Sunday, June 18, 2006
Are they dead, or not?
A teacher's union in Oaxaca Mexico has reported that three or four of their members/supporters have been killed in clashes with the Mexican government over wage demands in a strike. A BBC report says that the government denies it, and asks "Where are the bodies?" That, I hate to admit it, seems like a reasonable question. Frankly I hope that no one actually has been killed.
In addition, Richard Walton of Rhode Island sent an email he got from a friend who is in Oaxaca, and reports on what he knows from being there. That email can be found behind the "Read more!" link...
Hi all,
Thought you might be interested in an update on all the drama here. After the state police attacked the strikers on Wednesday morning, the police retreated (or were driven back) by the strikers who re-took the city center by mid-afternoon. However, later in the evening, a temporary truce was reached. The "planton" (occupation) was temporarily suspended for the night, and negotiations were scheduled for Thursday morning.
However, negotiations went nowhere. The governor has withdrawn prior offers, and the teachers, in turn, have now made the resignation of the governor their principle demand. By mid-day Thursday, the teachers had re-occupied the center city -- tents and all! They are unbelievably fearless and determined. What's more, the strike is rapidly becoming a focal point for progressive political activists throughout Mexico --indigenous groups, leftists, unionists, etc -- many of whom have come to Oaxaca to join forces with the teachers. In fact, I have heard rumor that "Sub-commander Marcos", the legendary leader of the Zapatista indigenous-rights movement, may soon come to Oaxaca.
This afternoon and evening, there was another "mega-march" held, in which a reported 200,000 people marched seven miles in pouring rain. Once again, the march was nothing short of spectacular -- with hundreds of creative banners, signs, chants, songs, costumes, puppets, floats, paper machee (?) figures, and representatives of unions, indigenous groups, political organizations, parents groups, and MANY ordinary citizens who were outraged by the governments repressive tactics. My personal favorites in the march were the many effigies of the governor, a brass band that was playing "Venceremos", and a group of indigenous marchers who carried large incense burners and corn stalks adorned with flowers -- all of which are indigenous religious symbols. But mostly its the sea of faces of ordinary, but empassioned, Mexicans that is so impressive.
This is truly a historic and unprecedented event for Oaxaca, and could prove to be equally so for Mexico. At this point, it is difficult to envision how the situation is going to be resolved. Both sides are extremely dug in, and the only clear paths to closure seem to be either the resignation of the governor (which, he has made clear, he has no intention of doing), the surrender of the teachers (which seems equally unlikely) or the use of brutal force by the State -- which, I think, would be a political disaster, and, of course, a human tragedy. At the moment, it actually seems as though the teachers and allies may actually have the political leverage to force the governor`s resignation, but then, I am not exactly "in the loop".
I actually think it is important that more people in the US know about the repressive tactics being used by the Mexican government here in Oaxaca, in response to protest by workers and peasants who live under very difficult economic conditions that have been exacerbated by US foreign trade policy (ie, NAFTA). I heard that there have been demonstrations in Latino communities in several US cities in solidarity with the Oaxacan teachers. But, as usual, there is virtually no news (or interest) in the mainstream. Perhaps you can help raise a little awareness by forwarding my email, or, even better, this link from BBC news:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5082778.stm
Thanks,
Rick
In addition, Richard Walton of Rhode Island sent an email he got from a friend who is in Oaxaca, and reports on what he knows from being there. That email can be found behind the "Read more!" link...
Hi all,
Thought you might be interested in an update on all the drama here. After the state police attacked the strikers on Wednesday morning, the police retreated (or were driven back) by the strikers who re-took the city center by mid-afternoon. However, later in the evening, a temporary truce was reached. The "planton" (occupation) was temporarily suspended for the night, and negotiations were scheduled for Thursday morning.
However, negotiations went nowhere. The governor has withdrawn prior offers, and the teachers, in turn, have now made the resignation of the governor their principle demand. By mid-day Thursday, the teachers had re-occupied the center city -- tents and all! They are unbelievably fearless and determined. What's more, the strike is rapidly becoming a focal point for progressive political activists throughout Mexico --indigenous groups, leftists, unionists, etc -- many of whom have come to Oaxaca to join forces with the teachers. In fact, I have heard rumor that "Sub-commander Marcos", the legendary leader of the Zapatista indigenous-rights movement, may soon come to Oaxaca.
This afternoon and evening, there was another "mega-march" held, in which a reported 200,000 people marched seven miles in pouring rain. Once again, the march was nothing short of spectacular -- with hundreds of creative banners, signs, chants, songs, costumes, puppets, floats, paper machee (?) figures, and representatives of unions, indigenous groups, political organizations, parents groups, and MANY ordinary citizens who were outraged by the governments repressive tactics. My personal favorites in the march were the many effigies of the governor, a brass band that was playing "Venceremos", and a group of indigenous marchers who carried large incense burners and corn stalks adorned with flowers -- all of which are indigenous religious symbols. But mostly its the sea of faces of ordinary, but empassioned, Mexicans that is so impressive.
This is truly a historic and unprecedented event for Oaxaca, and could prove to be equally so for Mexico. At this point, it is difficult to envision how the situation is going to be resolved. Both sides are extremely dug in, and the only clear paths to closure seem to be either the resignation of the governor (which, he has made clear, he has no intention of doing), the surrender of the teachers (which seems equally unlikely) or the use of brutal force by the State -- which, I think, would be a political disaster, and, of course, a human tragedy. At the moment, it actually seems as though the teachers and allies may actually have the political leverage to force the governor`s resignation, but then, I am not exactly "in the loop".
I actually think it is important that more people in the US know about the repressive tactics being used by the Mexican government here in Oaxaca, in response to protest by workers and peasants who live under very difficult economic conditions that have been exacerbated by US foreign trade policy (ie, NAFTA). I heard that there have been demonstrations in Latino communities in several US cities in solidarity with the Oaxacan teachers. But, as usual, there is virtually no news (or interest) in the mainstream. Perhaps you can help raise a little awareness by forwarding my email, or, even better, this link from BBC news:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5082778.stm
Thanks,
Rick
// posted by Gregg Jocoy @ 3:02 PM 
