I packed my bags and set off to Oaxaca, Mexico. Initially my interests were in the region's artistic traditions and the promise of relaxation. I was going there to participate in a writer's retreat embraced in jasmine and bougainvillea flowers. One afternoon, the street leading to my bed and breakfast were blocked off. There were large white pick-up trucks on both ends of the street. Each corner of the bed of the trucks had a piece of rope attaching the truck to street posts one extending a sign that read "Return what you stole". The other extending a sign that read "Aguas Frias" Within the barricade stood older campesinos (farm-workers) their wives, and their children protesting. The men sat calmly speaking amongst each other, their wives sat around an iron pot wearing house dresses and aprons as if they were getting ready to cook a large feast. Beside them lay a blue tarp and an open tent roof that kept a large jug of water and children sat playing cards. The protesters chose this location because it was the front of the Oaxacan Governer's house and, ironically the front of my bed and breakfast.
A young man explained to me that they were here to protect the rights of their pueblo (village), San Pedro. They were an indigenous group and spoke Zapoteca so we both sat fumbling in Spanish.
As day grew to dusk I sat on the sidewalk consuming coffee and pan dulce discussing the politics of San Pedro. The companero explained that their traditional system, Uzos y Costumbres, (Uses and Customs) (WHAT IS THIS?) was being overturned by the current governor and they were seeking recognition of the system as well as their holiday, October 12 celebrating the Patron Saint of San Pedro. The protest continued for days.
One afternoon the governor's house was covered in protest graffiti and by supper it had been buffed clean. Two days later I awoke and the street was open to care traffic leaving no trace of the campesinos. In their place stood the formal-suited and booted Federales strolling back and forth with their guns and walkie-talkies.
I traveled to the Zocalo, the market circle in the heart of the city. There I noticed a group of campesinos demonstrating in front of the State Capitol. There I met a young man, which for safety's sake I'll refer to as "El Coraje". El Coraje is one of two international human rights observers assigned to Oaxaca. He gladly filled me in on their current campaign and the issues facing the men, women, and children that were camping out in front of the State Capitol. On May 31, twenty-six indigenous campesinos from Xochiltepec were murdered by high powered military style weapons along a road located in a place known as Aguas Frias, (hence the name on the sign posted in front of the governor's house.) Alberto Antonio Perez , the driver of the truck they were travelling in, and his son, fled the scene. Along with two other survivors they were the only witnesses to the murders.
The very next day, June 1, state police raided the community of Las Huertas, in the municipality of Teojomulco. Masked men without warrants violently ransacked, harassed and arrested 17 residents. Among these was a 69-year-old woman and four adolescent students who were accused of committing the execution. A large amount of money, totaling close to 164,000 pesos, was stolen from the ransacked homes by the police, who were working under the apparatus of Attorney General Sergio Santibanez.
The governor of Oaxaca, Jose Casab Murat, along with the state attorney general, Santibanez has framed-up the citizens of Teojomulco with concocted motives of drug trafficking, forestry, and agricultural problems.
Faced with this injustice, the people of Teojomulco sought representation through the Frente Civil de la Sierra Cur, an organization formed to defend legal rights.
If the motives sustained by the government are false, an investigation by the
federal precinct is urged, because it is clear that the state government acts
with bias to invent guilty parties and "clean its image". It is evident that the
crafty massacre obeys the obscure interests that they seek to hide, and that
the form in which the 27 peasants of Xochiltepec were executed shows
evidence of commandos especially trained for this type of action. Such
actions have never been put in place by any town of this region; and such
actions have much in common with occurrences in Acteal, Aguas Blancas
and other places where paramilitary groups have operated. Coincidentally,
this region has the most rich mineral resources in the country, and the
exploitation of these resources is examined in the neoliberal project Plan
Puebla-Panama. There is an initial investment of 250 million dollars, where
one of the principal stockholders is the ex-wife of the former president Carlos IS THIS A QUOTE?
Salinas de Gortari.
The town and supportive communities joined in a march to the capitol of Oaxaca, and then to Mexico City to demand a federal investigation. Teojomulco began a permanent sit in the Zocalo, the center plaza of Oaxaca City, obstructing the front entrance of the Governor's Palace. The state government reacted by releasing the 2 youngest prisoners, citing insufficient evidence.
El Coraje and I continued to talk over beers at a local rebel's bar. Pictures of Che and an older woman smoking a joint hung on the wall and Manu Chou was playing on the juke box. El Coraje went on to explain he was one of two human rights observers on this campaign. He has been camping out with the campesinos for months. As a human rights observer he had to be present between the hours of midnight and two in the morning. He is the true Oro de Mexico being an American with a camera. The police come with the intent to harass but seeing him with his camera they begrudgingly turn the other cheek.
In daylight they threaten "Don't worry about us we will not be the one's to kill you, we'll just hire some hungry child on the streets." We order another beer and shuffle through roasted peanuts and garlic sprinkled with chili.
"El Coraje" is affiliated with AZUCTAL an International Indigenous Rights coalition composed of thousands of activists. He's in desperate need of international media coverage. Amnesty had come but left when they see how dire the situation was. When researching on the Internet there was no coverage at all of this incident through the Mexican solidarity network or La Jornada. So in keeping true to my word I'm writing this article.
Also contacting any media and spreading the word would help immensely. El Coraje also encourages any brave young Americans to join him in protest in Oaxaca City.
Raise Money
There is an obvious need to fund those that have been assembled
in front of the State Capitol. They can benefit from bottled water, food and
technical equipment such as computers, printers, scanners, and digital
equipment to support the website. Currently El Coraje is working at local
internet cafes but can only be online for a short period of time and his work
alone requires at least eight hours a day. To add insult to injury those that are
incarcerated in Mexico need to pay rent.. it costs more to sleep on the floor vs.
standing space. While in jail you also need to purchase your own food and
can go days without eating if you have no money. Currently women are selling
bags their husbands make in prison saving up the proceeds for their rent or
food. These bags will soon be displayed on the above-mentioned website.
Please contact
elcorajedemagon@hotmail.comfor more info.
Beyond Oaxaca's famous cuisine, grasshoppers, mole, and mariposas, I have returned home with a new fervor to organize both here and abroad.
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