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.

• There are 64 political prisoners still being held in various jails throughout Oaxaca.
• Many leaders of the popular movement are openly threatened with pending arrests warrants to discourage continued dissent.
• Arbitrary arrests continue, including the arrest, interrogation and strip-search last week of a well-respected German artist and Columbia University professor for a benefit event for Oaxacan political prisoners.
• More than 100 schools have been taken over by supporters of the Gov. Ulises Ruiz Ortega (URO), and there have been violent confrontations at several. The state teachers union is again threatening a general strike if the situation remains unresolved.
• Streets are constantly patrolled by members of various police/military units—often in camouflage with bullet-proof vests, carrying sub-machine guns.

Due to the ongoing repression and violence in Oaxaca, continued international presence is critical, as is the urgent need to learn and spread the word about the grave, ongoing violations of human rights in Oaxaca. This human rights/humanitarian delegation will continue the work of demonstrating solidarity, and of international education and activism.

ITINERARY: During the 6 days in Oaxaca, delegates will have a series of meetings with families of the murdered, detained and disappeared, leaders of the popular movement, human rights activists, journalists, local grassroots indigenous rights organizations, and possibly government officials, representatives of the business community, and representatives of police forces. The itinerary also includes a day-long trip to a community outside of Oaxaca that has experienced repression due to their involvement in the non-violent popular movement for social justice, human rights and true democracy.

WHO: Our trip is being sponsored by Rights Action and the Oaxaca Solidarity Network, in collaboration with various human rights organizations. The Oaxaca Solidarity Network is a collective of concerned U.S. and Mexican citizens working to raise international awareness of the non-violent popular social movement here, and create international pressure to end the widespread human rights violations throughout the city and state of Oaxaca.

We invite ANY interested persons or organization to join our delegation. The Oaxacan Solidarity Network and the Red Oaxaqueña de Derechos Humanos have specifically asked for solidarity and for human rights observers , so we are particularly interested in the participation of activists, journalists, lawyers, professors, students and others who, upon return to the U.S. or Canada, can work effectively to put the current abuses into the international spotlight.

COST: $80 per day, which includes lodging, transportation during the delegation, breakfast and "comida"—the traditional main meal of the day, program administration, guiding and translation.

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

Recent history of the current conflict: Oaxaca, Mexico has long been one of the country's premier tourist destinations, with the world-renowned archeological sit of the ancient Zapotec city of Monte Alban, a vibrant indigenous culture, diverse artisan and culinary traditions, and natural beauty.

But in May last year, Oaxaca's state-wide teachers' union initiated a strike and non-violent occupation of the city center, demanding better pay and work conditions, as well as improvements to the state's educational infrastructure. At dawn on June 14, state governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz (popularly referred to as URO) sent in state police to violently break up the ongoing, peaceful teachers' protest. The brutal police action, which included the firing of tear gas from helicopters onto the crowd below, sparked widespread indignation and outrage in many Oaxacans. The repressive tactics backfired resoundingly, and teachers had retaken the city center by nightfall, pushing back the police—mostly through the forces of their numbers and determination.

More importantly, the violent police action sparked a widespread, broad-based, non-violent popular movement. URO has awakened a sleeping giant—thousands of students, housewives, small business owners, workers, professors, professionals, campesinos, intellectuals and artists have come together to demand the governor's resignation.

They formed the People's Popular Assembly of Oaxaca (APPO), made up of at least 350 different civil organizations working in arenas of indigenous issues, sustainable community development, human rights and social justice. They are working to build a transparent, inclusive, participatory political system—true democracy from the grassroots.

But on October 30 this year some 4000 Federal Preventative Police (PFP) entered Oaxaca with full riot gear, shields, clubs, tear-gas launchers and gas masks. They were backed up by a fleet of more than 30 armored vehicles—equipped with high-pressure water canons, bulldozer blades, and video cameras—and military and police helicopters.

Mexican President Vicente Fox's stated reason for sending the PFP to Oaxaca was "to reestablish order". The true motivation for the arrival of the federal police and military forces, however, is to break a widespread people's movement to oust Oaxaca's corrupt, repressive and illegitimate governor and build true democracy based on social and economic justice and respect for human rights (see background history below).

The arrival of the PFP has effectively turned Oaxaca into a police state. In the city, and throughout the state, there has been—continues to be—widespread repression and the attendant violations of basic human rights.

In spite of ongoing repression, the formation of a police state, and the criminalization of dissent, the struggle continues.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND BACKGROUND, VISIT THE WEBSITE THAT LISTS REPORTS, ARTICLES, TESTIMONIES, AND OTHER MATERIALS FROM THE FIRST OSN/RIGHTS ACTION DELEGATION.

Goals of this delegation: This human rights/humanitarian delegation to Oaxaca is being offered to promote international awareness and solidarity. Participants will meet with:

• families of the murdered, detained and disappeared
• leaders of the popular movement
• human rights activists
• journalists
• local grassroots indigenous rights organizations
• possibly representatives of the business community and local police forces/government

Participants in the delegation will gain a detailed, balanced and informed glimpse into Oaxacan civil society today, and the dangerous crisis it is facing.

The goals of the delegation are twofold: to provide an in-depth understanding of the Oaxacan popular movement and the government's response, and to spread that awareness widely upon the delegates' return to the U.S. It is our hope that such knowledge and awareness can aid in the growing movement of international solidarity with the people of Oaxaca. The pressure of international solidarity can help curb the violence, arbitrary detentions and murders of Oaxacans involved in the movement for true democracy and a politics based on hope, respect and justice.