VICTIMS OF ONGOING AND WIDESPREAD GOVERNMENT REPRESSION IN OAXACA, MEXICO ASK FOR CONTINUED INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

WHEN: March 18-23 or March 25-30 (depending on response of interested delegates)

WHERE: Oaxaca, Mexico

CONTACT: Oaxaca Solidarity Network, info@oaxacasolidarity.org; U.S. phone: 303-800-4453.

WHAT: The Red Oaxaqueña de Derechos Humanos (Oaxacan Human Rights Network) has extended a formal invitation to the Oaxaca Solidarity Network and Rights Action to continue with its work in increasing the international presence and awareness by organizing human rights delegations to Oaxaca to observe the current, ongoing government repression in the city, and to develop international solidarity efforts.

This delegation is a follow up to the December 16-22, 2006 and the February 10-16, 2007 emergency human rights delegations organized by the Oaxacan Solidarity Network and sponsored by Rights Action. Delegates—including human rights lawyers, journalists, authors, investigators, graduate students and activists—met with Oaxacan human rights organizations, victims of repression, leaders of grassroots non-governmental organizations and government officials. The reports, articles, documentaries, testimonies, photographs, and other materials produced by members of our delegation will soon be available at www.oaxacasolidarity.org.

WHY: October 30 this year marked the arrival of some 4000 Federal Preventative Police (PFP), whose goal was to break up a non-violent popular movement calling for true participatory democracy and an end to widespread government corruption and grinding poverty. Since the PFP arrived in Oaxaca, there have at least 20 murders, more than 350 arbitrary detentions, hundreds of wounded and searches without warrants of homes of many popular leaders. There are many documented reports of torture and disappearances. (For background information and delegation goals, see below)

In spite of the government's recent campaign to promote tourism in Oaxaca, repression against members of the popular movement continues.