Ulises Ruiz… the Denny Hastert of Mexico?
… or… I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!
No… not that he’s covering up sex crimes (that’d be Enrique Peña, the PRI-governor of the State of Mexico)but that he’s trying to blame his own incompetence on others — or, rather on others who expose his incompetence. Another key ally, PAN congressional leader, Jorge Zermeño, is now calling for Ruiz’ resignation.
The Fox administration has been claiming that destitution (that is the legal term for removing an incompetent elected official) would be undemocratic, but… given that it’s the people who want Ruiz out… nothing undemocratic about it at all (assuming he was even democratically elected to begin with — which is, itself, a dubious proposition, as reported yesterday in ¡Para justicia y liberdad!). What foreign reports fail to note (though the ¡Para justicia…! report does note) is that much of the opposition comes from PRI organziations within Oaxaca.
It’s the party’s own fault — trying to be everything to everybody for too many years, it’s natural that there are huge blocs in opposition. Just like Denny Hastert cannot on the one hand claim he’s representing a “moral majority” while simultanously presiding over immoral and unethical blocs within that same party.
Along with party-leader Zermada of PAN, the PRD congressional delegation is now also calling for destitution, which the Senate has every right to do. Maybe President Fox forgot how democratic it was back when he tried to have AMLO destituted by the Senate about two years ago.
As Kelly Arthur Garrett reports in today’s Mexico City Herald:
“Not only is (Ruiz) unable to govern, he is responsible for the breakdown of political and social coexistence in Oaxaca,” said Carlos Navarrete, the PRD Senate coordinator. “The state legislature has difficulty holding sessions … the state capital is socially and economically paralyzed … tens of thousands of children have been out of school for months, (and) the productive sector is suffering enormous losses.”
The Senate´s Interior Committee would hear debate on the removal procedure, known as “desaparición de poderes públicos,” or disappearance of state control. The membership of that committee was just decided on Tuesday. Presiding over it will be Jesús Murillo Karam, a PRI senator opposed to the removal of Ruiz.
But Javier González Garza, the PRD floor leader in the Chamber of Deputies, said he was confident that all sides will soon realize that a Ruiz exit is the only way forward toward a solution to the Oaxaca crisis. “His resignation alone won´t solve all the problems, but the problems won´t be resolved without his resignation,” he said. “Ulises has to step aside to clear the way for all the parties involved to discuss (solutions).”
González Garza said he supported an effort in the Senate to have Ruiz removed, but said he thinks the governor will step down before the process is complete.
“He´s already fallen,” the deputy said. “But nobody has told him yet.”
Meanwhile, the APPO and citizen’s representatives (led by Francisco Toledo) have walked out of negotiations within Mexico City, claiming Ruiz has to go before talks can continue. Ruiz was present at the meeting.
“He’s already fallen…” sounds like Hastert to me.
MINUTEMEN INVADE MEXICO!!!!!!!
Nothing happens. Hey, Romeo… Let’s go down to Mexico. I gotta an Ford Truck and a pocketful of dough. Let’s go down to Mexico.
It’s dull, but watch the very end… Billy Bob and Bubba Jue had a nice time looking at girls in Nuevo Laredo, and gawking… which is fine. But they really, really, really ought not to bring firearms into Mexico. What part of “illegal” don’t they understand?
The Great Wall of Texas… good for (shady) business
From Guadalajara-based Canadian journalist David Agren’s “Tales from the Chicken Bus”…
Politics and hurt feelings aside – the Mexican government likens the barrier to the Berlin Wall and considers the construction plans unneighborly – the biggest beneficiary will probably be polleros (traffickers), whose business of smuggling migrants should become a whole lot more lucrative.
In an insightful column in today’s Publico (Guadalajara), editor Luis Miguel Gonzalez laid out the polleros’ economics. According to a 1993 study, one of every six undocumented migrants hired a pollero. By 2004, the figure jumped to two out of every five. The value of the human-smuggling business is estimated to be worth $5 billion annually.
