Oaxaca--APPO Clash

north america / mexico | community struggles | news report Monday February 19, 2007 20:05 by Freedom

from FREEDOM, January 27, 2007, page 1

Just days after admitting the use of "excessive force" in clearing the streets of protesters in Oaxaca, Mexico, a second demonstration calling for the ousting of governor Ulises Ruiz has been attacked and eight people arrested.

Oaxaca--APPO Clash

from FREEDOM, January 27, 2007, page 1

Just days after admitting the use of "excessive force" in clearing the streets of protesters in Oaxaca, Mexico, a second demonstration calling for the ousting of governor Ulises Ruiz has been attacked and eight people arrested.

The demonstration on 17th January by Supporters and members of the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO) saw Federal Police, which are still patrolling the city, wade in to disrupt a march which also demanded existing prisoners he set free.

Efforts to stamp out the remnants of last year's insurrection, which saw the entire state erupt into rebellion for several months and the establishment of a union and popular movement-led alternative assembly, which declared the unpopular government unnecessary, have been ongoing in the New Year.

Reports have been coming through of heavy-handed police intervention over anything which smacks of support for APPO since the crushing of overt resistance late last year.

International finance have reputedly backed the painting-over of anti-capitalist artwork which sprang up around the city, in a huge whitewashing campaign led by governor Ulises Ruiz.

The governor, whose repressive social policies were a major factor in the uprising, has been retained as governor despite being humiliated by the uprising, which forced the calling in of state troops to quell the rebellion.

However, APPO seems to be faring better outside the main city, with rural areas continuing to overtly support the assembly. In early January, a new municipality largely inhabited by an indigenous group, the Triqui, largely declared itself autonomous from the Mexican state, and have set up strategic road blocks to ward off paramilitaries from disrupting the area.

Representatives of up to 20 communities, representing 20,000 people, threw their weight behind the APPO, pledging to run their own affairs independent of the government.