30 AÑOS DEL MOVIMIENTO ZAPATISTA: DESAFÍOS A LA IMPOSICIÓN CULTURAL DE LAS PRÁCTICAS PUNITIVAS EN LAS COMUNIDADES INDÍGENAS

Studies on the impact of colonialism and imperialism on the identity of indigenous communities have primarily focused on aspects such as education, language, and political organization. However, there has been minimal analysis of the effects of these processes on the institutions of punishment and indigenous justice. This article aims to offer a new perspective on the identity of Zapatista communities in Chiapas, Mexico, based on the prosecution and punishment of Absalón Castellanos Domínguez, a lieutenant in 1994. The methodology centers on a “case study” through statements from the 'Comité Clandestino Revolucionario Indígena Comandancia-General' (CCRI), especially those related to the trial of Absalón. The proposal of Garland (1999) that conceives the punishment as a 'social artifact' serves as the basis for interpreting the statements. The results demonstrate that the punishment is a complex institution that reflects cultural codes in a particular society but can also influence its evolution.