(Edited 14:30, Wednesday)
Xicanopwr and The Unapologetic Mexican present an excellent backgrounder on Oaxaca. Kelly Arthur Garrett (the “Mexico’s best damn political reporter in English”) with help Justino Miranda in Cuautla, Morelos and Jorge Octavio Ochoa in Oaxaca presents an overview in today’s Mexico City Herald:
Interior Secretary Carlos Abascal told Congress Tuesday that the federal government has no intention of using force to end the four-month-old civil strife that has closed the state´s schools, paralyzed Oaxaca City´s Historic Center and rendered the state government virtually impotent.
Abascal, the Fox administration official in charge of the ever-intensifying Oaxaca crisis, was interrupted and jeered by placard-carrying Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) legislators, but managed to make his point in no uncertain terms. “In the name of God, we will carry out absolutely no repression,” he said.But in the kind of hedged language that has convinced many striking teachers and allied social groups that a federal crackdown is imminent, Abascal also said the Fox administration would be within its rights in sending in federal police or military troops.
“The Constitution establishes the obligation of authorities to re-establish law and order,” he told a full session of the Chamber of Deputies. “But I am not anticipating an intervention.”
Abascal´s invocation of the deity in his remarks to Congress later prompted a wry response from a teachers´ spokesperson 100 kilometers away.
“He (Abascal) preaches from the pulpit with a crucifix in his right hand and a club in his left,” said Omar Olivera Espinosa, spokesperson for a contingent of several thousand teachers and their supporters who are marching from the city of Oaxaca to Mexico City.
Olivera made his comment in the town of Amilcingo in the state of Morelos, where the marchers rested Tuesday night.
Abascal criticized the Oaxaca teachers and the Oaxaca People´s Assembly (APPO) for spurning recent invitations to dialogue. “The efforts that this secretariat have made have not always been responded to,” he said. “We will continue to do everything within our reach.”
Abascal urged strike leaders to participate in a “forum” scheduled for Wednesday, at which bankers, business leaders, clergy members, party leaders and elected legislators plan to discuss a proposed reform package called the Pact for Governability, Peace and Development for Oaxaca.
But the union leaders announced Tuesday night that they would skip the forum, saying the list of participants was stacked in favor of “interest groups.”
Instead, Oaxaca teachers union leader Enrique Rueda Pacheco said a formal request had been sent to the Interior Secretariat for an “alternate table” at the forum, separate from the clergy, the business leaders and the governor.
If that request is honored, he said, the teachers will consider making the trip to Mexico City.
APPO leaders were still meeting Tuesday night to decide if they would follow suit with the teachers.
The teachers broke off talks with the federal government on Sept. 20 after becoming convinced that their demand for the ouster of Oaxaca Gov. Ulises Ruiz would not be honored.
Fox and Abascal´s National Action Party (PAN) has sided with the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in protecting Ruiz, though so far the PRI is the only political force openly calling for the use of federal troops to protect Ruiz´s state government.
APPO joined the teachers´ protest in June, after Ruiz decided to physically challenge the strikers instead of negotiating with them.
But the dozens of labor and social organizations that eventually united in APPO had opposed Ruiz long before his failed attempt to remove the striking teachers from their encampments in downtown Oaxaca City.
“There are robust antecedents in the authoritarian style of the previous governor, José Murat, who left behind (in 2004) a social polarization,” said political scientist Alberto Aziz Nassif in his weekly EL UNIVERSAL column Tuesday.
The PRI has had such a longtime lock on Oaxaca politics that Ruiz´s 2004 victory over a coalition candidate representing all the other parties was seen not as an indication of his popularity but a confirmation of the PRI´s ability to manipulate the electoral process in that state.
“Ulises came in with a credibility deficit and started right in with repressive actions against social leaders and an attack on independent media outlets, such as the daily Noticias,” said Aziz.
Only the PRD has backed the teachers and APPO in calling for Ruiz to step down, and in ruling out federal force under any circumstances.
PRD leaders said Tuesday they have called off a planned Oaxaca City meeting of their national committee that had been announced for Wednesday.
