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In Solidarity with the Rebellion in Oaxaca...We must Create a Rebellion of our Own!
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IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE REBELLION IN OAXACA…WE MUST START A REBELLION OF OUR OWN!
“The fundamental problem is capitalism…” - Florentino Martinez, Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca, (APPO)
On October 27th in Oaxaca Mexico, in the face of a renewed strike by the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO), groups of gunmen linked to three municipal mayors from the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) launched an attack on the rebels. This attack resulted in the deaths of three people, eleven wounded, two disappeared, and hundreds of shells left scattered around the city. This act of repression was just the latest in a string of brutal assaults.
The revolt at first was started by a teachers strike, which for twenty-seven years has tried to get sufficient funds to aid poverty-ridden towns. This year was different; this year the people fought back in new ways. Starting with occupations of public areas, and using systems of general assemblies as decision making bodies, the Oaxaca Rebellion was born. The movement grew, and people began to occupy social spaces, government buildings, television and radio stations, and word of the revolt spread. Police reacted as agents of the state do all over the world, by killings and beatings. The people however, were unwavering. “We are not afraid,” one spokeswoman said. “Whatever happens, happens. We are fed up with this situation. We are fighting for our children.”
Direct action, not party politics or voting, has been the method of change for those writing history in the streets of Oaxaca. Taking over media centers to spread news, destroying and occupying government property, taking to the streets and stopping business as usual. All of this is designed to disable the one thing that the elites care most about: profits. Struggles across the world have much to learn from the rebels in Oaxaca, who don’t wait for change, but go into the streets and create it for themselves. For them, a revolution is not an abstraction, but something that they have a stake in creating.
Even now, as you read this, people are resisting, fighting, and in some cases, dying for a better world in Oaxaca. Rebels and revolutionaries in what is generally known as a “tourist town”, are building and defending barricades, feeding and taking care of each other, and battling the police to re-gain control of their city. Across Latin America, indigenous, revolutionary, and anti-capitalist movements have also answered Oaxaca’s call, and have fought with them in solidarity. From indigenous struggles, to the Zapatista’s “La Otra Campaña", a new surge of revolutionary sprit that contends our dreams will never fit in the state’s ballot boxes, is rising.
Across the world, and in this country as well, many have answered the calls for support from the people of Oaxaca. Mexican consulate buildings have been occupied and attacked, rallies and protests have been made, and people all over the world have put pressure on the Mexican government to stop the repression, assassinations, and violence. Solidarity is still needed, people can organize, and take the fight to the nearest Mexican Consulate, found here:
http://www.mexonline.com/consulate.htm
For more news of the ongoing rebellion:
news.infoshop.org
http://www.indymedia.org
http://www.narconews.com
“It is clear that this is more than a strike, more than expulsion of a governor, more than a blockade, more than a coalition of fragments; it is a genuine people’s revolt.” Brad Will, New York Indymedia, Oct. 17th, Killed by Agents of the State, Oct 27th
“The fundamental problem is capitalism…” - Florentino Martinez, Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca, (APPO)
On October 27th in Oaxaca Mexico, in the face of a renewed strike by the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO), groups of gunmen linked to three municipal mayors from the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) launched an attack on the rebels. This attack resulted in the deaths of three people, eleven wounded, two disappeared, and hundreds of shells left scattered around the city. This act of repression was just the latest in a string of brutal assaults.
The revolt at first was started by a teachers strike, which for twenty-seven years has tried to get sufficient funds to aid poverty-ridden towns. This year was different; this year the people fought back in new ways. Starting with occupations of public areas, and using systems of general assemblies as decision making bodies, the Oaxaca Rebellion was born. The movement grew, and people began to occupy social spaces, government buildings, television and radio stations, and word of the revolt spread. Police reacted as agents of the state do all over the world, by killings and beatings. The people however, were unwavering. “We are not afraid,” one spokeswoman said. “Whatever happens, happens. We are fed up with this situation. We are fighting for our children.”
Direct action, not party politics or voting, has been the method of change for those writing history in the streets of Oaxaca. Taking over media centers to spread news, destroying and occupying government property, taking to the streets and stopping business as usual. All of this is designed to disable the one thing that the elites care most about: profits. Struggles across the world have much to learn from the rebels in Oaxaca, who don’t wait for change, but go into the streets and create it for themselves. For them, a revolution is not an abstraction, but something that they have a stake in creating.
Even now, as you read this, people are resisting, fighting, and in some cases, dying for a better world in Oaxaca. Rebels and revolutionaries in what is generally known as a “tourist town”, are building and defending barricades, feeding and taking care of each other, and battling the police to re-gain control of their city. Across Latin America, indigenous, revolutionary, and anti-capitalist movements have also answered Oaxaca’s call, and have fought with them in solidarity. From indigenous struggles, to the Zapatista’s “La Otra Campaña", a new surge of revolutionary sprit that contends our dreams will never fit in the state’s ballot boxes, is rising.
