Zapatista Rebel Groups in Mexico

ĄWhat is the background of the issue? Why does it exist?

It has been 5 years since EZLN has come to the attention of the world by seizing five towns in Chiapas on New Year's Day in 1994. Since then there has only been a couple of weeks of actual warfare. However the uneasy break in fighting has seen hundreds of land occupations, several national and international gatherings. Thousands, if not more have gone to Chiapas to see the rebellion for themselves.
It is known that the EZLN was started in the 1980's by a tiny group of Marxist revolutionaries. However, I can¡¦t believe that this is only half of the story. Why did the group succeed in taking Chiapas? In order for them to have done this, the group would have had to abandon their Marxist-Leninist way of thinking. The people of Chiapas had much to rebel against; with the state controlled by nine wealthy families, and where the ordinary people have no rights or security why wouldn¡¦t they want to rebel? I know I would have t...