurture their land, the earth will benefit much more than if people continue to rely on governments and large NGO’s to “save” or “protect” the environment, especially when these institutions are in league with polluting corporations.  Not only that, but we need food to live, and our sustenance comes from the land.  We should not only be working the land to survive, but also to reestablish the harmonious relationship humanity used to have with the earth.

Can you tell us about the current situation in your country?

The experiment in American federal republicanism has failed and the U.S. has become the empire she unified to fight against.  The only ones who benefit are a plutocratic oligarchy. I won’t go into depth about the power elite’s exploitation of the people, whether political, corporate, etc.  The U.S. can be considered “the belly of the beast” in many ways, but it is also the birthplace of a lot of real resistance.  In my experience a lot of people are waking up to the reality that this country is not what it should be, and are asking themselves what they can do to make a difference.  I have seen a wide variety of people decide to get involved with activist movements, even when they previously had negative or indifferent opinions of such groups.

What are your views on Sub/counter cultures?

Any culture can be a sub/counter culture depending on what the dominant culture is.  It really about context—what is and is not status quo.  As a person who grew up as a part of various NYC subcultures, I can see their worth.  This is mostly because subcultures tend to form small, close-knit social groups, which is in line with NATA’s tribal anarchism.  Also, sub/counter culture can attack the system in a more subtle and indirect way, by building something free from the ground up.

Last comments to Dutch readers?

Please consider secession (from the UN, the EU, NATO, and even the Netherlands) as a practical means of achieving your goals and dismantling the global Anglo American Zionist Empire.

BBC nerds visit Chiapas two decades after the EZLN's rebellion, and provide no new insight on the Zapatista Movement

 

Struggling on: Zapatistas 20 years after the uprising

By Will Grant BBC Mundo, San Cristobal de las Casas 

The EZLN's charismatic leader with his pipe and balaclava soon became iconic for the indigenous struggle

There is a single bullet-hole in a banister on the second floor of the municipal palace in the southern Mexican city of San Cristobal de las Casas.

It is all that remains of events on New Year's Day 1994, when armed rebels stormed the building and caught the colonial city off guard.

But it was not just the mayor's office that was taken by surprise. The military and the federal government were, too.

There had been rumours for some weeks that the disparate indigenous groups in the region had been organising to form a rebel army.

Now, in a matter of hours, the EZLN, better known as the Zapatistas, took control of much of the southern state of Chiapas.

The fighting was short-lived as the army was sent in to restore order. Less than two weeks later, the Catholic Church negotiated a shaky ceasefire.

Basic demands

"In Mexico there is no justice. The government is completely deaf: they don't want to hear or listen." -Antonio Vazquez, Indigenous community leader

"These are all the newspapers from the time", says Concepcion Villafuerte directing me towards several boxes marked 1993-6.

Inside are stack upon stack of jumbled copies of El Tiempo, the left-wing publication she ran for many years with her husband.

After some searching we discover the edition closest to the date of the guerrilla uprising.

Hers was the newspaper in which the Zapatistas chose to publish their demands.

"The first six were very basic: land, a home, food, health, education and work," Ms Villafuerte
 recalls.

 

 

"The others were more general, for all of Mexico: justice, democracy and freedom. They were basic needs for everyone, for all poor people, not just Indians."

I ask her how many of those aims she thought had been achieved 20 years on.

"By the EZLN, none of them," she remarks grimly. "But then, nor have they been achieved by other Mexicans."

"We have a greater economic crisis today than in '94. And it's not just an economic crisis, it's [a crisis] in education, in healthcare."

Since the fighting ended, she explains, the Zapatistas have created their own autonomous municipalities, called caracoles, which are independent of local government on land they took back from large land-owners in the 1990s.

"I think the Zapatistas are better off than we are," Ms Villafuerte adds.

Rebel communities

After several days of petitioning, we were granted exclusive access to one such Zapatista municipality called Oventic, located just outside of San Cristobal.

The people of Oventic remain deeply wary of outsiders. Our guide, his face covered by a black balaclava, refused to tell us his name and only answered our questions in basic, monosyllabic Spanish.

 

Residents of Oventic remain deeply suspicious of outsiders

 

We were not permitted to film anyone without their balaclava on and the collective leadership, known as a Good Government Junta, would not talk on camera.

However, we did get a glimpse of how these secretive and closed communities are run.

We saw their new school, daubed with pro-EZLN graffiti and images of Che Guevara and the Zapatista leader, Subcomandante Marcos.

 

Oventic has its own small health clinic

 

Its school is emblazoned with Zapatista mottos and imagery

 

The residents have their own healthcare clinic and several second-hand ambulances.
Women have a much more equal role in decision-making than in other indigenous or rural communities.

In the fields, the men work to produce coffee, maize, chilli and beans. Some crops are sold to generate funds for the community, but mainly they are for consumption by the cooperative.

The Zapatistas ask for no help from the state, and are generally left to their own devices in return.

At one point, I peeled away for a moment to chat to some young people playing basketball.

That was enough to bring our visit to an abrupt end as our guide quickly led us back to the main gates.

'Just demands'

But a little further into the Chiapas countryside, we met an indigenous community who were keen to talk.

 

Almost 50 people were killed by paramilitaries in Acteal in 1997

 

Residents of the small village of Acteal set up an indigenous rights group called "Los Abejas" in the early 1990s. They agreed with the Zapatistas' basic demands, but did not support their use of violence.

Despite that crucial distinction, scores of paramilitaries entered Acteal in December 1997 and massacred 47 unarmed people, including children and pregnant women.

Elias Gomez lost seven family members in the attack, including his brother and his father. He showed us the site where the violence took place, which the villagers are turning it into a permanent memorial.

"When the Zapatistas rose up, we supported them because their demands were just," says community leader, Antonio Vazquez.

"It's what the people want, demand and cry for. In Mexico there is no justice. The government is completely deaf: they don't want to hear or listen."

 

 Residents of Acteal are proud of their indigenous traditions

The governing party, both in San Cristobal and at the federal level, is the same today as it was in 1994: the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).

"The PRI now has more of a social conscience", says San Cristobal Mayor Francisco Martinez, insisting that the state has invested heavily in indigenous communities.

But the levels of poverty and marginalisation in Chiapas are among the highest in Mexico, particularly for indigenous peoples, who make up roughly 65% of the local population.

But these days, although they nominally remain at war with the Mexican state, the rebels' struggle is more ideological than armed in nature.

 

Subcomandante Marcos now takes to the airwaves rather than call to arms

 

Whatever they may or may not have achieved in the two decades since their uprising, few would disagree that the Zapatista rebellion has irrevocably shifted the relationship between the authorities and the indigenous population in Chiapas.

It is a sentiment neatly summed up by the sign at the entrance to Oventic: "You are in Zapatista territory in rebellion: here the people rule and the government must obey."