Compañer@s:

As many of you have been reading recently, the situation in Oaxaca has become increasingly violent in the past weeks since the entrance of the Federal Preventative Police (PFP), elements of the Army and Navy, and increased aggression by government funded paramilitary groups. The conflict began 5 months ago when members of Section XXII of the teachers' union (SNTE) began their annual strike demanding better pay and working conditions. After brutal repression of the strike on June 14th, the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (APPO) formed, comprised of many individuals and social organizations throughout Oaxaca. Negotiations continued to fall short of the primary demand of Section XXII and the APPO: that state governor and tyrant Ulises Ruiz Ortiz step down from power. They soon became almost farcical in nature, and while negotiations continued on the one hand, at the same time the same Federal Government began sending elements of the PFP and Armed Forces to Oaxaca. Despite the government rhetoric claiming that their 'army of peace' only intends to establish law and order, and secure citizens rights to free transit, violence has increased since Federal Forces entered this past Friday October 27th. In these past 10 days, at least 3 more people have been killed, and hundreds have been wounded, disappeared, and detained. There are currently blockades at all entrances to Oaxaca City, with up to a thousand elements of PFP searching, reviewing, and filming all those who enter the city. Despite the continued presence of these federal occupation forces, the APPO continues to be organized, and today's Mega March (the sixth that has taken place in Oaxaca since the beginning of the conflict) saw, according to some sources, more than a million people take the streets in support of the APPO and demand the immediate withdrawal of these forces. Because of the physical and informational blockade around the city and the developing situation, members of the APPO and citizens of Oaxaca alike have been running out of food, and with banks closed, they are unable to even access their own accounts.
This Thursday, November 9th, a caravan is being convened to bring aid (food, water, phone cards, money, etc.) as well as establish a solidarity presence from the people of Chiapas and the world. We are soliciting donations from national and international civil society for our brothers and sisters in Oaxaca who continue to struggle against these forces of occupation, and for the renunciation of Ulises Ruiz Ortiz.

PLEASE DONATE EITHER:

1. THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, AND BE SURE TO WRITE 'OAXACA' IN THE ENTRY LINE SO THAT WE KNOW WHICH DONATIONS WILL GO DIRECTLY TOWARDS EXPENSES FOR THE CARAVAN AND AID FOR THE APPO IN OAXACA.

2. DEPOSIT DIRECTLY INTO THE LAS ABEJAS ACCOUNT, INDICATE 'OAXACA' IN ALL DONATIONS:

THIS WEDNESDAY WE WILL USE WHATEVER DONATIONS TOWARDS COVERING EXPENSES FOR THE CARAVAN, SECURING TRANSPORTATION, AND BUYING NECESSARY FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES. Donations can be made directly through our website by clicking the 'DONATE' button found on the sidebar on the right hand side of the page. Thereafter, we will evaluate the situation and give an update with any new information on how to support this struggle in Oaxaca. Contact us with any questions, casadelapaz@gmail.com.

PFP AND ULISES RUIZ OUT OF OAXACA!
STOP THE REPRESSION AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF OAXACA!
FREEDOM FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS, AND THE IMMEDIATE PRESENTATION OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DISAPPEARED!
WE ARE ALL OAXACA!

In Solidarity,

CASA Collective, Chiapas México
Casa de la Paz