November 25 marked the fourth anniversary of the repression that members of the teacher and popular movement of Oaxaca suffered at the hands of federal agents and local police, leaving 100 detainees. In this context, and since previous days, there were a series of activities to commemorate those violent events.
Between the 18 and 20 of November, the section 22 of the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE) and organizations affiliated with the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO) held a Democratic State Convention to begin a process of dialogue among peoples, communities, organizations and other political actors to build “from below” a new social, political and organizational pact. The general secretary of section 22, Azael Santiago Chepi, reported that objectives were defined so as to punish the governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz and other officials involved in the repression of 2006 and so as to develop a new state constitution.
On November 22, the Human Rights Committee “25 de Noviembre” organized an event called “Oaxaca: evaluation of the human rights situation, 2006-2010”, where SIPAZ made a presentation and aimed at ” reflecting collectively on the situation of human rights in Oaxaca, especially during the period of 2006-2010, and with it, to highlight the issues of urgent attention for civil society and governments. “
On another hand, on November 24 , EDUCA presented the report “Social Movements and Democratic Change in Oaxaca 2010.” This study identified four main historical stages of these struggles: the germ of a social movement, the teachers’ movement, the indigenous movement and the emergence of civil society, and the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca. It analyzed its origins, demands, claims and its main achievements. The report also provided an analysis of current conflicts, the identity of these social movements and their complex political alliances.
On November 25 , thousands of supporters of the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO) took to the streets of Oaxaca City. During a meeting in the historic center, Azael Chepi Santiago said that participation in the protest is an example of the relevance of this process up to date for state and federal governments. Members of Section 22 of SNTE said they would continue demanding justice for the teachers’ conflict of 2006 and recognized that there are great expectations for the new administration of Gabino Cue. At the end of this event, Chepi said in an interview that there will be another protest on December 1st from the monument of Juárez to the Zocalo, so as to repudiate Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz leaving government and to ask Gabino Cue for a response to popular demands.
For more information (in Spanish):
Realizan convención la APPO y la sección 22 (La Jornada, 19 de noviembre)
Audios de Balance de Derechos Humanos (evento convocado por el Comité 25 de Noviembre realizado en la ciudad de Oaxaca el 22 de noviembre)
Informe “los movimientos sociales y el cambio democrático en oaxaca 2010″ (página Web de EDUCA)
EDUCA presenta informe público “los movimientos sociales y el cambio democrático Oaxaca 2010” (El Piñero de la Cuenca, 24 de noviembre de 2010)
Maestros del SNTE exigen cárcel para Ulises Ruiz (El Universal, 25 de noviembre)
Conmemora la APPO represión en Oaxaca (La Jornada, 26 de noviembre)
For more Information from SIPAZ (in English):
Oaxaca: Supreme Court decision in Oaxaca case (October 23, 2009)
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