Zapatista Chief Gets Tour Rolling
LA GARRUCHA, Mexico — Mexican rebel leader Subcommander Marcos rode a motorbike out of his jungle hide-out Sunday to start a nationwide tour that seeks more support for Indians and the poor before July’s presidential election.
Wearing black ski masks, hundreds of Zapatistas from Maya villages gathered in the jungle valley of La Garrucha 12 years to the day after Zapatista guerrillas seized towns in a brief but bloody uprising.
The rebels formed a guard of honor for Marcos, who sped into the village wearing a helmet over his ski mask and waving to supporters. Marcos’ tour aims to visit every Mexican state to urge leftist groups to join a broad anti-capitalist front that wants to influence politics but will not seek office.
“It was an incredible way to come into town,” said Zapatista supporter Julio Jimenez, 23, standing on the side of the dirt road as Marcos passed by.
The Zapatistas burst out of the jungle on New Year’s Day 1994, taking over towns and attacking police and army positions in Chiapas state, in clashes that claimed about 150 lives.
Leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is the front-runner in the July 2 vote. Though many on the left want the Zapatistas to support Lopez Obrador, the rebels have said his party would do little to help the poor.
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