Across the world, and in this country as well, many have answered the calls for support from the people of Oaxaca. Mexican consulate buildings have been occupied and attacked, rallies and protests have been made, and people all over the world have put pressure on the Mexican government to stop the repression, assassinations, and violence. Solidarity is still needed, people can organize, and take the fight to the nearest Mexican Consulate, found here:
http://www.mexonline.com/consulate.htm
For more news of the ongoing rebellion:
news.infoshop.org
http://www.indymedia.org
http://www.narconews.com
“It is clear that this is more than a strike, more than expulsion of a governor, more than a blockade, more than a coalition of fragments; it is a genuine people’s revolt.” Brad Will, New York Indymedia, Oct. 17th, Killed by Agents of the State, Oct 27th
For more information:
http://www.modanarcho.tk
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After more than four months of the teachers strike—heroically maintained in the face of continuous, murderous state attacks—and despite the fact that teachers had already voted to end the strike, the brutal capitalist state has unleashed massive repression to smash the struggle of the teachers of Oaxaca and their allies of the APPO (Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca). While we write these lines, there are reports that the PFP [federal military police] have already taken the Zócalo [main plaza] of Oaxaca City. There are also reports, after the repression has barely begun, that a 15-year-old youth has been shot to death. Already dozens have been arrested. The bloody repression of October 27 cost four more lives: teacher Emilio Alonso Fabia, the American photographer from Indymedia, Bradley Roland Will, the communal peasant (comunero) Esteba Ruiz and a person still unidentified were killed in government and federal police attacks together with PRI [Institutional Revolutionary Party] paramilitaries.
There are also reports that during this period, 23 people have been injured, 20 people detained, and 50 teachers are missing. Since June, at least 14 teachers and social justice activists have already been killed by police or gunmen, while many others have been either arrested or kidnapped. Every day more police provocations and attacks are reported. The teachers and the APPO must not stand alone against the murderous repression of the capitalist state. The attack against the teachers is an attack aimed at the entire workers movement, and it is in the interest of the workers movement to defend the teachers in Oaxaca. The industrial working class must flex its powerful muscle through strike actions in defense of the Oaxaca teachers and the APPO.
We Trotskyists in the Grupo Espartaquista de México protest in the most vigorous way possible the attacks by the state and their gangs of gunmen, and we solidarize with the struggle of the teachers and the students and peasants who support them. We say: Free all the arrested now! Drop all the charges! PFP and army out of Oaxaca! For workers strike action against state repression! Defend the teachers and the APPO!..
http://www.icl-fi.org/english/leaflets/appo.html
There are also reports that during this period, 23 people have been injured, 20 people detained, and 50 teachers are missing. Since June, at least 14 teachers and social justice activists have already been killed by police or gunmen, while many others have been either arrested or kidnapped. Every day more police provocations and attacks are reported. The teachers and the APPO must not stand alone against the murderous repression of the capitalist state. The attack against the teachers is an attack aimed at the entire workers movement, and it is in the interest of the workers movement to defend the teachers in Oaxaca. The industrial working class must flex its powerful muscle through strike actions in defense of the Oaxaca teachers and the APPO.
We Trotskyists in the Grupo Espartaquista de México protest in the most vigorous way possible the attacks by the state and their gangs of gunmen, and we solidarize with the struggle of the teachers and the students and peasants who support them. We say: Free all the arrested now! Drop all the charges! PFP and army out of Oaxaca! For workers strike action against state repression! Defend the teachers and the APPO!..
http://www.icl-fi.org/english/leaflets/appo.html
As you bleeding heart limosine liberals send your support to APPO, the economy of Oaxaca is being devistated. How does destroying the vibrant tourist economy of Oaxaca help anything? Do you realize that the protests have cost real people their means of putting food on the table or sending their children to school. They're not sticking it to "globalization" and "rich white man". You think the rich care about some protest in Oaxca. The rich can wait it out. APPO is ruining the lives of the poor and middle class that depend on the tourist industry. When I say middle class, I'm not talking about the American standard, I'm talking about the Mexican standard, i.e. putting food on the table and hoping to send a child to universtiy. Maybe you think the tourist industry is evil and is ruining Mexican culture and heritage, but it's all some of us have to get by. So please, take your sympathy and put it some where you understand who is getting hurt.
I ask you, who stands to gain power by the protests? Who stand to gain wealth by the protests? I can gurentee you it's not the poor. Haven't you read Animal Farm.
If you're so into anti-globalization and communism, can I suggest North Korea.
