The number of refugees fleeing political violence reached 14,000 in Chiapas this week. The army advanced farther into Zapatista strongholds, using weapons and food to secure a foothold.
In Polho, capital of the rebel autonomous zone in the Chiapan highlands, over 6,000 Zapatista refugees continue to survive on one meal per day, while nights are spent under plastic sheets in subzero temperatures.
Four children have died in the past 10 days from pneumonia, despite state promises to send aid. The International Red Cross set up a base in Acteal this week and began to distribute blankets, medicines, food and toys.
In areas of rebel influence, women and children physically prevented troops from entering their villages, or abandoned their homes and took to the hills in protest.
"Chiapas is not an army barracks," shouted an elderly woman in Garrucha village inside rebel territory, as she burned army-supplied food packages in front of startled troops. "We eat by the sweat of our own brow, we don't need your help," said Mama Julia, the oldest woman in the village.
In the recently-built village of Nueva Esperanza (New Hope), 130km (80 miles) south of San Cristobal de las Casas, all 25 families fled last week. They are living in the hills beyond since the army ransacked homes, claiming to have found a Zapatista safe house.
In X'oyep, just 10km (six miles) from the site of the December 23rd massacre of unarmed Zapatista supporters, 300 women struggled with Mexican troops for four hours this week until anti-riot troops restored order.
The women grabbed, shoved and attempted to strangle the soldiers, who eventually abandoned plans to set up an army base beside the refugees.
"Who is your leader?" asked the anti-riot squad chief. "We are all the leaders here," replied the women.
In Morelia, another Zapatista stronghold, small children stoned a group of 50 soldiers who entered the village last Tuesday while 60 women grappled with them. The soldiers left one by one.
The last two put their hands in the air and surrendered their weapons to the women, a remarkable admission of defeat in the face of Chiapas' new intifada.
These events have provoked concern in army headquarters that soldiers may disobey orders to proceed against unarmed civilians.
Stung by the release of a secret document outlining the army's counter-insurgency plan in Chiapas this week, army HQ expanded its `social work', dispensing food and haircuts in Indian villages.
The army public relations department, SEDENA, announced the results of a day's work in rebel territory: 4,352 packed lunches, 283 medical checks, 94 pep talks about safe sex, 19 pairs of glasses, 145 toys and 120 bags of sweets.
Meanwhile the Chiapas governor, Mr Julio Ruiz Ferro, was replaced by Mr Roberto Guillen on Thursday as investigations continued into the Acteal massacre. Mr Guillen, the son of wealthy landowners, pledged, "Go to the jungle to look for Subcomandante Marcos" to defuse the crisis.
Opposition deputies denounced the new governor's alleged "strong links" to paramilitary groups, who have spread to all areas under Zapatista control. One such group "Paz y Justicia", (peace and justice), widely blamed for the December massacre, has direct links to PRI state deputies and received $500,000 last year in state finance for unidentified `projects.'
All this week the Mexican army continued its campaign to disarm government and rebel supporters. The searches violated the 1995 Law of Dialogue, which says autonomy should precede rebel disarmament.
In a communique published on Thursday, rebel spokesman Subcomandante Marcos called for national and international witnesses to prevent "the horror on its way" in Chiapas, warning of an "imminent clash" if army patrols continued inside rebel territory.