Peoples movement inaugurates its own president

On Nov. 20, the 96th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution of 1910, Mexican President Vicente Fox decided to cancel the traditional parade held that day. However, the people of Mexico, infused with the spirit of resistance that the anniversary commemorates, continued their struggle against oppression.

In Mexico City, a people’s inauguration was held to swear in Andrés Manuel López Obrador as Mexico’s legitimate president. This was a mass rejection of right-wing, pro-U.S. Felipe Calderón, who is to be sworn in on Dec. 1 despite massive protest of a corrupt and fraudulent election last July 2. The Associated Press reports that thousands were gathering on the morning of Nov. 20 to participate in the inauguration.

The AP quoted López Obrador as saying, “Nobody wants violence in our country, but there are people who give grounds for violence. There are a lot of people who say that, after July 2 the path of electoral politics is no longer viable.” (Nov. 20)

The Narco News Bulletin reports that in Chiapas, thousands of Indigenous residents successfully blocked all major roads and highways in the state on Nov. 20, standing in silent formation across the roads or highways in solidarity with the struggle of the people of the state of Oaxaca. The blockades and other business closures in honor of the strike left the streets “uncharacteristically quiet” on a national holiday that usually involves much traffic to the tourist sites in the area. (Nov. 20)

Protests have continued in Oaxaca, demanding the resignation of Ulises Ruiz and the withdrawal of the Federal Preventive Police (PFP), which have been occupying the central plaza of the city of Oaxaca and brutalizing protestors.

At least 30 “disappearances” of protestors have occurred since the arrival of the federal police. El Universal reports on the case of René Trujillo Martínez, a program announcer for Radio Universal—the radio station of the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO), which is the organization that has been leading the fight against repression in Oaxaca since May.

On Nov. 7, Trujillo and two of his friends were abducted from Trujillo’s home, held in a warehouse, questioned and tortured with electric shocks, needles under their fingernails, strangulation and beatings for three days. They were then forced to take pictures with guns, taken to the federal Attorney General’s Office in Oaxaca, and charged with possession of illegal firearms. (Nov. 20)

The most recent protests have focused on the documented sexual assaults and harassment against the women of Oaxaca by members of the PFP. Nancy Davies reports that on Nov. 19 more than two hundred people encircled the PFP, holding up mirrors “so they could see themselves as they really are.” (narconews.com, Nov. 20) On Nov. 20 a demonstration of the Oaxaca’s Coordination of Women was suppressed by police forces who threw piquín chili dissolved in water in the faces of the protestors. (Prensa Latina, Nov. 20.)

A Constitutive Congress of the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca has been formed, and met on the weekend of Nov. 10-12 to define its own constitution, and elect a State Council. The Congress announced, “In spite of the climate of repression that flourishes around the movement of the peoples of Oaxaca, it’s necessary not to stop, but to move ahead in the attainment of our objectives and toward solution to the demands of the Oaxaca peoples.” The State Council announced their upcoming events, including a State Forum of the Indigenous People on Nov. 28-29 and participation in the national movement against the presidential inauguration of Felipe Calderón on Dec. 1. (narconews.com)