In 1994 , there was an outbreak of violence between the Mexican Government and the Zapatista Army of National Liberation ( the EZLN or Zapatistas ) . Today , the EZLN ( EjÃ rcito Zapatista de LiberaciÃ n Nacional , named in honor of Emiliano Zapata ) has rejected the use of force and seek to be recognized as a voice of the poor . Such disaffection led to the rise of the EjÃ rcito Zapatista de LiberaciÃ n Nacional ( EZLN , â Zapatista National Liberation Armyâ , commonly called the Zapatistas ) , which began an armed rebellion against the federal government on January 1 , 1994 as a response to the implementation of the NAFTA .