Monday, August 6, 2007

Ongoing Social Unrest in Mexican State of Oaxaca

By Barnard R. Thompson

Oaxaca Today, Protests and EPR Guerrillas

Problems have once again boiled over in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, with reoccurring (ongoing might be a better word) anti-state government protest marches and rallies by organized dissidents and some unionized teachers taking place.  Trials and tribulations seemingly of a lesser magnitude than the violence and disorder of last year, yet now exacerbated by insurgents of the Popular Revolutionary Army, the shadowy EPR, who have thrown their proverbial monkey wrench into the fiery works.

Joining in the fray with those who are seeking the ouster of Oaxaca Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz (2004-2010; and a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI), the EPR made its presence known over again on August 1 with a reportedly homemade petard.  It exploded around 5:00 am, damaging a closed-for-the-night security gate at the entrance of a Sears store in the city of Oaxaca.

A second small explosive device, which did not go off, was found at a local branch of the Citigroup-owned bank Banamex.  And later the EPR claimed responsibility in a hackneyed communiqué.

Since last year, protesters (including extremists) have demonstrated — and at times wreaked havoc — in an effort to force the removal from office of the tyrannical governor.

Teachers’ strikes are an annual occurrence in southern Mexico, and in May 2006 their labor action in Oaxaca included, as usual, demands for higher salaries and additional benefits.  But in his arrogance, and rather than negotiating, Ruiz challenged the teachers and sent police to breakup their demonstrations.  Spurred on by the haughtiness of the governor and his subordinates, the police attacked and tear gassed the protestors.

This led to the escalation of protests and demonstrations, a number of which turned violent with attacks and counterattacks that took a sad toll in human lives.  And in a virtual state of siege, there were times during all of this when Ruiz lost control of the state — to the degree the Mexican government had to send in federal police and the military to restore order.

Around the same time that federal police and troops were tardily sent to Oaxaca by the Vicente Fox government, in early October 2006, three explosive devices were detonated in Oaxaca City’s banking district.  A phantom group calling itself the Armed Revolutionary Organization of the People of Oaxaca took credit for the attacks, although officials in Mexico City said there was no such organization and that those responsible were either the EPR or its sibling cell, the Revolutionary Army of the Insurgent People (ERPI).

Skipping ahead to today, in July Section (local) 22 of the National Education Workers Union (SNTE), and the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO), the two main anti-Ruiz factions in Oaxaca, fired up their anti-Ruiz militants anew.  And while they did not accomplish, nor in fairness call for, the level of actions of last year there were a number of incidents connected with SNTE and APPO marches and rallies.  Most of these part of an effort to exploit the media presence and coverage connected with the popular Guelaguetza, an annual dance festival featuring Oaxaca’s 16 groups of indigenous people that takes place in late July.

And the EPR jumped on the bandwagon, not only in support of the ouster of Ruiz but too in their ongoing effort to find, and liberate, two of their apparent regulars who according to EPR communiqués were taken into custody in Oaxaca by either the federal or state government last May 25, and not heard from since.  According to the communiqués, the safety and freedom of missing EPR “comrades” Edmundo Reyes Amaya and Gabriel Alberto Cruz Sánchez were the reasons for the bomb attacks on gas pipelines in central Mexico in July, as well as the latest explosion in Oaxaca.  They also said that the attacks would not end until the two are freed.

According to an official with the office of Mexico’s Attorney General, a federal investigation into the disappearances of Reyes and Cruz was initiated last July 11 based on EPR charges.

As to the latest Oaxaca explosive devices, state government officials insist that the small bombs were homemade by locals and the EPR is not involved.  The federal government however is taking the EPR and/or whomever more seriously.  The Mexican Navy has stepped up security at Pemex facilities at the port of Salina Cruz, whereas a new and elite Delta Force-like military unit is now in Oaxaca to secure other strategic installations.

In the meantime, Governor Ruiz remains in office.