PRD secretary-general Guadalupe Acosta, who originally promoted the presence of the PRD leadership in the heart of the conflict as a deterrent to violence, said Tuesday he feared the meeting would be used as a pretext for trouble.
With talks stalled, the marchers steadily approaching Mexico City and Oaxaca kids still out of school, the crisis has turned into a kind of slow-motion waiting game.
Military helicopters circling over Oaxaca on Sunday and Monday added to the tension, as did several explosives set off in front of Oaxaca buildings Monday.
Federal Attorney General Office spokespersons on Tuesday said the bombs (which hurt nobody and did little damage) may have been the work of known guerrilla groups such as the Revolutionary People´s Army (EPR) using a new alias [see below]
APPO and the teachers suspect the explosions were deliberate provocations by authorities to justify a federal crackdown.
“If a political solution is achieved and Ruiz leaves … that would be a triumph of the political process,” said Aziz. “But if force is resorted to, that will only aggravate the conflict. We´ll see.”
The teachers’ march has reached Mexico City, and talks bbetween APPO, the Federal and State Government, the Catholic Church and a citizens group led by Francisco Toledo are still scheduled to start Wednesday (tomorrow).
Oaxaca Tense at start of Talks
(I know it’s the Cuban News Agency… but for “just the facts” news, they generally have better Latin American coverage than the U.S. and Canadian press)
Mexico, Oct 3 (Prensa Latina) Tension still prevails in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, though the Secretariat of Government has guaranteed security will be maintained to resume talks with its social movement.
Oaxaca residents are on the alert, after military planes flew over the city last weekend, three firecrackers exploded in the banking area, and one student is missing.
Also, the tense situation persists amid the risk of an intervention by the federal forces to solve the socio-political conflict in Oaxaca, whose residents are demanding the dismissal of governor Ulises Ruiz.
The resumption of negotiations with the leadership of the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (APPO) is scheduled for Wednesday, when the so called pact for the governability, peace, and development of the state is expected to be signed.
Regarding this, President Vicente Fox assured his government will spare no effort in solving the Oaxaca conflict, but warned that if things do not work out, those who violate the law will be punished.
Fox also indicated his administration favors talks and is working hard to reach all the agreements necessary to solve the crisis democratically.
Enrique Méndez with Octavio Vélez in Oaxaca (Jornada)my translation
The People’s Assembly of Oaxaca (APPO) has responded to Interior Minister Carlos Abascal Carranza, saying that if the Army enters the State Capital, “you can be sure, it’s lot us who will be running.”
APPO leader Flavio Sosa said Abascal is talking out of both sides of his mouth, warning us we need to bargain in good faith, while issuing an ultimatum we aren’t going to accept.
Also this morning, Oaxaca Governor Ulises Ruiz appeared in Llano Park to “inaugurate” a stone image of the Virgin of Guadalupe produced in a local quarry, protected by about 500 municipal and ministerial police. Ruiz took advantage of the occasion to demand the Federal government “takes the side of the citizens who want their rights restored,” because “federal crimes were committed by the civil movement that is demanding he stepped down, contrary to law.”
“We are going to meet the needs of a society that is fed up”, he added.
APPO considered Ruiz’ appearance, in an armored SUV surrounded by armed guards as a provocation.
In other news, a tense situation has developed in the community of San Antonino Castillo where the head of the local Padres de Familia (an organization something like the PTA, crossed with the Christian Coalition — trans. note) shot the APPO selected police chief, and was taken into custody by the community.
Read that last paragraph again… where is the violence coming from? And, it looks to me like the APPO is not just an anarchist group, but has been taking the necessary steps to form functioning municipal governments.
A few bombs went off the other morning outside banks in downtown Oaxaca, supposedly set by some group calling itself the “Revolutionary Armed Organization of the People of Oaxaca” according to the professional anti-terroritsts (it’s a security consulting firm) “Strafor” . When I first read about it, I remembered the similar incident about two years ago in Morelos, where another crooked governor was fighting for his political life (though in Morelos, it was only one non-conforming municipality). Then, the alleged “bank bombing terrorists” turned out to be the State Police… part of the plan to force the feds to intervene. Apparently, that’s what’s going on here, though the new “Revolutionary Armed Organization” could be any number of groups … pro or anti- Ulises.
