Public Meeting: Popular Government vs Institutional Violence in Oaxaca, Mexico

dublin | anti-capitalism | event notice Monday January 08, 2007 18:52 by dubzag - dublin zapatista action group dubzag at gmail dot com 0863077313

DUBZAG - the Dublin Zapatista Action Group - is holding a meeting in Club na
Múinteoirí / the Teachers´ Club, Parnell Square, Dublin 2 at 7pm on
Thursday, January 11th to discuss the experience of the Popular Assembly of
the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO) in Mexico, the ensuing violent repression by federal
and state police forces, and the visit of the International Commission of
Human Rights Observers. The journalist Michael Mc Cuaghan will speak about what he has witnessed while reporting from Oaxaca. We hope to mobilise Irish civil soceity in support of the work of the Commision
support for the work of the Commission.

Popular Uprising in Oaxaca, Mexico - Support for Human Rights Observers

DUBZAG - the Dublin Zapatista Action Group - is holding a meeting in Club na
Múinteoirí / the Teachers´ Club, Parnell Square, Dublin 2 at 7pm on
Thursday, January 11th to discuss the experience of the Popular Assembly of
the Peoples of Oaxaca (Mexico), the ensuing violent repression by federal
and state police forces, and the visit of the International Commission of
Human Rights Observers. We would like those attending to sign a petition of
support for the work of the Commission.

The popular uprising in the state of Oaxaca lasted for approximately six
months, with the central square in Oaxaca City originally occupied by the
teachers´union which was striking for pay rises to cover rises in the cost
of living in the city, a tourist hot spot. The square was held by growing
numbers of protestors from different sectors, hoping to force Governor
Ulises Ruiz to resign, and the city became ungovernable except through armed
intervention by the police and armed supporters of the governor.

On November 25th, the Federal Preventative Police staged a military-style
takeover of the city. The city square is still under military occupation.
Pitched street battles drove protestors back into the campus of the
Autonomous University of Oaxaca, and left a total of 15 dead, 200 arrested,
over 30 "disappeared" and 150 seriously injured. Leaders of the Assembly
were arrested in December, and arrest warrants have also been issued for
local organizers of the Mexican League of Human Rights Defenders.