The Zapatista uprising started in January 1994 , and lasted less than two weeks before a ceasefire was agreed upon . The principal belligerents of subsection of the conflict were the Zapatista Army of National Liberation ( Spanish : '' Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional ; '' ELZN ) and the government of Mexico . Negotiations between the government and Zapatistas led to agreements being signed , but were often not complied with in the following years as the peace process stagnated . This resulted in an increasing division between communities with ties to the government and communities that sympathized with the Zapatistas . Social tensions , armed conflict and para-military incidents increased , culminating in the killing of 45 people in the village of Acteal in 1997 by an anti-Zapatista militia . Though at a low level , rebel activity continues and violence occasionally erupts between Zapatista supporters and anti-Zapatista militias along with the government . The last related incident occurred in 2014 , when a Zapatista-affiliated teacher was killed and 15 more wounded in Chiapas
killing of 45 people
Acteal massacre
Chiapas conflict