MEXICAN ZAPATISTA REBELS HOLDS FLAG ON BALCONY, 1999-03-17 (photo)

A Mexican Zapatista rebel, wearing traditional indigenous clothing and a ski-mask, holds up a Mexican flag as she stands on a balcony at the site of Mexico's international book-fair during an event held to publicize the Zapatistas' upcoming national plebiscite on indigenous rights March 17. Some 5,000 Zapatista rebels left their Chiapas communities and traveled to every corner of Mexico to encourage people to vote in the informal ballot where they will try to gather national support for their cause. The Zapatista rebels emerged in 1994 and staged a brief but bloody uprising to draw attention to the plight of Mexico's indigenous population. AW/ELD/JDP