[ 29 November 2006: Message edited by: zazzo ]

[ 29 November 2006: Message edited by: zazzo ]

[ 29 November 2006: Message edited by: Le Téléspectateur ]

We have had a couple of other threads about the unrest in Mexico, but they haven't been added to in a while.

It's really something, the stuff that's happening there, and you're right - there seems to be a media blackout on it. There has, however, been picketing of the Mexican consulate here in Toronto on a few occasions. The next time I hear about one, I'll try to remember to post about it.

Here's a recent story on it.

If Oaxaca was in Cuba or Venezuela, our media (and unfortunately many babblers) would be all over it as further proof of socialism's failings.

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Originally posted by a lonely worker:
If Oaxaca was in Cuba or Venezuela, our media (and unfortunately many babblers) would be all over it as further proof of socialism's failings.

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Since our corporate media never reports on the abuses in Mexico and other US colonies, many people simply believe no such problems exist. After all the National Post would report about them right?

“What has happened in the past few days is that Oaxaca has slipped from being a city in a state of siege, to a police state.” Emilie Smith, Canadian solidarity worker in Oaxaca

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Nov 29, 2006 The Other Campaign Vancouver

Updates from yesterday

foreigners are fleeing Oaxaca.
Roads between Mexico and Oaxaca aren`t safe
Jornada published list of 100 foreigners who will be detained
shortly
The Barricades are down, voluntarily
The Radio is down.
All APPO leaders are in hiding.
Big explosions of repression around the country are expected on the 1st.

Updates from November 25, 2006 from people on the ground in Oaxaca

-approximately 1 million people protested in the streets of Oaxaca yesterday,

-La Jornada reports:
more than 140 injured, 20 of those shot with bullets, 3 of them journalists
190 detained
60 disappeared
3 dead : killed at the Faculty of Medicine by 6 (or 7) urban paramilitaries.

Among the targets that were burned down by demonstrators yesterday were; the Benito Juarez Theatre, the Secretary of External Relations, the Superior Tribunal of Justice, a number of banks and hotels and dozens of cars and busses.

PRI radio stations have been provoking attacks by broadcasting the streets and neighborhoods where demonstrators ended up hiding out last night. They have been stressing attacks on foreigners in solidarity with APPO.

University Radio reports that Ministerial Police (under the Attorney General) have been harassing the injured people inside the hospitals, and kidnapping from in the hospitals. The University Radio is now shut down and the barricades protecting the university removed to prevent further repression.

Some of the detained were transported to the airport and flown out of Oaxaca city

Widespread tear gassing and brutality and reports of routine torture of the detained

Paramilitaries roaming the streets, military helicopters constantly overhead

ASAMBLEA POPULAR DE LOS PUEBLOS DE OAXACA (APPO)
Popular Assembly of Oaxacan Peoples
Nov. 26th 2006 release

(partial translation)

TO THE PEOPLE OF OAXACA
TO THE PEOPLE'S OF MEXICO AND THE WORLD
TO THE MEDIA

Taking into CONSIDERATION:

That Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, days ago declared that he was initiating the operation of a plan that would achieve the seizing of control of the city before the 1st of December.
That days ago the PFP (Federal Preventative Police), in coordination with the different policing agencies, hired assasins, paramilitaries and provocateurs of Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, began posting themselves on many roofs in the historic center with the idea that from thislocation they would provoke the aggression against this social movement. In many of these cases we received denunciations from the neighbours announcing that these police postings were without the owners' permission…APPO leadership is all in hiding now.

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Sorry for the crappy formatting - I'm copying this from an e-mail and of course you lose all the formatting that way.

[ 30 November 2006: Message edited by: Michelle ]

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Also, I received a firsthand account by e-mail from someone who is there, but I have to get her permission before I post it.

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It's not being reported on the News, and it won't be. There is a tonne of news online though: http://narconews.com would be the place to start.

It's funny - much bigger than most of us, well -- know:

I mean, the APPO just formed an actual Democratic government last week.

And just a couple weeks ago (after the Zapatista announced they are coming to tour America and Canada) -- there was a gathering --- the APPO, the FPDT and the Zapatista forged an alliance.
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=11276

This I think is making the government go a little bit 'cracky.'

Fidel you are right - revolution -- but not as we've seen in the past.

In the past, revolution has been about reacting - and the revolution always ended with (pretty much) nominal changes to the core of society -- and over time, a steady unravelling and turning back to the past - but this time "new and improved."

