Monkey business.

The National Migration Institute (INM) issued citations against 30 Italians March 16 for assaults against members of the press during the Zapatista delegation trip to the National Politechnical Institute the previous day.

The Italians, who call themselves the "monos blancos" ("white monkeys"), have accompanied the Zapatista caravan from its starting point in Chiapas, acting as a self-styled Roman guard that has kept both press and spectators at a certain distance from Subcomandante Marcos. Throughout the Zapatour, members of the press complained of the group's heavy-handed tactics, and some observers have wondered why foreigners are being allowed to partake in the country's political activities at all. The leader of the monos blancos, Federico Mariani, denied that the group was involved in the March 15 assaults, claiming that most of the overall and bandanna-wearing bodyguards had left the country by March 14. They are, he claims, victims of Mexico's "xenophobia."

Nevertheless, the monos who still remained in the country were required to appear at the NM on March 20 to give their statements and possibly face deportation. According to the NM, most of the group's members have been deported in the past for breaking Mexican laws. The Fox administration had pardoned these foreigners and allowed them to return to the country, an action that didn't have adverse consequences until "the unfortunate events that occurred (March 15), which force us to take action, and that's what we are doing," Felipe de Jesus Preciado, an INM spokesperson, told local press.

And who exactly are these overall-donning crusaders? Most, according to a March 14 feature published by the Mexico City daily La Jornada, are Italian day workers or unemployed laborers united by their leftist principles and affinity for white dungarees. According to the article, besides spending a lot of time in Chiapas, they have large followings in Greece, Finland, New York, Spain and France, where they protest against everything from biotech expos to World Trade Organization meetings. This May, Milan will be host to the first International Overolista Summit. Book your tickets now!