WHEN: December 16 — December 22, 2006
WHERE: Oaxaca, Mexico
CONTACT: Jacob Muller, Oaxaca Solidarity Network,
info@oaxacasolidarity.org,
WHAT: Various Oaxaca-based human rights organizations have asked the Oaxaca
Solidarity Network to help increase the international presence here by
organizing educational delegations to Oaxaca to observe the current, ongoing
government repression in the city, and to develop international solidarity
efforts.
October 30 this year marked the arrival of some 4000 federal riot (Federal
Preventative Police/PFP) police to break up a non-violent popular movement
calling for true participatory democracy and an end to widespread government
corruption and grinding poverty. Since the PFP arrived in Oaxaca, there
have been 7 murders, more than 100 arbitrary detentions, hundreds of wounded
and searches without warrants of homes of many popular leaders. There are
documented reports of torture and disappearances. [See background
information below].
ITINERARY: During the 5 days in Oaxaca, delegates will have a series of
meetings with families of the murdered, detained and disappeared, leaders of
the popular movement, government officials, human rights activists,
journalists, local grassroots indigenous rights organizations,
representatives of the business community, police representatives, and U.S.
Consul staff. The itinerary also includes a day-long trip to Tlaxiaco, in
the Mixteca Alta region, where we’ll meet with the human rights organization
Nu’u Ji Kaandi, and people who recently were arbitrarily detained because of
their participation in the non-violent social movement.
WHO: Our trip is being organized and hosted by the Oaxaca Solidarity
Network, in collaboration with various human rights organizations, and is
sponsored by Rights Action. The Oaxaca Solidarity Network is a collective
of concerned U.S. and Mexican citizens working to raise international
awareness of the non-violent popular social movement here, and create
international pressure to end the widespread human rights violations
throughout the city and state of Oaxaca.
We invite ANY interested persons or organization to join our delegation.
The Oaxacan Solidarity Network and the Red Oaxaqueña de Derechos Humanos
have specifically asked for solidarity and for human rights observers, so we
are particularly interested in the participation of activists, journalists,
lawyers, professors, students and others who, upon return to the U.S. or
Canada, can work effectively to put the current abuses into the
international spotlight.
COST: This will be a ‘pay-as-you-go’ delegation. Delegates are responsible
for their own travel costs to and from Oaxaca; we are also asking for a $100
fee to be paid to the Oaxaca Solidarity Network, to help pay for our costs
in planning, hosting and translating for this delegation. We estimate that
room, board and travel will cost $55/ day.
CONTACT: Jacob Muller, Oaxaca Solidarity Network, info@oaxacasolidarity.org
***
RECENT BACKGROUND:
Recent history of the current conflict: 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.
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”. The true motivation for the arrival of the
federal police and military forces, however, is to break a widespread
people’s movement to oust Oaxaca’s corrupt, repressive and illegitimate
governor 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.
THE EMERGENCY DELEGATION:
The emergency human rights delegation to Oaxaca is being offered to promote
international awareness and solidarity. Participants will meet with key
players on both sides of the conflict:
• families of the murdered, detained and disappeared
• leaders of the popular movement government officials
• human rights activists
• journalists
• local grassroots indigenous rights organizations
• representatives of the business community
• police representatives
• U.S. Consul staff
Participants in the delegation will 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.
and/or Canada. 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.
FURTHER 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.
CONTACT: Jacob Muller, Oaxaca Solidarity Network, info@oaxacasolidarity.org