This time will be different because this time is not about reaction. The Zapatista have already said that they will not work with any govenrment. They know well thatl this is about "Our lives" not "what their policies and agendas do to our lives".

We must also keep in mind - that this is happening everywhere in the world. There are over 300 million indigenous. It's just alot more visible in South America/Mecixo.

Respectfully,

Ahni.

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November 29: This horrible night is over, and the sun is up in the east (as usual, what a relief). The man who sweeps the streets just went by. I “slept” fitfully, and in my clothes and boots. Dragòn Barricada is curled up in a ball on my blanket. I'm on guard duty, and I've just walked the whole compound, and all out back. All is normal. Whether the phone calls we get late at night are real, or just to scare us, I don't know. Houses around the city are being broken into, or burnt to the ground by PRI thugs. I don't know why we've escaped so far.

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Felipe Calderon was hurriedly sworn in as Mexico's president Friday in a chaotic ceremony packed with brawling legislators as Prime Minister Stephen Harper watched from the balcony above.

"That was interesting," Harper said as he left the heavily guarded building. "Our parliament is tame after all."

Harper, who arrived late Thursday, said he was attending to support Mexico's fledgling democracy and emphasize its broad ties with Canada.

He had a brief chat with former U.S. president George H.W. Bush, the incumbent's father, who sat nearby during the ceremony.

Harper also met with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger during the whirlwind 15-hour visit, talked about border issues with U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and discussed Canada's support for peace in Columbia with President Alvaro Uribe Velez.

Calderon also demanded a strict rule of law with no tolerance for violent protests, drug wars and kidnappings that have tarnished Mexico's image.

"Laws must protect citizens, not criminals. It won't be easy or quick. It will take time and a lot of money. But rest assured: This is a battle that I will lead."

As he spoke, granaderos, or federal riot police, stood three and four deep behind an iron gate, taking hits from balloons filled with water and paint. But the crowd quickly demanded that the students stop.

The protest, stacked with people from all over the country, later took on the air of a street party, with food vendors and musicians. Everywhere were signs and T-shirts proclaiming Lopez Obrador as the legitimate president.

"This is an imposition, this government of Calderon," said Luis Abraham, a young activist.

Harper, the first foreign leader to call him and offer congratulations, was invited to the inauguration when Calderon visited Ottawa in October.

His trip was vital in bucking up Calderon, said Thomas d'Aquino, head of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.

"It it important for Canada to support Mexico in its voyage through this difficult period," said d'Aquino, who also attended the ceremony.

"I know that the conflict and disruption are painful. President Calderon faces an immense challenge but he is very determined to get the job done. In my view he is going to have to build a strong coalition and I believe he has the smarts to do it."

Former deputy prime minister John Manley, who was at Fox's inauguration in 2000, said Canada has a lot at stake with the continental free trade deal.

"We need to do anything we can to support him. A Mexico that's not a reliable partner in NAFTA is trouble."

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Harper watches brawl at inauguration ceremony for Mexican president

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The past week has resulted in over 171 detained, a number that rises everyday. 142 of those detained during weekend clashes were transported to a high security prison in Nayarit, a state over a hundred miles north of Oaxaca. The majority of these prisoners are out of communication with the outside and are assumed to be suffering torture. Human Rights organizations in Oaxaca and Nayarit say that they are aware of at least 36 cases of torture, and the few families who have been able to speak with their detained relatives say that they are badly beaten and that women are being threatened with rape. There is at least one report of a prisoner being tortured in order to sign a false confession of having participated in the damages to the capital under the pretext that the APPO paid him. Amongst those detained there are many accounts of arbitrary detentions, and prisoners who have nothing to do with the APPO. Human Rights organizations in Oaxaca say that the combined number of women raped by police or disappeared is over 60.

Participants in the Oaxacan social movement only expect the conditions of repression to worsen, especially with the entrance of Felipe Calderon of the PAN (National Action Party) into presidency today. A week and a half ago Calderon stated that upon entering into office he would do away with all social movements, no matter how many dead would have to fall.

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Felipe Calderon, said on Saturday his first budget bill next week would seek pay hikes for the military despite his planned austerity drive.

Speaking at Mexico City's military academy a day after his inauguration, Calderon thanked soldiers for helping fight a bloody war against drug traffickers, which he has vowed to escalate, and promised better pay and benefits like housing.

Mexico's large army helps overstretched police combat drug-trafficking gangs that have killed almost 3,000 Mexicans in the past two years in a struggle for control of the trade in cocaine and other drugs destined for the United States

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Mexico budget bill to seek army pay raise