Oaxaca, Mexico Update: The Fight Goes On
Tensions are still fuming in Oaxaca,
Mexico, as protests — some of the acts, counter-actions, and/or reactions being violent — and other efforts that
now center largely on ousting or protecting Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz (PRI) continue.
As well, talks are stalled or nonexistent, with teachers, Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO) participants,
and other demonstrators at ongoing odds with state government officials. The
federal government’s efforts to negotiate a solution have so far been unsuccessful — plus President Vicente Fox
and his administration may be reaching an end of patience. The following edited
updates, at week’s (and wit’s) end, are from late breaking Mexican media reports.
— Compiled
by Barnard Thompson
• Hercules aircraft of the Mexican Army, and Navy helicopters, over flew the city center and nearby neighborhoods
of Oaxaca City, capital of the State of Oaxaca, yesterday afternoon [September 30], while in Huatulco [on the Pacific coast
about 180 miles south of Oaxaca City] the arrival of armored personnel carriers, airplanes, helicopters, and 15 troop transport
trucks was confirmed. The APPO went on “maximum alert.” Florentino López Martínez, the APPO spokesman, called for the nation’s workers to react immediately
against any repressive act by paralyzing businesses, closing highways, carrying out marches, and going to [foreign] embassies
to denounce the deeds. Oaxaca state government representative Francisco Yáñez
said the flights were “only reconnaissance flights.” – El Universal
• The Oaxacan Human Rights Network warned against increasing tensions in Oaxaca “due to intimidating
and provocative acts perpetrated by the state government … and its shock groups … against members of the APPO.” [Network spokespersons] said that through acts of violence, such as attacks on media
installations and vandalism, the government of Ulises Ruiz seeks to justify the possible intervention of the Federal Preventative
Police. The non-government organization noted the tension reached a critical
level last Thursday, when discharges of firearms were heard in the central plaza, and drive by shootings at demonstrators
took place in different parts of the city. – El Universal
• The APPO went on maximum alert last night after two C-130 airplanes from the Mexican Air Force, that
are used for paratroopers, and two Navy helicopters flew over the central city area.
According to the Navy, no special operation took place in Oaxaca and the helicopters were on “routine flights.” Members of APPO from outlying areas then began to gather in the city center in order
to face a possible military intervention…. The APPO also presented its
[nine point] action plan: [1] Continuing dialogue with the Secretariat of Government; [2] a Sunday march in Oaxaca City; [3]
the APPO will head the national march on October 2 commemorating the 38th anniversary [of the government’s bloody reprisal
at Tlatelolco, in 1968, against student demonstrators]; [4] a motorized APPO march from Oaxaca to Mexico City will begin on
October 5, with its planned arrival on October 7; [5] a call to all of the popular assembles that are popping up nationwide
is being made to join APPO on its October 7 arrival in Mexico City; [6] on October 8 the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of
Mexico will be installed; [7] on October 13 a march will depart Mexico City for Oaxaca, in order to participate on the following
day in the national and international forum of solidarity with the people of Oaxaca; [8] the decision by Mexican students,
adopted during their first national meeting that took place in Oaxaca, calling for takeovers of mass media [installations]
if an act of repression is unleashed, was announced; [and 9] the constituent congress of the APPO will take place on November
10, 11 and 12, when participants will define its program of struggle, definite structure, and action plan. – El Universal
• After the aircraft were seen in the late afternoon … messages were immediately broadcast from
the radio stations being held by APPO. The call was for their security corps
members to remove the barricades they have erected as soon as they see helicopters.
They explained that neighbors and citizens must not be bothered, as the objective of the barricades is self-defense…. The radio messages were to maintain a calm atmosphere among APPO leaders, militants
and sympathizers, insofar as an infinite number of telephone calls had been received asking what courses of action to take.
– Notimex
• Carlos Abascal Carranza, Secretary of Government, said that the military over flights of Oaxaca had
nothing to do with the situation in the state. “They are supply flights,”
he affirmed. Abascal added that negotiations with the APPO are continuing, and
a meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 4, where they hope to reach agreements that will solve the Oaxacan conflict,
“because society is now demanding that the problem be resolved.” – Notimex
• Might the government of Oaxaca fall? Members of the Institutional
Revolutionary Party (PRI) say no, but it is interesting to note that in the party’s inner circles they have begun to
shuffle around names of three possible interim governors. Being mentioned are
Héctor Anuar Mafud, president of the state’s judicial branch; Heliodoro Díaz Escárraga, the current state Secretary
of Government; and Bulmaro Rito Salinas, president of the state Congress…. Whatever,
there are those who say that the Secretariat of Government has made some interesting gains that could ease the situation in
coming days. – “Templo Mayor” column, by F. Bartolomé, Reforma
Barnard Thompson, a consultant with nearly 50 years
of experience in Latin America, is also editor of MexiData.info. He can be reached
via e-mail at mexidata@ix.netcom.com.