Organized Crime Special Prosecutor José Luis Santiago Vasconcelos said the story didn’t pass the smell test. There is still common sense on the Federal level.
Something old, something new (not Oaxaca, not politics)
This fellow showed up Tuesday at Templo Mayor, where he’s been hiding in plain sight on Mexico City’s Zocalo since 1524 or so. (Photo: AP)
2 Octubre: Tlatelolco 1968… Oaxaca 2006
Today is another anniversary. 2 October 1968 is — or should be — on everyone’s mind when we talk about Oaxaca. Then, as now, the “intellegencia” and the people (ordinary people) said ¡No Mas! to corruption and missed opportunities and misplaced national priorities. Then, the Secretaria de Gobernacion and the President took “drastic measures” against “anarchy.”
Tlatelolco was the beginning of the end of the old system. The army itself spent decades undoing the shame (it’s apocryphical, but the General who fired on the Politechnical High School is said to have spent the rest of his life apologizing to school kids… and telling the Presidents that the Army was not trained to attack High Schools). The PRI no longer automatically was THE party of all. And, the people no longer automatically trusted the President.
Now… Oaxaca. The Secretaria de Gobernacion, Carlos Abascal may come from a fascist family, and he may represent the “law n’ order” side of PAN, but he is, publically anyway, telling the press that there is no “war” in Oaxaca. And, “thanks” to George W. Bush’s mishandling of the immigration question, there’s little chance the Mexicans are paying attention to U.S. claims of “subversion”.
While there isn’t any good explaination for naval overflight of Oaxaca and the obvious explanation is that the Mexican Marines are supporting PPF officers who are ready to enter the City,, it may be that Fox is just playing hardball, getting everyone to reach an agreement.
I’m still hopeful for a peaceful settlement. Life, it seems, goes on even under trying circumstances. I received the following e-mail last Sunday from a non-political foreign resident of Oaxaca:
I wish I knew what “The Real Story” is.
As I stepped out of the plaza on my way to the market this morning, I noted a whole bus load of tourist, and more tourist than I have seen in days wandering down the street, and even some more in the Internet cafe. Not droves of them as in years past, but a sprinkling here and there, gives one hope.
In the market I see a flower seller creating an arrangement of flowers in a basket, it is the type that the dancers wear are their head in a festival, and that tells me much, there is always hope in preparation for a festival, you know.Again, daily, I find Oaxaca to be friendly, hopeful, full of color, smells, taste, art, smiles, Oaxaca continues to be kind to me. I went to a new exhibition down at the Museum on Garcia Vigil and Independence this evening, there are the works of various artist celebrating the life of Benito Juarez, took in more than I could digest, walked away stuffed on colors, textures, concepts.
Wandered down thru a Zocolo which is packed with sellers selling tourist stuff to no tourist, it is late and the few tourist I saw earlier today are no longer out. Ironic that APPO gave the ambulatory sellers their rights to work the Zocolo that the governor had revoked a year ago when he remodeledand now there are no tourist to sell to. Oh well, that was a no win situation. If his cabinet had not wasted the money remodeling, and not chased out the sellers, oh well, it is done.
So, as I wander, past the stalls, I see this little kid sleeping in a crate and I just know this is a perfect picture. I ask his Mom if I can shoot, she looks at her husband, I comment to him, “es por arte” and with those magic words, he nods in agreement. I get my picture, and buy a fuzzy little yellow wind up chicky toy from them for my granddaughter.I walk past a kid twirling fire batons in a ring of fire, I get another good shot.
Up Alcala on my way home, it is almost deserted now. I stop for a second to ask the guy selling bus tickets about transport, he assures me all is normal as usual, one can take a first class bus to Mexico City anytime they want.
