Right now, at this moment, the strikers of Oaxaca are
building huge barricades in the streets.
There have been miltary helicoptors overheard since last
night, and word is that there are troops all around the
city.
The American press would have us believe that what is
happening in Oaxaca is the work of anarchists and terrorists..that this is some kind of anti-gringo movement.This is NOT the truth. It is not about us..
What is happening is a legitmate popular uprising caused by the abuses of a corrupt and repressive Goveror ( who was elected by a very narrow margin, that most believe was fradulent, due to vote buying)
Please be alert to this. It is important that people understand what is really going on, and that we stay informed.
I am getting emails and calls out of Oaxaca, asking people to call embassies, Amnesty International, and Amy Goodman.I am doing all that, but I also know that an appeal to the Kossacks is equally important.
I will report more, when I know more.
Added here is a portion of a piece by Nancy Davis, reporting from Oaxaca for www.narconews.com. This is a day or two old; the situation has now changed.
*By Nancy Davies
Commentary from Oaxaca
September 29, 2006
OAXACA CITY: With so many big feet in the game, the Oaxaca population is getting battered. The latest was the alarm for the arrival of the Federal Preventive Police, who in fact are present, in quarters. If ordered to do so by President Fox, they will come in with maximum force and "clean up." How exactly that could happen, I don't know, because "cleaning" the zocalo would disperse no more than a few thousand people. Blockades are in many areas , at the radio stations and government buildings, and would all have to be attacked simultaneously to minimize citizen support in any one place. The popular teachers' movement most likely contains two million sympathizers within the state, and sympathizers in neighboring states as well.
My reasoning against attack may be too simple. There are three and half million in the state: the nation's largest indigenous population, the nation's largest teachers union, and the nation's poorest, or close to it. Put it all together and it spells trouble for a repressive force. More, I would say, not like kicking a hard ball but like squeezing a balloon.*
To this I add...it looks as though the attack may be imminent. Again..please try to stay informed...if people know what is really happening, it will help .
Please forward and re-post this URGENT alert from Oaxaca, Mexico.
*********UPDATE*****************
Oaxaca Facing Imminent Attack
September 30, 2006 - The below is from Nancy Davies, who is based in Oaxaca and writes frequently on the situation there for Narco News. While the threat of a mass attack has seemed to always be in the air, the situation in recent days has really escalated. Now an attack seems imminent.
APPEAL FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AID
The word I have now is that there are about 5,000 men wearing army uniforms who are not army, but police, culled from other states like Vercruz and Morelia, that is to say, this is a PRI operation, not the federal troops, altho I don't know how our source explains the "naval" helicopters (maybe not?). The "police" are heavily armed, and the attack is supposed to happen around 10:00 PM Oaxaca time. The attack, code name cicloncinco, was revealed by the same person who informed our friend that there would be a drive-by shooting last night, which came true.
Our friend says there are already a lot of PRD people gathered in the zocalo, thousands have gathered, apparently including some foreigners including univision and CNN.
Aid is asked for food, water, telephone lines. Only one radio station is still operating
Our friend told us to stay off the streets. Good friend. The one still operating radio station says, stay calm, not respond to acts of aggression which are provocations. Our friend says the city is "surrounded", not sure what that means.
Anybody who can email should do so, to any addresses you have, phone calls, faxes, etc. (cabascal@segob.gov.mx) the message is "no a la repression, si a la destitucion de Ulises Ruiz."
La Jornada has a live feed running on their site. Please disseminate news however you can.
There is still a chance that this is psychological warfare, very tiring. Doesn't look good right now.
Here is a list of Mexican consulates in the US and Canada:
http://elenemigocomun.net/128
Here are people to email or fax:
VICENTE FOX QUESADA
PRESIDENTE CONSTITUCIONAL DE MÉXICO
FAX. + 55 52 77 23 76,
vicente.fox.quesada@presidencia.gob.mx
LIC. CARLOS ABASCAL CARRANZA
SECRETARIO DE GOBERNACIÓN
FAX + 55 50 93 34 14,
cabascal@segob.gov.mx
DR. JOSÉ LUIS SOBERANES
PRESIDENTE DE LA COMISIÓN NACIONAL DE DERECHOS HUMANOS
FAX + 55 56 81 71 99,
correo@cndh.gob.mx
DANIEL CABEZA DE VACA
PROCURADOR GENERAL DE LA REPÚBLICA
FAX: +55 53460908,
ofproc@pgr.gob.mx
LIC. ULISES RUIZ ORTÍZ
GOBERNADOR DEL ESTADO DE OAXACA
Fax: + 951 5020530,
gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx
http://elenemigocomun.net
Radio APPO: Radio en Linea
http://elenemigocomun.net/133
Oaxaca solidarity list
http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/oaxaca