Update: Massacre of peaceful protestors in Oaxaca, Mexico

Update to the Oaxca massacre.

Reports are just coming in of a police and military attack on peaceful protestors in Oaxaca early Wednesday morning.

Up to 3000 police and military raided the main square in Oaxaca in Southern Mexico. The protestors, mostly teachers and locals, have been holding a permanent demonstration there since 22 May.

At 4.30am, 11am GMT, the police and military units entered the square and attacked the demonstrators while they were sleeping, using tear gas, pepper spray and beat people.

Then machine guns were used, firing on unarmed people. Three people were reported killed. The numbers of injured are unknown.

Following the attack police with no licence plates arrived to take many of the demonstrators away. It is currently unknown where the detainees have gone or how many have been taken.

A demonstration has been called at the Mexican Embassy at 16 St George Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 1LX on Saturday 17 June, 1.30pm.

Oscar Beard
e-mail: oscarbeard@yahoo.com.mx
Homepage: http://www.reprogrammingthedesensitised.com

Additions

Attack report -- on www.indymedia.org

15.06.2006 20:30

Today, June 14, at 4:30 am, some 3000 elements of the state ministerial police, preventive police and Oaxaca state firemen have begun to violently remove a sit-in of 70,000 workers from Section 22 of the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE) with tear gas, smoke granades, stun granades and firearms. Thus far there have been 13 reported arrests, 4 injuries, 5 bullet wounds, and between 6 and 9 deaths, as well as a break-in to the Teachers' Union building and the destruction of the installations of Radio Plantón (a free/non-licensed community radio station that has been a point of reference for social movements in Oaxaca).

Full Report :: Wave of Repression Continues in Mexico. Yesterday, Atenco. Today, Oaxaca

IMCer

Comments

Hide the following 5 comments

No Oaxaca massacre

15.06.2006 13:26

Nobody has died as of yet in the Oaxacan teachers' crisis. The military have not stepped in, nor even the federal police as of yet. Negotiations are ongoing to come to a peaceful resolution. No firearms were used in the attempted breakup of the strike. Oaxacan society in general is very sympathetic to the teachers' cause (they all have badly educated children after all) and at this stage the government does not have a strong enough moral standing on this issue to be very repressive.

Domingo

Any further info?

15.06.2006 14:42

Have not seen any reports of machine guns being used, but Narco News have reported claims (apparently unconfirmed) that three teachers and one pupil have died and that federal police have been involved.

With so many rumours going around, has anyone got any firm news of what is going on??

Leam

Peaceful protestors?

15.06.2006 15:15

Living here in Oaxaca, I would like to question the use of the term "peaceful protestors." For three weeks now, the 60,000 teachers have staged what I would call an aggressive sit-in. They have engaged in acts of vandalism, destroying city and personal property, have blocked access to major arteries in and around the city, forcibly shut down the airport, took over the toll booth leaving town, block access to major stores where the general population shops for their daily needs, defecated in the streets around the downtown area (imagine 60,000 people defecating in the streets of your town for 23 days straight), etc. Whether they've been wronged or not by the local government, they have not been peaceful.

Joe

peace

15.06.2006 16:05

Peaceful revolutions or peaceful protests either don't exist or are doomed to failure. The article is just pandering to hegemonic notions of what's acceptable or not.

Krop

there is repression in Oaxaca!

15.06.2006 18:21

I am glad that Domingo can still read BBC online! Why don't you have a look at the pics on this local newspaper, instead:

http://www.noticias-oax.com.mx/index.php
(or on indymedia messico e indymedia oaxaca)

and see, that the police was actually armed! Also, should I remind you that Alexi, a student in Atenco was killed by a tear gas bullet? tear gas bullets have been aimed at people!

Also, about 70,000 teachers have arrived from all around the state of Oaxaca, leaving their communities, their normal lives whilst being threathened of not being paid because they were demonstrating for their legitimate rights! It is too easy to say that they are dirty and accusing them to take down the signs that enforce parking fares!

Joe, are you really living in oaxaca? Do you see the misery around you? Do you see and know about the huge repression that for many years members of civil society and social organisations have been experiencing, and that is furthermore documented by Amnesty International and many other human rights organisations at a national and international level?

In solidarity with the people of Oaxaca,
la lucha sigue!
Silvia

silvia