I stop in and buy popcorn from a couple of girls in the ice cream shop, I am the only client and as I pay while I wait for the popcorn to pop, the girl ask me if I want a receipt, I tell her not to concern herself, I doubt she will confuse me with the non existent customers crowding the place. We have a great laugh over that concept. It never ceases to amaze me how no matter if these are difficult times, it is so easy to raise a smile or a laugh out of someone here.
And again, I realize how blessed I am to have chosen my path to be Oaxaca.
The Unapologetic Mexican, is, as always, eloquent on the “big picture”:
Look to Mexico, swarmed upon by the same criminals that have lived throughout time, in every land. Look to Mexico, where the people understand that it is better to die bloodied and with your heart and hands in accordance, than it is to ride a comfortable chair to Hell. Look to Mexico, the land that birthed the man who said Es mejor morir de pie, que continuar viviendo de rodillas. It is better to die on your feet than it is to continue to live on your knees.Look to Mexico, in her time of need. But do not look with pity, for she will live on, and her spirit will never die. Regardless of what el gobierno does or does not do. Look to her to know better how we ought to live. Perhaps you and I can draw strength from those proud people. For it is you and I—right here in America and snoozing in the shadow of those same dark forces that Oaxacans meet with axe handles and gasoline—who are in true need of help.
He’s still dead…
THANKS, Francisco!
Today is the 70th anniversary of Franco’s assumption of power as head of the Army and Head of State in Spain. This was one of the great tragedies of the last century, but Europe’s loss was Mexico’s gain.
Mexico was still recovering from the Revolution in 1936. Pre-revolutionary Mexico had depended on outside expertise for much of its industry and commerce.
Mexico’s extremely liberal asylum policies (if you could find a job, and you were fleeing political persecution, you were welcome to stay as long as you liked) and the Mexican government’s anti-fascist tilt (you can still claim automatic immigrant status if you’re fleeing a fascist state), meant Spain — and Europe’s — loss was Mexico’s gain. It wasn’t just artists and intellectuals like Luis Buñuel, but businessmen and engineers and ordinary workers arrived bringing needed skills at a time when the whole world was in a depression.
And they continued to come until Franco was dead. I had a student whose dad had come from Catalonia at 16 to avoid the draft. Santa Maria la Ribera, my Mexico City neighborhood, went from a conservative to a leftist stronghold, thanks in good part to cheap housing available in the 30s, and the large number of Spaniards (and later German, French, Polish and Dutch refugees) who found apartments in the neighborhood.
In the Franco Era, Mexico City was the center of Hispanic culture and arts. The Colegio de Mexico and Fondaction de Cultura, originally “Spanish Republican” institutes in exile, are major publishers and academic insitutes. It would be impossible to name all the Spanish cafes, publishers, art galleries dating from the Francoist era.
Mexico’s support for the Republic went beyond the “good Mexican bullets” Ernest Hemingway wrote of. The Republic still existed — as a government-in-exile in Mexico. The photo below has nothing to do with Mexico, but it shows the stupidity of that regime. Eva Peron, hardly a democrat, adn not the smartest economist on the planet still knew the basics. She was trying to sell Argentine wheat to Spain. “What for?” asked el caudillo? “So there’s something edible in your bread.” Evita replied.
For many years, Spaniards could receive Republican passports upon arrival, no questions asked. And come they did. Some were just hungry, and couldn’t afford Argentine wheat. Some, like Opus Dei supporters, wanted to implant Francoismo in Mexico. The county has become more conservative, but I have to admit that their flagship, Universidad de Anahuac, does turn out some smart alumni. Some — like Vincente Fox’s mother — were Basques who saw no future in Francoist Spain.
Basque culture survived, more, sometimes in Mexico than in the Basque country. In Mexico, Basques kept the language in literature alive. In the Basque country, persecuted beyond all reason, they became what are now called “terrorists”. However, the “Basque Terrorists” did the world a great favor. In 1974 when they blew up Franco’s successor, Luis Carrero Blanco, with a hundred kilos of dynamite under his armored Dodge Dart. Launched five stories straight up, and coming down on an apartment house, Carrero Blanco became Spain’s first astronaut. Thankfully, he didn’t survive the experience, and neither did Francoismo. There is some suggestion that Mexican Basques were involved in the operation.