I ask you, who stands to gain power by the protests? Who stand to gain wealth by the protests? I can gurentee you it's not the poor. Haven't you read Animal Farm.
If you're so into anti-globalization and communism, can I suggest North Korea.
"How does destroying the vibrant tourist economy of Oaxaca help anything? Do you realize that the protests have cost real people their means of putting food on the table or sending their children to school." -
The strike started because of poor conditions in the public school systems, and because poor people were being forced to pay various fees for sending their kids to school.
I fail to see how a "vibrant tourist economy", which generally results in gentrification of local peoples, and the furthering of the divide between very poor and very rich, is such a good thing to begin with.
Furthermore, the goal of the uprising wasn't directed at the 'tourist industry', it's been the government response which has affect the local economy.
"You think the rich care about some protest in Oaxca." -
I think that local elites in Oaxaca are very worried that the strike will go into a full on rebellion agains the Mexican state. If they weren't somewhat worried, the Mexican elites wouldn't be asking Ruiz to step down. I also don't really care what the rich think. I know that alot of poor and working class people are glad to see those in Oaxaca and elsewhere actually DOING something about the conditions of their lives however. The state will respond like all states do when threatened for their power holds, with violence. The fact that the state is responding at all, means that they understand the movement in Oaxaca to be at least some sort of threat.
"APPO is ruining the lives of the poor and middle class that depend on the tourist industry. When I say middle class, I'm not talking about the American standard, I'm talking about the Mexican standard, i.e. putting food on the table and hoping to send a child to universtiy. Maybe you think the tourist industry is evil and is ruining Mexican culture and heritage, but it's all some of us have to get by. So please, take your sympathy and put it some where you understand who is getting hurt." -
I don't think that the ongoing rebellion in Oaxaca was aimed at stopping the tourist industry per say, but I think ultimately what most of the protestors in Oaxaca are calling for, ie more political freedom, greater democratic control, and better conditions for workers and students, are things that all people need.
Basically your argument is that people should not struggle because the state will destroy people's lively hoods, (remember, it's the government that is causing the repression, and thus, the resulting chaos), than to actually push for things that will make working people's lives better.
"I ask you, who stands to gain power by the protests? Who stand to gain wealth by the protests? I can gurentee you it's not the poor. Haven't you read Animal Farm." -
You do realize that Animal Farm was written as a critique of State Capitalism, ie Soviet Socialism, by a libertarian socialist, ie, anarchist, George Orwell correct?
Oh, red baiting!
Actually, the whole point on the article above, (which you're commenting on), is that the situation in Oaxaca is interesting BECAUSE much of the movement isn't about party politics, the electoral process, etc, it's about people taking greating control over thier cities, lives, workplaces, and communities.
Are there union leaders, leftist party politicos, etc, which will try and get into some seat of power via the protests? Sure, that's how the left works, it survives by re-cuperating class struggle into hierarchal forms of politics. However, the movement is showing itself to exist outside of that framework, and hopefully lots of people will thus reject whatever the leftist leaders try and make out of this whole social upheavial.
The thousands of indigenous people in the streets in Oaxaca aren't poor? The students, workers, teachers? Where do they fit in? Everyone in Oaxaca isn't with the protestors, but not everyone is with the state.
"If you're so into anti-globalization and communism, can I suggest North Korea." -
So an authoritarian state, which murders people, supresses rebellion against it, engages in large scale economic trade with other countries, has markets, controls where people work, etc, etc, is the only alternative to corporate capitalism?
If you're going to put words in people's mouths and come up with arguments, you might want to move beyond the standard fourth grade strawman right wing buzz words.
The strike started because of poor conditions in the public school systems, and because poor people were being forced to pay various fees for sending their kids to school.
I fail to see how a "vibrant tourist economy", which generally results in gentrification of local peoples, and the furthering of the divide between very poor and very rich, is such a good thing to begin with.
Furthermore, the goal of the uprising wasn't directed at the 'tourist industry', it's been the government response which has affect the local economy.
"You think the rich care about some protest in Oaxca." -
I think that local elites in Oaxaca are very worried that the strike will go into a full on rebellion agains the Mexican state. If they weren't somewhat worried, the Mexican elites wouldn't be asking Ruiz to step down. I also don't really care what the rich think. I know that alot of poor and working class people are glad to see those in Oaxaca and elsewhere actually DOING something about the conditions of their lives however. The state will respond like all states do when threatened for their power holds, with violence. The fact that the state is responding at all, means that they understand the movement in Oaxaca to be at least some sort of threat.
