Oaxacans Succesfully Boycott and Protest Government Guelaguetza Despite Repression

Today, on the 30th of July tens of thousands of people from the APPO(Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca) and the 22 section of the teacher’s union along with sympathizers participated in a protest against and demand a popular boycott of the official Guelaguetza festival. This festival has been the subject of conflict since the uprising in Oaxaca began last year. The Guelaguetza is a dance and cultural festival meant to reflect the traditions of the diverse indigenous population in the state of Oaxaca. However, the government of Ulises Ruiz, the governor ousted by popular demand but who refuses to step down, co-opted the festival as a tourist attraction heavily sponsored by multi-national corporations.

The protest, which began from the outskirts of the city, circled around Cerro de Fortin, where the government of Ulises Ruiz held the official Guelaguetza, although the state government had to pay state workers and others in order to fill the Guelaguetza stadium in face of the successful boycott.
The APPO had planned to block the official Guelaguetza but in face of repression two weeks ago decided to march instead.

On Monday, July 16th, 2007, the APPO realized a popular Guelaguetza in the Zocalo in protest of the government Guelaguetza. That day the APPO also went in a march of 10, 000 people to the site of the official Guelaguetza, the auditorium in the Cerro Fortin to protest the use of the auditorium for non-popular purposes. The march was immediatly attacked by state and federal police, resulting in one participant in a coma, an unconfirmed death, several disappearances, over 60 people arrested who later reported torture and sexual abuse inside the jails, and dozens of injuries.

Last year the Guelaguetza auditorium was attacked by the APPO and the Guelaguetza stage was burned.

Tensions remain high in Oaxaca with the upcoming state elections on August 5th, where many people fear the PRI party of Ulises Ruiz will commit fraud in order to secure power over the PRD party.

Activists in Oaxaca remain under the threat of selective repression, some reporting being chased through the streets by unmarked pickup trucks.