unfinished revolutionary conflict

[danyboy27]

in columbia there is the FARC and in mexico the EZLN, their conflict with the governement have been going on for a while now.

what i dont understand is why the colombian army dont destroy the FARC and why the FARC dosnt seem to be able to gain expension.

the same scenario seem to be going on in mexico with the EZLN, seriously, i dont understand at all what going on.

why neither side dont win or lose?

[RGacky3]

I'm thinking its mostly political, at least with the EZLN. The Mexican military could probably wipe out the EZLN if they really really wanted to. However, the EZLN has wide political support in Mexico and military action against them would cost the government severly when it comes to PR, it would probably actually widen the revolt. So what they choose to do is just keep them at bay. The EZLN has done an excelent job of pretecting themselves by PR and public support. Also right now the Mexican government is has other things to worry about, like the brutal and extreamly powerful Cartels.

FARC is probably the same issue, however FARC is also very strong militarily, and would'nt be wiped out as easily.

[Jack]

FARC doesn't have popular support, though. FARC has a military of at least 20,000 and well established territory and a network of spies that can defend it. They have also become involved in drug dealing, so local and even national politicians can be bought off with the money.

[Bud Struggle]

I'm thinking its mostly political, at least with the EZLN. The Mexican military could probably wipe out the EZLN if they really really wanted to. However, the EZLN has wide political support in Mexico and military action against them would cost the government severly when it comes to PR, it would probably actually widen the revolt. So what they choose to do is just keep them at bay. The EZLN has done an excelent job of pretecting themselves by PR and public support. Also right now the Mexican government is has other things to worry about, like the brutal and extreamly powerful Cartels.


I think as long as the EZLN remains in the hinterlands no one will bother them much--they are actually doing the Mexican government a favor by taking over government services to people that probably don't generate the government much money in taxes.

I don't think the Mexican government goves a hoot about how much support the ELZN has. The Mexicans can be quite brutal if the opportunity presents itself.

[OneNamedNameLess]

FARC doesn't have popular support, though. FARC has a military of at least 20,000 and well established territory and a network of spies that can defend it. They have also become involved in drug dealing, so local and even national politicians can be bought off with the money.

The FARC actually probably has less than 10,000 guerrillas now. Those are figures from a few years ago which highlight how rapidly the FARC have declined. Several members of the old secretariat have been killed in attacks and Plan Columbia has dealt a severe blow to them. On top of this, many former FARC members have deserted the organisation and taken a reward and employment package from the Columbian government. Moreover, the fight against the paramilitaries has hindered the FARC since the 1990's not to mention their rivals in the drug trade which the FARC are only apparently 'taxing'. Discovered hideouts packed with medical and communications equipment; failed urban guerrilla wing attacks; decreasing territories; being forced over Columbia's borders; there is no shortage of problems for the FARC and they are not as influential as they once were.

[RGacky3]

I think as long as the EZLN remains in the hinterlands no one will bother them much--they are actually doing the Mexican government a favor by taking over government services to people that probably don't generate the government much money in taxes.

I don't think the Mexican government goves a hoot about how much support the ELZN has. The Mexicans can be quite brutal if the opportunity presents itself.

Considering the Mexican government very violently and in a very real sense waged a war against the Zapatistas and only managed to stop when they realized they were murdering themselves politically, and the Mexican government has tried very hard to marginalize them, I'm guessing they do give a hoot. They WERE very brutal against the Zapatistas, but they held out, and held out long enough to make it impossible for hte Mexican government to do it without risking more revolution.

Much of the political unrest in Mexico, from Oaxaca uprisings to the uprisings in San Salvador attenco take much inspiration and support from the Zapatistas.

Also, coffee, from chiapas, is pretty good buisiness.

I think, that you don't know what your talking about.