Modern Spain is progressive (Franco probably hasn’t stopped spinning in his grave from the marriage of two gay air force officers — by a mayor who belongs to the successor party of the Falange earlier this year)and wealthy. The huge change it underwent after Franco’s death is due to two factors — my buddy, King Juan-Carlos took good advise, and the Mexico’s tolerant and liberal social (not political) climate kept Spanish culture alive during the 40 years of darkness.
Oaxaca — Naval helicopters signal end to protests?
(UPDATE: Sunday —The Secretaria de Gobernacion announced that the military will dislodge the protesters Wednesday, if talks are unsuccessful. They’re playing hardball, and — like I said — I expect the Governor will be forced to resign). Sara from Oaxaca has the “woman in the street” (or, rather, woman staying at home) report in the “Comments” section.
Helicopters Flying Over Oaxacan Encampments
Navy flyovers of teachers union and APPO lead to “maximum alert”. Warings that protesters may be forcibly dislodged tonight.Jorge Octavio Ochoa (translation by “St. Jacques” and myself)
Oaxaca City, Oaxaca (Saturday 30 September 2006)
At 4:30, 4:50 and 5:00 p.m., two Navy helicopters flew through the airspace over the center of Oaxaca City, apparently doing reconnaisance. [Sunday’s Jornada confirms that the navy is transporting PFP — national police paramilitary units — with flights from Salias Cruz and Baja de Hualtalco]
From La Ley radio, the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (APPO) called for a total alert. At the same time they asked their members to show prudence and calm. “It is not the deciding moment for us. What the PFP [Federal Preventive Police] and Ulises [Oaxacan Governor Ulises Ruiz] want is to provoke a stampede.”With this in mind, the APPO called for strengthened vigilence, reiterating that the operation is designed to spread panic.Furthermore, the station claimed Federal forces would seek to dislodge protesters, beginning at 8:00 p.m., and that the attacks would come from two flanks: one on the highway that goes in the direction of Mexico City and another on the encampments erected in the center of the Oaxacan city.
Flavio Sosa, one of the directors of APPO, called on all the group’s members to mobilize and carry out a march around the Zocalo capital plaza [in the center of Oaxaca City].
In a telephone conversation, Omar Flavio Sosa, asked the governmental representative, Francisco Yañez Centeno: Is this the governmental response?”
The government functionary responded that the flights are only for reconnaisance or vigilance.
Even so, Flavio Sosa expressed his doubts: “I don’t believe it. Fox will have blood on his hands if they undertake these these operations.”
The Navy helicopters, one of them with the call letters AMMLT-200, also crossed the airspace where the broadcast antennas of La Ley radio are found, which is the only one which continues transmitting APPO’s statements, after Radio Oro went off the air yesterday due to supposed technical difficulties.
From the kiosk of this city, the directorate of APPO began lighting bonfires to signal the maximum alert.
Something is going on… Jornada reports that APPO claimed shots were fired at their encampments last night. But, as far as anyone knows, the Feds and APPO will be negotiating a settlement this week. Given Ulises’ actions last week — where it looks as if his guards fired on the protesters (and may have been the people behind the attacks on Ricardo Rocha) — the flyovers and the shots may not be connected. Ulises MAY be trying to provoke an excuse for a crackdown before the Feds — who are fed up, basically — remove him from office and put in … who knows, stay tuned. I’m betting, as an outside chance, Demetrio Soldi, the PRD ex-senator who ran for Mexico City Jefe de Gobernacion as a PANista. will be the interim governor. It makes sense: the opposition to Ulises is from all non-PRI parties (and even from some within the larger “PRI family”, like Elba Esther)
No, they aren’t headed for the border…
Oaxaca schoolteachers march on Mexico City. Photo taken near the Mixteca community of Petlacingo Oaxaca by AP photographer Joel Merino. While the PRI is still making some claims that Federal troops are needed (to fire on more civilians?), the Federal Government seems to have finally stepped in, announcing they will hold talks with the APPO and the Teachers on October 4.
