OAXACA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT by Rights Action

[Wiley50]

Oaxaca, Mexico has long been one of the country’s premier tourist destinations, with the world-renowned archeological sit of the ancient Zapotec city of Monte Alban, a vibrant indigenous culture, diverse artisan and culinary traditions, and natural beauty. But on October 30 this year some 4000 Federal Preventative Police (PFP) entered Oaxaca with full riot gear, shields, clubs, tear-gas launchers and gas masks. They were backed up by a fleet of more than 30 armored vehicles—equipped with high-pressure water canons, bulldozer blades, and video cameras—and military and police helicopters.
Mexican President Vicente Fox’s stated reason for sending the PFP to Oaxaca was “to reestablish order”. In other words, the PFP’s job is to break a widespread people’s movement to oust Oaxaca’s corrupt, brutal, and illegitimate ??? TONE DOWN THE RHETORIC???and build true democracy based on social and economic justice and respect for human rights (see background history below).

The arrival of the PFP has effectively turned Oaxaca into a police state. In the city, and throughout the state, there has been—continues to be—widespread repression and the attendant violations of basic human rights. (See attached account of the PFP’s entrance into Oaxaca by journalist Jacob Muller).
On November 8, the Red Oaxaqueño de Derechos Humanos/Oaxacan Human Rights Network issued a report detailing the serious deterioration in respect for human rights since the arrival of the PFP. Since October 27, 103 people have been arbitrarily detained. Most have been sent to military prisons, in violation of Mexican Constitution. At least 38 people remain imprisoned. Also since October 27, six people have been killed, most by gunmen in civilian clothing linked to the state government. There are 39 documented cases of wounded civilians, including 5 journalists, but those are only the documented cases. Many of the wounded don’t seek “official” medical due to fear of reprisals, and many observers say the toll of wounded is in the hundreds.
The report also documents incidents of torture and disappearances, illegal search and seizures, and incidents of government threats and intimidations.
Amnesty International on November 7 issued a press release demanding the release of the names those who’ve been arbitrarily detained and an investigation into the widespread human rights violations in Oaxaca.
Since the conflict began more than 5 months ago, 17 people have been killed, including U.S. journalist Brad Will, shot in the chest by plain-clothed police while videotaping their attack on a neighborhood barricade manned by people sympathetic to the popular movement.
On November 9, leaders of the People’s Popular Assembly of Oaxaca (APPO) publicly asked local leaders of the Catholic church to provide safe refuge after receiving death threats.
For the above reasons, we are organizing an emergency human rights delegation to Oaxaca. Participants will meet with key players on both sides of the conflict—government officials, the business community, police (?), journalists, intellectuals, local grassroots organizations, families of the murdered, detained and disappeared, and human rights activists—and gain a detailed, balanced and informed glimpse into Oaxacan civil society today, and the dangerous crisis it is facing.
The goals of the delegation are twofold: to provide an in-depth understanding of the Oaxacan popular movement and the government’s response, and to spread that awareness widely upon the delegates’ return to the U.S. It is our hope that such knowledge and awareness can aid in the growing movement of international solidarity with the people of Oaxaca. The pressure of international solidarity can help curb the violence, arbitrary detentions and murders of Oaxacans involved in the movement for true democracy and a politics based on hope, respect and justice.
Background:
In May this year, Oaxaca’s state-wide teachers’ union initiated a strike and non-violent occupation of the city center, demanding better pay and work conditions, as well as improvements to the state’s educational infrastructure. At dawn on June 14, state governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz (popularly referred to as URO) sent in state police to violently break up the ongoing, peaceful teachers’ protest. The brutal police action, which included the firing of tear gas from helicopters onto the crowd below, sparked widespread indignation and outrage in many Oaxacans. The repressive tactics backfired resoundingly, and teachers had retaken the city center by nightfall, pushing back the police—mostly through the forces of their numbers and determination.
More importantly, the violent police action sparked a widespread, broad-based, non-violent popular movement. URO has awakened a sleeping giant—thousands of students, housewives, small business owners, workers, professors, professionals, campesinos, intellectuals and artists have come together to demand the governor’s resignation.
And they have formed the People’s Popular Assembly of Oaxaca (APPO), made up of at least 350 different civil organizations working in arenas of indigenous issues, sustainable community development, human rights and social justice. They are working to build a transparent, inclusive, participatory political system—true democracy from the grassroots.

[sce56]

1. I'm sorry to say nothing new here same old shit that has been going on for years

Down in Mexico the rich rule the poor struggle and if you start to get somewhere with it they send in the goons to kill the opposition Literally and indeed actually!

Brad Will,


US Citizen Indymedia Journalist, Shot dead October 27,
Bradley Roland Will 1970-2006

[John Q. Citizen]

2. We need to launch a tourist boycott of all of Mexico, Here,

in Canada and in Western Europe in solidarity with the people of Oaxaca. That would account for about 80% of all tourists, if not more.

This should include all destinations in Mexico, airlines that continue to serve the Mexican tourist industry, and travel agencies that serve the Mexican tourist industry.

Tourism is a main component of the Mexican economy, and if it were seriously challenged, the Government would think twice about settling a political problem with a military solution.

If that isn't enough, we could expand it to the manufacturing export industries and the agricultural export industries.

Mexico is very sensitive to world opinion as well as to the reality that if their economy takes a dive, their current illegitimate Government isn't long for this world.

Just the credible threat of such an international boycott might make cooler heads prevail.

[Wiley50]

3. That Is a VERY GOOD Idea, JQ

How does such an action get started?

[John Q. Citizen]

4. We need to contact people who have already done successful international

boycotts and ask for help and ideas.

I forget who launched the international boycott against Nestle Corporation to force them to quit exporting/dumping nutritionally deficient baby formula on African nations. but they got Nestle to cut it out, and pretty quick. It was a human rights/human health issue and maybe they would have some info.

Also if we can get some high profile people to sign on and speak out it could jump start the "credible" aspect of such a campaign.

It's best to start with a plan to contact the Mexican Authorities and make some helpful and reasonable demands, with the explicit threat that if they don't do the right thing here, then a boycott will surely follow. Any plan pushed would need to allow the Mexican government to save face, to de-escalate the situation through negotiations, and to actually help solve the problem. They won't want to just roll over if they see nothing in it for them.

We would also want to contact those involved with the strike and ask them if this would be helpful to their cause and how this could help them achieve some justice.


I'll google the Nestles thing and see what I can find.

[Wiley50]

5. .

[Wiley50]

6. morning bump n/t