Our beloved Oaxaca, now on US and Canadian Do Not Visit list
On 31 October 2006, the U.S. Department of State announced that U.S. citizens "should avoid travel to Oaxaca City due to (an) increase in violence which has resulted in at least nine deaths over the past several months."
The U.S. State Department issued this public announcement advising Americans against all travel to tourist-popular Oaxaca, due to this increase in violence, including the murder of a U.S. journalist last week. Protesters maintain their calls for the resignation of Gov. Ulises Ruiz, whom they accuse of suppressing dissent and rigging the 2004 elections.
This is a very sad state of affairs. Is no one thinking of the ordinary people of Oaxaca and how this event is causing distress and loss of income?
If foreign tourists are strongly urged by their governments to avoid Oaxaca, who will buy the glorious hand-woven rugs, the exquisite black pottery, the hand-painted ceramic and wooden art? Who will eat the world's greatest mole? What will become of the dedicated people who create and sell these artistic wonders in order to feed their families?
Besides all that, there are 13,000 schools in Oaxaca state and, although striking teachers had promised to go back to work Monday, October 30th, not one has reopened in the city of Oaxaca.
Commuters have to fight to get past protest barricades of trash, cars and trees, while the Zócalo is completely sealed off by police. Bands of youths roam the cobblestone streets tossing gasoline bombs, hijacking vehicles and vowing to fight on.
The Seattle Times states that thousands of protesters faced off with police outside the Zócalo, screaming "Murderers! Murderers!" One officer was taken to the hospital after being hit by fireworks.
The demonstrators were driven from the Zócalo after President Fox sent in federal police backed by armored vehicles and water cannons. Ruiz has refused to step down and accused "radical groups" from Mexico City of fueling the street battles in Oaxaca. He returned to offices he had been forced out of months ago by the protesters.
According to the U.S. Department of State, "The Government of Mexico ordered the mobilization of the Federal Preventive Police (PFP) force to Oaxaca City on October 28 to quell violence and restore order to the area. Protesters and the PFP are currently engaged in violent confrontations within the city. There are reports that the main highway and secondary roads linking Oaxaca City to Mexico City may be closed at any time, and flights may be temporarily delayed or cancelled at the Xoxocotlan International Airport in Oaxaca City.
"U.S. citizens already in Oaxaca should avoid demonstrations, remain in their homes or hotels, and avoid the downtown and surrounding areas during demonstrations or PFP operations, as random shootings and violence may occur at any time. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence unexpectedly. Since the timing and routes of marches and demonstrations are always subject to change, U.S. citizens should monitor local media sources for new developments and exercise extreme caution while within the vicinity of any protests.
"For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current worldwide caution public announcement, travel warnings and public announcements can be found. Up to date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). U.S. citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. embassy or consulate on the state department's travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov.
"For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens, please contact the U.S. embassy in Mexico City, Office of Citizens' Consular Services, Reforma Ave 305, Col Cuauhtemoc, Mexico, D.F., Mexico CP 06500 Tel: (011)(52)(55) 5 080-2000 or e-mail: ccs@usembassy.net.mx. For additional information, please refer to the embassy website: http://usembassy-mexico.gov. "
Although President Vicente Fox said that "social order and peace have been restored," Deputy Interior Secretary Arturo Chavez told Televisa, "I don't think so. We are moving in stages. We are working toward order."
Hopefully, they'll work a little faster so the people of Oaxaca can get back to earning a living.
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