OK, maybe a terrorist did cross the border…
Why did I have to find out about this from a CANADIAN source?
The Bush Administration prefers to paint the War on Terror in stark terms of good and evil, but the reality is not all terror suspects are considered equal. That much was clear on the same day that the nation solemnly recalled the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, when a federal magistrate recommended freeing a man being held on immigration charges who is also awaiting retrial in Venezuela for the bombing of a Cuban airliner 30 years ago that resulted in the death of all aboard, including the Cuban national fencing team.Cuban militant Luis Posada Carriles has been fighting for his release since May 17, 2005, when Department of Homeland Security officials arrested him in Miami for entering the country without having a visa or passing through passport control at the border. But in a move that may come back to haunt the U.S. government Posada, despite his suspected terrorist past, was held on immigration violations, not terror-related charges…
He claims he came in through Mexico by car and then took a bus to Miami. But it is widely believed that a friend may have smuggled him into Miami by boat.
The only other terrorist incident at the Mexican border, BTW, was a stupid gringo from Minnesota trying to enter Mexico with some vague idea of joining a Somali jihad.
Not good… Oaxaca update…Reporter beaten, one shot… and desperate housewives take control
Dane Schiller, of the San-Antonio Express-News reports from Mexico City:
MEXICO CITY — Tension spiked in the state capital of Oaxaca after masked men armed with clubs searched a luxury hotel room by room, looking for the governor, who was rumored to be there but wasn’t.
The state government insisted those who carried out the attack were members of a group of striking teachers and their supporters who have controlled the city’s center for months.
…
Activists and police had their biggest clash in months Sunday when hundreds of people marched on the Camino Real hotel, a stone compound built as a convent in 1576.
They surrounded the hotel, and about 40 people entered and searched restaurants, guest rooms and other areas.
The Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca, known as APPO, said on its Web site that one member was shot outside the hotel by police or security agents who fired more than 60 rounds.
…
The group searching for Ruiz on Sunday instead found a nationally prominent radio and TV personality, Ricardo Rocha, who had interviewed two congressmen in his room.
While the intruders, who identified themselves as APPO members, threatened to break down the door, the congressmen hid in the bathroom and used their cellular phones to call for help, said Daniel Robles, a producer who works with Rocha.
The congressmen later escaped out a side door, but Rocha was clubbed, temporarily detained and had some of his equipment and video recordings confiscated.
Daniel Dehesa Mora, a Oaxacan and federal congressman with the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, said the men who entered the Camino Real were disguised state police officers trying to make activists look dangerous.
“You could tell from their military-style haircuts and the tone of their voices,” he said. “Also, everyone there knows who is who.”
APPO has a “mobile brigade” that patrols the city to ensure government officials can’t conduct official business. Members have entered offices and detained people.
The organization operates its own security force and has erected more than 100 barricades throughout the city to control who comes and goes after dark.
NO, it is not ok to beat up reporters, even if they are in the same hotel as shitheads like Ulises Ruiz! I’m appalled that the usual left-wing English-language sources (like Narco News) have yet to comment on this. Even (as U.S. newspapers always call him) “ex-communist Mexico City Mayor” Alejandro Encinas was quick to defend Rocha and was appalled by what happened. Encinas, ironically, was attending a luncheon to honor “Freedom of the Press” when he was informed of the doings in Oaxaca.
Ciro Gomez Leveya interviewed Rocha yesterday for Radio Foruma (Real Player video here).
And… I am more than a little suspicious that Congressman Dehensa Mora is right. This sounds like Oaxaca… where the previous governor tried to pass off a faked assasination attempt (and got himself actually shot in the process — the dolt!) as a “extremist plot” to overthrow the state government.
The “extremists” tend to be more like these desperate housewives turned TV news anchors and media moguls… Soldatas de la revolucion mediatico? Moms?
(Google Videos don’t always work, for some reason: if not, here’s the link.
Light My Fire!
