January 1, 1994: The primarily indigenous Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) stages an armed uprising in the southeastern Mexican state of Chiapas, demanding democracy, liberty, and justice for all Mexicans. The EZLN's General Command issues the First Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle, and the municipalities of San Cristóbal de las Casas, Ocosingo, Las Margaritas, Altamirano, Chanal, Oxchuc, and Huixtan are all taken by the rebels.
January 12, 1994: Following nearly two weeks of heavy fighting, with casualties in the hundreds or possibly thousands, a cease-fire is declared by the Mexican government, and honored by the EZLN.
January 18, 1994: The EZLN recognizes Manuel Camacho Solís, former mayor of Mexico City, as the official government representative for negotiations.
February 21, 1994: The first direct dialogue between the EZLN and the federal government, moderated by San Cristóbal bishop Samuel Ruiz García, begins in the cathedral of San Cristóbal de las Casas.
March 2, 1994: The peace talks in San Cristóbal come to an end. 24 "tentative" agreements are reached based on the government's responses to 34 demands of the EZLN. The government has refused to make commitments regarding political issues on a national level. The EZLN declares that the results of the talks will be submitted to a long consultation among all the Zapatista communities and civilian bases of support.
March 24, 1994: The EZLN's consultations are temporarily suspended due to the assassination of PRI presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio.
April 9, 1994: Bishop Samuel Ruiz, mediator in the peace talks, is nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for the first time.
May 30, 1994: Consultations end in the Zapatista communities.
June 12, 1994: The Second Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle is issued by the EZLN. The results of the consultation are made public: 97.88% reject the government's proposals for reaching a definitive solution to the conflict, while only 2.11% are in favor of signing peace. However, only 3.26% manifest a desire to return to hostilities, so the decision is made to continue abiding by the cease-fire, while opening a new dialogue with Civil Society. The EZLN calls for the realization of a National Democratic Convention.
June 16, 1994: The government negotiator, Manuel Camacho Solís, resigns his post while accusing the PRI's new presidential candidate, Ernesto Zedillo, of sabotaging the negotiations.
August 5-9, 1994: The National Democratic Convention (CND) is held in EZLN territory, Chiapas, with more than 6,000 people from around the country in attendance to dialogue with the Zapatistas.
October 11, 1994: The EZLN breaks off all talks with the federal government, citing continued repression, a build-up of the Mexican army's forces around their territory, and increased military provocations.
October 26, 1994: Bishop Samuel Ruiz proposes the formation of a plural, National Intermediation Commission (CONAI).
December 1, 1994: Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León takes office as President of the United States of Mexico. Declares that "there will not be violence in Chiapas on the part of the government".
December 8, 1994: The EZLN considers the 11-month old cease fire to have been broken with the fraudulent imposition of Eduardo Robledo Rincón as the new governor of Chiapas.
December 19, 1994: Bishop Samuel Ruiz announces a Fast for Peace in response to the government's attempts to remove him from his role of mediator of the conflict. He calls for international support.
December 19, 1994: The EZLN launches a new, "nonviolent" military offensive in Chiapas with the help of the civilian population. Overnight, over half of Chiapas is declared "rebel territory" without a single shot being fired, as Zapatistas appear in the municipal heads of 38 municipalities.
December 21, 1994: The peso is devalued, losing almost half its worth overnight. The government blames the Zapatista uprising, but cannot suppress news about government economic mismanagement and Salina's attempt to conceal the true state of the economy.
December 24, 1994: the EZLN and the federal government recognize the National Intermediation Commission (Conai) as a valid mediator.
December 27, 1994: The federal government orders its troops to halt military operations in Chiapas. In response, the EZLN reopens the zone to civilian transit, and suspends further offensive operations.
Originally written by Joshua Paulson for the FZLN.