MEXICO: Armed gunmen fire on striking teachers in Oaxaca

Shots rang out late Wednesday (September 28) raising tensions throughout the city of Oaxaca and putting striking teachers on edge for what's to come. "We are peaceful people and were the target of this aggression," said Angel a teacher on strike who was visibly shaken by the shooting. The teachers, who voted not to return to classes this week despite being threatened with the loss of their jobs, have been joined by left-wing and Indian groups opposed to Ruiz. They say the governor, who refuses to resign and wants federal police to end the protests, has allowed off-duty local police to shoot demonstrators. "We believe that and demand that the Fox government, and Calderon, the PAN, the PRI, that they take the necessary measures, the only one, which is that Ulises Ruiz Ortiz step down for peace in Oaxaca," said Angle holding bullet shells. Five people have been killed in drive-by shootings and ambushes, and protesters have set up barricades and hijacked buses to barricade streets. Business leaders in the state, who are suffering from a loss of tourist dollars, want President Vicente Fox to intervene and put an end to the conflict. Anticipating a clash with federal police, protesters fortified their street barricades. The Mexican government is holding discussions with the striking teacher's union in Mexico City in the hopes that a compromise will be reached.

ITN Source | September 30, 2006

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