The “missionary” season(summer) is ending and my own “virtual” hunting season has begun. The Christian neighbors to the north have been planting their ‘seeds’ all summer long throughout Mexican cities and rural villages. The focus of most of their energies has been on the poor and uneducated indigenous villagers, young orphans, alcoholics, troubled teens, and the aged. Now I’m about to turn my focus on the Evangelicals and their management teams.
“I have no problems with Jesus Christ; it’s his fan club that disturbs me.” (unknown author)
Too many well-meaning Christians are piling into their vans to do “good works” south of the border in the Lord’s name. They claim to be rescuing souls so that they can enter heaven. The missionaries begin their mission by passing out candy and leaflets to unsuspecting villagers. Before they know it, the children and parents are invited to attend get-to-know-you parties which are sponsored by the missionaries. More candy and small toys are given to the kids, teens get to see Bible movies, and the group sings along to Christian music. Before you can light a candle, their new “friends” are building them an orphanage and a playground. “What the heck, you’re so nice, we’ll build a little meeting hall for your alcoholics to hold meetings in, too. ”
“Gee, you’re such good people, we’ll build you a simple church and we’ll help you pray for answers to all your problems. If you’d like to go to heaven, someday, we can teach you how to be “saved”, otherwise, the devil owns your soul.” Simple as 1-2-3.
“Onward Christian Soldiers” They are soldiers, indeed. They are armed combatants who use Christ as a “front” for a diabolical goal. Christ, orphanages, food kitchens, toys, used clothing, and Bibles are there for window dressing. They will dress Christ up as a rock star or as Santa Claus in order to enlist these Mexican peasants into their army. They want numbers…. BABY!
Like TV ratings or “hits” on a blog, it’s all about numbers. It’s all about world domination! These missionaries are working Africa, India, China and the Phillipines as well as Mexico to ‘spread God’s word’ and make conversions. According to the http://www.crusadewatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=337&Itemid=27 there are presently 395 foreign mission agencies in Mexico …., # of service agencies… 205, # of major missionary institutions… 1,500, # of minor missionary institutions … 5,000. These numbers are not insignificant!
Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s first elected Prime Minister (1963-1964) and President (1964-1978) said: “When the missionaries arrived, the Africans had the land and the missionaries had the Bible. They taught us to pray with our eyes closed. When we opened them, they had the land and we had the Bible.”
Evangelical missionary work is a “glorified” pyramid scheme that keeps on giving! Their real goal isn’t to “save souls”, it’s to build their army. The real “mission” is to put up high numbers in order to influence governments for their own self-interests. The end-game is world domination. It’s a lobbying movement to end all lobbying movements. The Catholic Church did it in Mexico centuries ago and now the Evangelicals, the Mormons, the Muslims etc, are back (in Mexico) to increase their own flocks…. full steam ahead.
Evangelism is unethical. It is dishonest and arrogant to impose ones beliefs on another culture by the use of trickery and deception. Whether they come with guitars, or candy, on skateboards or in caravans…. they bring trouble. Every man, woman or child, peasant or scholar has the right to his/her own spiritual beliefs and practices.
“Most of the true Christian denominations are not involved in missions and evangelism. They strongly argue that missions is the corrupted and evil expression of true Christianity.” Crusade Watch
“Religion is sort of like a lift in your shoes. If it makes you feel better, fine. Just don’t ask me to wear your shoes. ” [George Carlin]
“In the fuss over the human loss and its political implications, what was largely overlooked is the extraordinary vanity and presumption that underlie the zeal of missionaries. They make it their goal and active business to disrupt the most fundamental ideals and values of the people on whom they inflict themselves. The measure of missionary success is how much dissatisfaction they can create among the often-poverty-stricken people they encounter. Missionaries only fail when their victims are holywaterproof.
Missionaries are frank imperialists. But because they operate in the spiritual realm, they continue to enjoy a fuzzy kind of permission to conduct a kind of business that is largely impossible in other less ethereal spheres of life.” New York Press~Nov. 22, 2005
Amen, brothers and sisters!
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