Oaxaca repression stems from US pressure to exploit

author : Rochelle Gause topic : Oaxaca | torture

by Rochelle Gause

The six month old teacher's strike turned popular uprising in Oaxaca has continued to face incredible government repression throughout the past month. The repressive acts began in the hands of the state government death squads, composed of plainclothed police and PRI supporters, and grew through the arrival of the Federal Preventative Police in Oaxaca at the end of October. The illegal detentions peaked on Nov. 25, in time to clean things up in preparation for Felipe Calderon's inauguration as the fraudulently elected new President of Mexico. Of the 150 detained on the 25th, Oaxaca state governor, Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, admitted that up to 80% were in no way connected to APPO (Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca), the main coordinating body of the movement.

Throughout the last six months, there have been over 500 people detained; almost all who have been released reported psychological and physical torture. Currently there are over 140 remaining in prison, the majority transferred to federal prison in states outside Oaxaca, far from their families and lawyers and denied medical attention. Stories coming out of these prisons include torture, 60 reports of sexual assault, rape threats and forced false confessions.

On Dec.17, a 2,000-strong women's march was held to welcome home 43 prisoners who were released. As the prisoners climbed off the buses some were wearing blood stained and torn clothing. When asked by reporters about their treatment, many stated they were unable to comment because they were told if they do those remaining in prison will pay for it. Action can be taken on behalf of those still in prison through Amnesty International at http://web.amnesty.org/pages/mex-201206-action-eng

There are still many outstanding arrest warrants for members of APPO. Because one of the major goals of APPO has been to create a democratic governance structure, they have been highly transparent and the names of those involved and elected as representatives of various regions are easily found in meeting minutes and online. This has made it easy for the government to target those involved in the movement. The police have made numerous private home searches and have taken teachers from in front of their students in their classrooms, in front of children as young as kindergarteners. On top of the detentions, an unclear number of movement members remain disappeared and the death toll is now over 20.

Very few detentions of those responsible for the murders have taken place. The two men detained for the murder of Brad Will, the New York independent journalist killed in late September, have been released. Three others known to have been involved in the shooting were never detained. All five were either PRI elected officials, PRI supporters, or plain clothed state police officers. Now the state government is attempting to blame Brad's murder on members of APPO even though numerous witnesses are certain that the above five men shot in Brad's direction.

Recently, in Agua Fría 120 miles north of Oaxaca City, Raúl Marcial Pérez, an editorialist for the regional daily El Gráfico and indigenous leader, was murdered in his office. His weekly column has been focused on the corruption of the state government and he had exposed human rights abuses committed by supporters of Governor Ulíses Ruiz Ortiz.

On Nov. 29, the government leaked that they had compiled a list of 100 internationals from video footage who they alleged were committing vandalism alongside the movement and who they intended to deport. I am not sure I believe such a list exists (not to mention that I have never seen close to 100 internationals in Oaxaca). It may have simply been a fear tactic, but this combined with the news that they had picked up a French woman whose lawyers were unable to speak to her or find out where she was, I decided it was best to leave. Although it is difficult not being able to be on the ground in Oaxaca, in some ways I am thankful to not have to witness the state efforts to try to erase the signs of the movement by painting over the entire city as I hear from friends who are still in the city.

On December 1, Felipe Calderon from the conservative PAN party, who took the election through fraud, was inaugurated. Thousands gathered outside before dawn, constructing barriers to prevent Calderon's entrance into the Chamber of Deputies. Inside brawls had broken out between members of the PAN and PRD (the party of leftist Lopez Obrador who was cheated out of the position) parties. Chairs had been thrown, doors blockaded, and pillows were handed out as the members of the different parties fought over sleeping on the platform where the inauguration was to take place. A fake presidential convoy was used to distract the demonstrators while Calderon snuck in through a basement parking garage.

The entire ceremony took less than 4 minutes and it was impossible to hear over the screaming from PRD members.

Calderon was later able to give a speech in a military installation. I watched on television as he spoke to an audience of men in uniform standing in formation. Oh, democracy.

In less than a month Calderon has already made cuts to education and has created a cabinet including Francisco Javier Ramírez Acuña as his Interior Minister, in charge of domestic security. Ramírez, past governor of Jalisco, was accused by Amnesty International of serious human rights violations, including ordering a brutal crackdown on anti-corporate globalization protesters. Eduardo Medina Mora was selected as Secretary of Public Safety. He has strong ties to banking interests and is a member of El Yunque, an ultraconservative group. Making his policy clear in dealing with social uprising, on Dec. 4, members of APPO including two highly visible elected representatives were arrested in Mexico City two hours after announcing they had come to negotiate with the federal government.

On Dec. 3, APPO released a declaration stating, "The APPO is more alive than ever in the hearts of the workers, indigenous people, campesinos, housewives, students, youth, children, and all the exploited and oppressed in Oaxaca and Mexico. The State Terror that has been unleashed on the people of Oaxaca and the international community with increased brutality since November 25 has not weakened our desire to be free men and women." A march was held on Dec. 10. Even in the face of the incredible risk of being arrested and tortured, tens of thousands marched, calling for the release of prisoners and continuing the call for Governor Ulises to go.

So much of the state response is created through pressure from the United States to maintain the status quo, to keep the positive climate for foreign investors to come in and take the resources and exploit the labor of Mexico without opposition from the ever-growing poor, which in turn keeps the pockets of the Mexican elite lined with dollars. This corruption and repression is facing greater and greater resistance and we can recognize our own role in the situation and support the movement, however we deem possible.

The Zapatistas in Chiapas called for an International Day of Action on December 22 in solidarity with people of Oaxaca. According to the Zapatistas the goals of the actions include "the living reappearance of the disappeared, for the freedom of the detained, for the exit of Ulises Ruiz and the federal forces from Oaxaca, for the punishment of those guilty of torture, rape and murder." Actions occurred in 13 states in the U.S., including Seattle as well as worldwide in Canada, Spain, France, Brazil, Germany, Portugal and Belgium. This display of international solidarity provides support while the movement regroups and prepares for the future.

The movement in Oaxaca is far from over. APPO has continued to meet and three marches occurred last week. Thanks for following these events, taking action and keeping the people of Oaxaca in your hearts and minds.

Rochelle Gause is an Olympia activist who was in Oaxaca since the uprising began in June, and has served as a delegate with the Olympia -- Rafah Sister City Project.