MEXICO: Thousands of Oaxacans take to the streets in favour of embattled governor

Thousands of people marched demonstrated in Oaxaca on Tuesday (November 7) in a show of support for embattled state governor, Ulises Ruiz. Tuesday's demonstration by those that claim to represent the real Oaxaca comes two days after the Popular Assembly for the People of Oaxaca (APPO) held a large march on the streets of Oaxaca City to demand the resignation of Ruiz and to protest against the continuing presence of federal police units. President Vicente Fox sent thousands of federal police to take over Oaxaca just over one week ago in a bid to end the 5-month-old conflict that has killed more than a dozen people and raised fears it could spark violent protests elsewhere. Those supporting Ulises Ruiz were dressed in white and chanted slogans from the PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional), the party to which Ulises Ruiz belongs. This pro-Ulises Ruiz group demands the capture and imprisonment of the APPO leader, Flavio Sosa, accusing him at best of being ridiculous and at worst of having violent and terrorist tendencies. Demonstrators were gathered from across the state of Oaxaca to take part in the march. They were shipped into the city in sixty buses, now parked at the entrance of Oaxaca City, and dozens of taxis. Lorries were stationed along the marcher's route to distribute water and t-shirts with the motif "Six years, Ulises, Six years," stating their desire that Ulises Ruiz serves the whole term. The crisis in Oaxaca state began in May, when teachers went on strike. They were then joined by leftist and Indian groups, all demanding that the State Governor Ulises Ruiz step down and accusing him of corruption and brutality in crushing dissent. Fox had promised to resolve the crisis before December 1, when he hands over power to President-elect Felipe Calderon. The government said this week ending the crisis might take much longer. Fox sent federal forces to Oaxaca after gunmen apparently linked to local officials shot and killed three people a week ago, including a U.S. journalist.

ITN Source | November 8, 2006

Tags:. .december. .strike. .stationed. .fears. .demands