Banner at protest: “Enough of politics” @ Enfoque Oaxaca
Since 14 September, some 600 state police officers of Oaxaca have been on strike to demand the resignation of the Secretary for Public Security, Alberto Esteva Salinas, and the commissioner of the State Preventive Police, Cuauhtémoc Zúñiga Bonilla, in addition to other police chiefs, whom they accuse of corruption and of embezzlement of public campaign funds. Based in the barracks of Santa María Coyotepec, they denounced that 2.5 million pesos worth of travel allowances had yet to be paid, and they manifested being tired of arbitrary actions, demanding an increase in salary, the provision of uniforms twice a year, and an eight-hour workday. Similarly, the coastal region saw a similar police strike, while in the Tehuantepec Isthmus, police were arrested by Mexican Army units as they traveled to the capital city to support the action.
On 16 September, half a hundred state police invaded the end of the commemorative march to march the 204th anniversary of the beginning of (formal) independence for Mexico, an event which was not attended by Governor Gabino Cué Monteagudo. Using the slogans “Enough of politics” and “Out with the corrupt [ones] Alberto Esteva and Cuahutemoc Zuñiga (sic),” among others, police demonstrated their repudiation of the situation and showed the bad state of the equipment they use, in addition to uniforms, which were shown to have damaged logos, discoloration, and other damages.
On 18 September, the president of the Permanent Commission for Citizens’ Protection and Security from the local congress affirmed that an initial agreement had been made to pay the travel allowances in arrears, as well as to provide uniforms and boots to police. Nonetheless, other media mentioned that Esteva Salinas, Secretary of Public Security, fired 153 members of the State Preventive Police, who are presumed to have initiated the strike.
It should be recalled that this is the second police strike this year. The first took place in March, when police in revolt also requested ameliorative reforms and resignations.
For more information (in Spanish):
Policías de Oaxaca permiten acceso a personal administrativo (Milenio, 18 de septiembre de 2014)
Paro de policías desnuda corrupción en SSP, les adeudan 2.5 mdp solo de viáticos (Página 3, 16 de septiembre de 2014)
‘Desaira’ Cué el desfile; policías lo utilizan para protestar (Enfoque Oaxaca, 16 de septiembre de 2014)
Gabino Cué da ultimátum a policías en rebeldía e ignora sus demandas(Página 3, 17 de septiembre de 2014)
Despiden a 153 policías que “instigaron” al paro laboral en Oaxaca(Proceso, 18 de septiembre de 2014)
Audio-Video:
En paro de labores contradesfiló la SSP en #Oaxaca (Voces de Oaxaca, 17 de septiembre de 2014)
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