Kate Sherman: On the Ground in Oaxaca

NOVEMBER 29th, 2006

I am far away from Oaxaca city, writing this. Still, the news arrives and I have also looked on the internet to see what is happening. All of the papers are reporting massive abductions and arrests of those involved in the movement by police and Priístas. When you are picked up by police, you are likely to be beaten, tortured and thrown in jail without charges. When you are picked up by the Priístas, your life is in God´s hands. (So to speak.) Even one of the sons of Doctora
Bertha was arrested, as well as the brother of Flavio Sosa, a major media figure of the APPO. It is getting really scary. Reports from Mexico City are also finding their way. The PRD has taken over the congress building to prevent the inauguration of Felipe Calderón. They say they will not leave the building until after December 1st, when he is supposed to be sworn in as President of Mexico. There were also rumors flying that the PFP would be called to Mexico City and that they would be replaced by the army. Many of the so-called PFP in Oaxaca are actually military in disguise, but a change of uniform would mean an change of rules. While they are disguised in the uniform of the PFP, they have to follow PFP orders. When they are in military uniforms, they have license to massacre. Horrible images of machine-gun massacres of the movement appear in my mind from time to time. Today, someone told me they had heard on the news that the PFP were going to stay in Oaxaca . If this is true, I am relieved. We know the PFP. We know their strategies, we know their weapons, and we know what they can and cannot do. They are a known enemy. If they are replaced by the military, it will be a whole new ballgame; it will be nothing but death. Things are truly getting very ugly here and I am glad to be far away from it all for short while.