CHAPTER 10 THE MAYAN ZAPATISTA MOVEMENT 401(March 1–4, 2001), the spokesperson for the whole of indigenous Mexico. What ex-
actly this means, legally or practically, is not altogether clear.
The Autonomous Municipality
The municipio autónomoconstitutes the local level of administrative organization
above the dozens of settlements and hamlets that claim Zapatista affiliation in a given
area. It is the seat of the consejo autónomo(“autonomous council”) for each au-
tonomous municipio. Housed in a specially designated building, the autonomous
council consists of a rotating assembly of representatives from all of the constituent
settlements and hamlets. The cycle of rotation is two weeks, a policy that is intended
to allow the broadest possible opportunity to serve in this governing body. The short
term of rotation also minimizes the amount of time that a representative must be away
from home and away from work. There are no permanent or even annually elected
representatives, thus minimizing any temptation on the part of anyone to consolidate
his or her power and influence. A spokesperson for the whole is elected for each
cycle of rotation.
The autonomous municipality, through its representative apparatus, the consejo
autónomo(autonomous council), deals with a myriad of everyday administrative and
judicial issues, such as the adjudication of disputes, allocation of labor and resources
for public projects, managing the microeconomy, approval of visits from outsiders,
and advising representatives of the militia about potential local threats and security
problems. Among the most important functions of the autonomous council are the
management, financing, and staffing of local public services (clinics, schools, road
maintenance, utilities), functions that usually fall to local and state government but
cannot, for obvious reasons, be taken for granted in the autonomous zones.
The Caracol (Conch Shell)
and the Council of Good Government
The five Caracoles,together, with their corresponding councils of good government
(Juntas de Buen Gobierno), constitute the maximal expression of the Zapatista gover-
nance structure. These regional centers not only are the seats for the Councils of
Good Government but also provide physical facilities in the form of public pavilions,
bleachers, guest quarters, and ceremonial spaces that allow for major public events
that can accommodate thousands of participants. It is in these regional centers that
the Zapatistas receive national and international guests, and also conduct business
with outside organizations such as NGOs.
The Councils of Good Government, which meet regularly at the Caracoles,con-
stitute the top level of authority for the adjudication of disputes and other decision-
making. They provide the most comprehensive arena for achieving consensus,
particularly on issues that involve economic and political dealings with outside in-
stitutions, governments, and individuals. Each Caracolhas a rigidly democratic and
rotating representation from its constituent autonomous municipalities, each of
which takes a turn at providing the spokesperson for the whole.