Urgent Solidarity with Oaxaca

In addition to local solidarity actions such as protests at Mexican embassies and consulates, civil society organizations in Oaxaca are now calling for people from throughout Mexico and the world to come to Oaxaca to support them in resisting government repression...see the communiqué below and take action!

Encampment for Dignity and Against Repression in Oaxaca
Donate Seventy-Two Hours for Peace
By Civil Society Organizations of Oaxaca
October 3, 2006

Since the beginning of Oaxaca’s conflict, despite the arbitrary outrages to which the population has been subjected, there had not been such fear that the conflict would be resolved through the use of senseless, indiscriminate force.

The government’s discourse in recent days shows that there is a repositioning on its part going on in order to obtain control of the conflict and contain it, so that the people begin to accept that there will be no destitution of or resignation by Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, and that will be under the current government structure that what is being called a “New Reform” will be developed for the state.

The government has already begun the first phase of this operation, which is based the intimidation of the population, in order to persuade it not to continue fighting for justice.

Since last week there have been aerial operations on the part of the armed forces, mobilization of troops from the Federal Preventive Police, the Army and the Navy as part of preparations for an intervention in Oaxaca.

The undersigned social organizations and Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO) members make an urgent call to the people of Oaxaca, of Mexico, and of the world to come and form an “Encampment for Dignity and Against Repression in Oaxaca”; to come out and defend the Oaxacan people and avoid bloodshed due to the lack of vision on the part of our politicians.

All of us who want to see a political solution to the conflict, which will only happen once Ulises is gone, must form peace and solidarity brigades in order to secure and safeguard the welfare of the Oaxacan people, in such a way that we persuade those who think crudely that bloodshed will push this conflict in a new direction.

We cannot allow repression to be the solution. Let us all participate in the encampment for dignity and against repression dressed in white, as a clear signal that we are in favor of a peaceful movement and of a political and dignified resolution. Let us also go out into the streets with bandanas of different colors, to send the signal that we are a movement of many diverse actors that are willing to protect our compañeras and compañeros.

The encampments will be a form of cultural expression, unlike the crude and sterile political and military activity. Oaxaca is a state of immense cultural, stemming from tremendous ancestral struggles, which has always been characterized by the dignity of its people. Let us demonstrate that Oaxaca’s dignity is humanity’s dignity.

The encampments will be installed beginning Wednesday, October 4 at 12:00 noon, in the Santo Domingo Esplanade, and will be renewed every 72 hours. Participants should bring blankets, tents, napsacks, sleeping bags, nylon, umbrellas and food.

For more information you can check the website www.oaxacalibre.org (Spanish). Confirm your participation or send messages of support to comunicacion@educaoaxaca.org.

Please, help us to distribute this communiqué and participate with your presence.

SHOUT NO TO REPRESSION!!!
PROTECT THE OAXACAN PEOPLE!!!

Civil Society Organizations of Oaxaca

Alternativas para la Equidad y la Diversidad AC, Centro de Apoyo al Movimiento Popular Oaxaqueño CAMPO AC, Centro para los Derechos de la Mujer Ñääxuiin AC, Centro de Desarrollo Comunitario Centéotl AC, Centro de Encuentros y Diálogos Interculturales AC, Centro Regional de Derechos Humanos Bartolomé Carrasco AC, Centro de Derechos Indígenas Flor y Canto AC, Centro de Derechos Humanos Ñu’uji Kandí AC, Centro de Estudios de la Mujer y la Familia AC, Centrarte AC, Coalición de Maestros y Promotores Indígenas de Oaxaca CMPIO AC, Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad AC (Oaxaca), Colectivo Nueva Babel AC, CODICE AC Comité de Vigilancia Ciudadana, Comité Cerezo Oaxaca, CHAMIXEZACUI AC, Enlace Comunicación y Capacitación Oaxaca AC, ECCOS AC, Foro Oaxaqueño de la Niñez, Grupo de Apoyo a la Educación de la Mujer GAEM, Grupo Mesófilo AC, Ixquixochitl AC, Grupo de Mujeres 8 de Marzo AC, Iniciativas para el Desarrollo de la Mujer Oaxaqueña IDEMO AC, Liga Mexicana por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos LIMEDDH AC, La Ventana AC, Organización de Agricultores Biológicos ORAB AC, Ojo de Agua Comunicación SC, Observatorio por los Derechos Humanos y la Democracia, PAIR A.C. Promotora de Servicios para el Desarrollo PRODER SC, PROCAO AC, Pueblo Jaguar AC, Red Oaxaqueña de Derechos Humanos AC, Servicios para una Educación Alternativa EDUCA AC, Sinergia para el Desarrollo Integral Sustentable AC, Tequio Jurídico AC, Universidad de la Tierra en Oaxaca AC, Unión de Comunidades Indígenas de la Zona Norte del Istmo UCIZONI AC, Unión de Organizaciones de la Sierra Juárez de Oaxaca UNOSJO SC, Yeni Navan.