the other side

the other side to the beautiful buildings and zocalos, fiestas and fun of mexico is the government oppression. i was just in mexico city where its said you can't be sure that the police are not going to fleece you for some cash, or at the worst assault you. the situation in oaxaca is part of the same struggle for a more just and humane society, here they are trying to rid of the governor Ulises, said to be corrupt.

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In a further sign of the resilience of the people’s movement in Oaxaca, more than 20,000 people marched in Oaxaca City on Sunday, Nov. 5, to denounce state repression. Mexico’s president, Vicente Fox, unleashed thousands of riot-clad Federal Preventative Police (PFP) in the city on Oct. 28. His aim was to smash the growing people’s movement that has controlled the area since mid-June.

Workers, students and farmers battled the police for over six hours, throwing tens of thousands of rocks and sticks and using improvised rocket launchers against them in an organized show of force. Forced to retreat, the police shot protesters with water and dye to mark them for future arrest. The APPO reported at least 40 people injured.

This action kept the university and its radio station in the hands of the APPO. After the battle, the Mexican government sent 2,000 more police into the city.