Saturday, November 25, 2006

What About Mexican Human Rights Mr. Harper

Stephen Harper made a big issue last week about Human Rights in China. Well next week on December 1 he will be in Mexico to give recognition to the phony government of Felipe Calderón.

That election is still contested by the 'other' democratically elected president of Mexico;
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and in communities across Mexico, including the city of Oaxaca. Oaxaca has seen mass demonstrations against the corrupt governor, where an American journalist Brad Will was killed by Federal forces, and where people have been disappeared.

Will Harper speak out about the human rights abuses of the Fox/Calderón cabal? Why do I think not.

BTL:Mexican Government Fears Spread of Oaxaca Civil Society

As the movement of teachers, students, workers and indigenous groups marked six months of continuous protest in the Mexican city of Oaxaca, violence again erupted in the streets on Nov. 20, the day Mexicans celebrated the 96th anniversary of their nation's 1910 revolution. Running battles between the Federal Preventative Police -- firing tear gas and activists armed with sticks, slingshots and fireworks -- resulted in dozens of injuries and arrests.

Protests began in May, when teachers went out on strike demanding a pay increase and books for students. Oaxaca's Gov. Ulises Ruiz ordered police to attack the teachers and their supporters. That confrontation galvanized the teachers, sparked a civil society uprising and the formation of The People's Popular Assembly of Oaxaca or APPO, which demanded the removal of Gov. Ruiz, who many accuse of winning office by stealing the 2004 state election.

At the end of October, Mexican President Vicente Fox sent 4,000 federal troops to Oaxaca to remove protesters from the colonial city's central plaza, after more than a dozen people -- including Brad Will, an independent U.S. journalist -- had been killed by gunmen, whom protesters identify as undercover government agents.

UN expresses concern over Mexico police abuse

EU observer recommends second round for Mexico's presidential race

Mexico quietly exposes federal role in 'Dirty War'

Authorities in Oaxaca, Mexico deny reporting that US journalist shot at point blank range



See:

Dual Power In Mexico

Mexico



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2 comments:

Larry Gambone said...

Is it me or has there been a distinct lack of reporting in the corporate media about Oaxaca? We have been debating this in the Tyee discussion, so it could just be BC media. Some say the black out has to do with advertising for the lucrative tourist industry. This might be part of it, but I suspect it is more due to the fact our rulers don't want us getting ideas from the actions of our Oaxacan brothers and sisters. A direct democratic parallel government wouldn't be such a bad idea for BC with its corrupt slimeball treasonous government. What do you think?

EUGENE PLAWIUK said...

There has been a distinct lack of coverage about the Zapatistas for years after the initial coverage in 1999. wow was itthat long ago. The real crime is the MSM cover up of the murder of journalist Brad Will but then he didn't work for CBC, NBC, ABC, CNN, Fox, etc.
And Mexico isn't Iraq.