Early efforts at dialogue floundered until the fall of 1995 when the EZLN and the Mexican government agreed to a dialogue process that would address six key concerns of indigenous people throughout Mexico. This first San Andr s agreement sought to redefine the relationship between traditional indigenous cultures and the modern state and economy by explicitly recognizing traditional forms of governance and land tenure that are not part of the Mexican constitution or legal system. The accord itself articulated broad principles that required profound legislative and constitutional reforms to be enacted by the Mexican Congress, and in some cases individual states. Such recognition, the Zedillo government argued, would give indigenous people autonomy and undermine the authority and cohesiveness of the Mexican state. Not surprisingly, the Zapatistas rejected the Zedillo proposal.
Dialogue breaks down.
While open warfare was not rekindled, political tensions and serious violence reappeared, and the military s presence in Chiapas increased significantly. This tragedy, along with others in towns such as El Bosque, convinced Zapatista leaders that the government had no intention of fulfilling its commitments in the San Andr s accords.