"APPO is ruining the lives of the poor and middle class that depend on the tourist industry. When I say middle class, I'm not talking about the American standard, I'm talking about the Mexican standard, i.e. putting food on the table and hoping to send a child to universtiy. Maybe you think the tourist industry is evil and is ruining Mexican culture and heritage, but it's all some of us have to get by. So please, take your sympathy and put it some where you understand who is getting hurt." -
I don't think that the ongoing rebellion in Oaxaca was aimed at stopping the tourist industry per say, but I think ultimately what most of the protestors in Oaxaca are calling for, ie more political freedom, greater democratic control, and better conditions for workers and students, are things that all people need.
Basically your argument is that people should not struggle because the state will destroy people's lively hoods, (remember, it's the government that is causing the repression, and thus, the resulting chaos), than to actually push for things that will make working people's lives better.
"I ask you, who stands to gain power by the protests? Who stand to gain wealth by the protests? I can gurentee you it's not the poor. Haven't you read Animal Farm." -
You do realize that Animal Farm was written as a critique of State Capitalism, ie Soviet Socialism, by a libertarian socialist, ie, anarchist, George Orwell correct?
Oh, red baiting!
Actually, the whole point on the article above, (which you're commenting on), is that the situation in Oaxaca is interesting BECAUSE much of the movement isn't about party politics, the electoral process, etc, it's about people taking greating control over thier cities, lives, workplaces, and communities.
Are there union leaders, leftist party politicos, etc, which will try and get into some seat of power via the protests? Sure, that's how the left works, it survives by re-cuperating class struggle into hierarchal forms of politics. However, the movement is showing itself to exist outside of that framework, and hopefully lots of people will thus reject whatever the leftist leaders try and make out of this whole social upheavial.
The thousands of indigenous people in the streets in Oaxaca aren't poor? The students, workers, teachers? Where do they fit in? Everyone in Oaxaca isn't with the protestors, but not everyone is with the state.
"If you're so into anti-globalization and communism, can I suggest North Korea." -
So an authoritarian state, which murders people, supresses rebellion against it, engages in large scale economic trade with other countries, has markets, controls where people work, etc, etc, is the only alternative to corporate capitalism?
If you're going to put words in people's mouths and come up with arguments, you might want to move beyond the standard fourth grade strawman right wing buzz words.
heya -- total solidarity with oaxaca, but i'm not sure the DAAA statement is taking away the salient points of the struggle.
voting is not the enemy. the enemy is complacency. voting can be used as a focal point to fight complacency. in oaxaca, a stolen election is *the* major reason (after, or maybe tied with, the brutal repression of a teacher's strike) why the populace of oaxaca has taken to the barricades. if no one had voted for an alternative, there wouldn't have needed to be fraud, and there wouldn't be such a clear example of a state failure. so now the people are calling for their governor to step down, that's the over-arching theme.
now, within the resistance there's lots of other hot-button issues -- global justice, etc. but the main thing that triggered this was participating in an election and then holding the system accountable when it failed. they didn't just have a meeting, issue a manifesto, and decide to start occupying radio stations and government buildings.
peace -- meddle
(ps -- how about we stop feeding the trolls, folks?)
voting is not the enemy. the enemy is complacency. voting can be used as a focal point to fight complacency. in oaxaca, a stolen election is *the* major reason (after, or maybe tied with, the brutal repression of a teacher's strike) why the populace of oaxaca has taken to the barricades. if no one had voted for an alternative, there wouldn't have needed to be fraud, and there wouldn't be such a clear example of a state failure. so now the people are calling for their governor to step down, that's the over-arching theme.
now, within the resistance there's lots of other hot-button issues -- global justice, etc. but the main thing that triggered this was participating in an election and then holding the system accountable when it failed. they didn't just have a meeting, issue a manifesto, and decide to start occupying radio stations and government buildings.
peace -- meddle
(ps -- how about we stop feeding the trolls, folks?)
"voting is not the enemy. the enemy is complacency. voting can be used as a focal point to fight complacency." -
As APPO's radio broadcasters have said, "the state is the enemy", how is continuing to vote for, and thus, give legitimancy to that state, and it's continuance, a good thing?
Voting also largely distances people from social issues, because it is the essence of a representaive republic. You are the humble citizen, voting for a person of a higher class to tell you what to do. There is a detraction within the electoral process which is the essence of representative politics. Alot of the feeling of the Oaxaca revolt, (but not all), is something much different, something calling for a direct, consensual, and non-statist form of democratic popular control.
As APPO's radio broadcasters have said, "the state is the enemy", how is continuing to vote for, and thus, give legitimancy to that state, and it's continuance, a good thing?
Voting also largely distances people from social issues, because it is the essence of a representaive republic. You are the humble citizen, voting for a person of a higher class to tell you what to do. There is a detraction within the electoral process which is the essence of representative politics. Alot of the feeling of the Oaxaca revolt, (but not all), is something much different, something calling for a direct, consensual, and non-statist form of democratic popular control.
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