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From: "Dana Aldea" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: ?iso-8859-1?Q?Universal,Gov't_scrambles_to_resolve_Oaxaca_crisis,O? ?iso-8859-1?Q?ct_29?Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 15:16:52 +0100 Gov't scrambles to resolve Oaxaca crisis The federal government on Saturday was scrambling to address the rapidly deteriorating situation in Oaxaca, a day after three people were killed in the latest outbreak of violence El Universal Domingo 29 de octubre de 2006 The federal government on Saturday was scrambling to address the rapidly deteriorating situation in Oaxaca, a day after three people were killed in the latest outbreak of violence. President Vicente Fox ordered several hundred agents from the Federal Preventative Police (PFP) to Oaxaca City late Friday night and the airport was closed to commercial traffic. On Saturday, the president started his morning by holding an emergency meeting with governors from across the nation. The reunion had previously been scheduled, but Fox convened the governors at daybreak and focused discussion on the situation in Oaxaca. By midafternoon, the Interior Secretariat had issued an ultimatum to the Oaxaca People's Assembly (APPO), the coalition of leftist and civic organizations that has been calling for Oaxaca Gov. Ulises Ruiz's ouster since state police attempted to forcibly remove striking teachers from Oaxaca City's downtown plaza in mid-June. The violence strengthened the resolve of the teachers and APPO was formed three days later. In early evening, APPO responded by rejecting the ultimatum to evacuate the streets of the state capital and cede control of Oaxaca City to federal authorities. "We repudiate the involvement of the PFP and we will do everything in our power to keep the federal forces out of our city," said Florentino Lo'pez, an APPO spokesman. APPO leadership called on Oaxaca City residents to come out to the streets and reinforce the barricades set up throughout the state capital. At the same time, Lo'pez said the APPO was debating what terms would have to be met to take up the Interior Secretariat's offer to negotiate a solution to the five-month-old crisis, but continued to insist Gov. Ruiz must be removed. By late evening Saturday, members of APPO were reportedly vacating government buildings they have occupied for months. There were reports that the state attorney general's office had been cleared. This office was the site of a shoot-out on Friday where 12 people were wounded. Many barricades in the city center were also removed, but the main streets and highways into the city remained blockaded. In nearby Santa Mari'a Coyotepec, relatives of Esteban Zurita Lo'pez - one of the three men killed in Friday's violence - blamed the APPO and the teachers union for Zurita's death. Zurita was allegedly shot by an APPO supporter as he and other community leaders were trying to convince the protesters not to set up new barricades in the community. Four other local residents were badly injured by Molotov cocktails and bottle rockets fired by alleged APPO supporters. One of the local residents is in serious condition, while another lost his right arm. -- To unsubscribe from this list send a message containing the words unsubscribe chiapas95 (or chiapas95-lite, or chiapas95-english, or chiapas95-espanol) to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Previous messages are available from http://www.eco.utexas.edu/faculty/Cleaver/chiapas95.html or gopher to Texas, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Economics, Mailing Lists.
