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waltw

Jun 15, 2007, 5:18 PM

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Oaxaca Deja Vu?

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Well June 14th was the first anniversary of an attempt by the governor of Oaxaca and 3000 police officers armed with teargas to dislodge striking teachers from the Zocalo. That resulted no school for several months, incalculable damage to Oaxaca's tourism industry, a takeover of government offices by APPO, barracades throughout the city, and, in the end, a number of reported human rights violations as the federal police moved in to regain control of the city.

Today, El Universal reports some 60,000 state teachers on strike, asking again, for the removal of the Governor of Oaxaca.

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/431400.html

We'll have to see what this summers brings.

geri

Jun 16, 2007, 1:56 PM

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Re: [waltw] Oaxaca Deja Vu?

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Walt, are you in Oaxaca right now? I'm not, but I read reports that buses are being burned and barricades put up. I wonder if this is true? So much written about last year's protests was so distorted and exaggerated. I haven't heard from anyone who is there.

waltw

Jun 16, 2007, 3:19 PM

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Re: [geri] Oaxaca Deja Vu?

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I'm in Florida right now, but will be going back to Oaxaca on Tuesday. I haven't read anything about buses being burned, but have read news reports regarding the barracades. No violence has been reported thus far.

Mark in Mexico also had a bit about it: http://markinmexico.blogspot.com/

There doesn't seem to be any international press on this.

Most people in Oaxaca I've spoken with don't think there will be an extended teacher's strike like last year. Still a number unresolved issues on the table though, as discussed in the Noticias article in Spanish, below.

http://www.noticias-oax.com.mx/...amp;id_ejemplar=1454

waltw

Jun 17, 2007, 1:03 PM

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Re: [waltw] Oaxaca Deja Vu?

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The teachers in Oaxaca Saturday night decided to strike for an "indefinite" period of time and stage their protest in the Zocalo again, according to El Universal. One thing they are protesting is the arrest of several of their members during last year's strike. They are also planning to ensure that this year's Guelaguetza doesn't happen, and hold their own, "free to the public" Guelaguetza instead on July 16th.

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/431703.html

The fact that there's a teachers' strike in Oaxaca is nothing unusual, as it's occurred every year for the last 20 + years.

Last year's strike was unusual, however, due to the length of the strike, the violence, the federal troops, and calls for the governor's resignation.