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the masks of the Zapatistas

Under the scorching sun in Chiapas, the faces of the Zapatistas, sympathizers and guerilla fighters alike, are covered by bright-colored bandanas and black woolen balaclavas. Looking all alike, they represent a denied identity that they have been fighting to reclaim for the last eight years.

On February 23, 2001, the Zapatistas exited the forest, gave up their weapons, and made their way to Mexico City with more than a hundred cars and trucks. They hope to reach the Capital in about two weeks. There they'll meet President Fox to begin talks that, one hopes, could bring a satisfactory peace settlement to both parties: the Mexican Government and the EZLN, the Zapatista Army for National Liberation.

Here is a gallery of photos, pictures of men and women, all masked, but frightening to no one.

the official site of EZLN

All the images have been taken with a digital camera Canon Power Shot G1, saved in JPG at high definition and high compression © 2001 Michele Molinari

The best web site for the digital photographer: Digital Photography Review.