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

by Sara McMullen

Today, June 14 at 4:30 a.m., some 3000 elements from the ministerial police, preventive police and Oaxaca state firemen began 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 grenade, stun grenades and firearms. Thus far there are 13 reported detentions, 4 injured persons, 5 bullet wounds and between 6 and 9 dead. The Teachers Union office building was also broken into and the installations of Radio Plantón were destroyed (Radio Planton is a free/un-licensed community radio station that has been a point of reference for social movements in Oaxaca).

With 3 weeks until elections and with the events in San Salvador Atenco still present (with 28 persons charged and jailed), once again the use of force instead of dialogue is the privileged response to citizens exercising their constitutional rights.

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Since May 15, the first day of the present period of action in the teachers’ struggle, an atmosphere of hostility and confrontation against the teachers union has been has been sown within Oaxacan society. This, far from fortifying the search for a peaceful and negotiated solution to the teachers’ demands, has encouraged the conditions of scaled-up violence against this sector.

May 22 was the first day of Section 22 of the SNTE teacher-working class actions (some of the teachers are adherents to The Other Campaign) to support the educational demands of the people of Oaxaca. 70,000 teachers begin an extended sit-in in the center of the city in front of the old Government Palace and in 56 surrounding streets, to ask for fulfillment of their list of demands (first presented on May 1) that includes improvements to educational infrastructure (construction of classrooms, laboratories and workshops; uniforms; free student breakfasts; and more funding for scholarships and staff hiring), legal recognition of Radio Plantón, salary increases and recognition of the legitimacy of the union.

On June 1, the State Congress closes off dialogue without explanation and demands that all teachers return to their classrooms by June 5 or face salary sanctions and cancellation of labor contracts. An express request is also made to national public security organs to intervene and proceed with the removal of the thousands of men and women teachers maintaining the sit-in in the center of the city (3500 federal preventive police (PFP), state Preventive Police, the Special Police Operations Unit (UPOE, an elite grouping) and Municipal Police are moved to Oaxaca City). These decisions are endorsed on June 2 by more than 300 municipal presidents that make up the State Coordinating Body in Favor of Education. Section 22 of the SNTE decides during its assembly no to accept the ultimátum and to continue with the sit-in and resistance actions: road blocks; closures of the airport, PEMEX installations, the Chamber of Deputies, and the State Prosecutor’s Office; takeover of a highway toll booth; removal of parking meters, connections to city drainage and security cameras in the center of the city; the burning of election propaganda; and massive mobilizations (120,000 people participated in actions on June 7). They also demanded the resignation of the governor for refusing to dialogue.

Today, June 14 at 4:30 a.m., some 3000 elements from the ministerial police, preventive police and Oaxaca state firemen began 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 grenade, stun grenades and firearms. Thus far there are 13 reported detentions, 4 injured persons, 5 bullet wounds and between 6 and 9 dead. The Teachers Union office building was also broken into and the installations of Radio Plantón were destroyed (Radio Planton is a free/un-licensed community radio station that has been a point of reference for social movements in Oaxaca).

With 3 weeks until elections and with the events in San Salvador Atenco still present (with 28 persons charged and jailed), once again the use of force instead of dialogue is the privileged response to citizens exercising their constitutional rights.