I refer you all to my 5:07 p.m. (Central) post on another thread in which I gauged that "a real calamity" was about to ensue. You can read what I posted there to get up to date if you need more information.
Posted on 09/30/2006 5:06:24 PM PDT by StJacques
Helicopters Flying Over Oaxacan Encampments Jorge Octavio Ochoa/Correspondent 5:00 p.m. At 4:30 p.m., two Navy helicopters flew through the airspace over the center of Oaxaca City; at 4:50 and 5:00 p.m. new overflights appeared, apparently in reconnaisance. From La Ley radio, the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (APPO) called for a total alert. At the same time they asked their members for prudence and calm. "It is not the deciding moment for us. What the PFP [Federal Preventive Police] and Ulises [Oaxacan Governor Ulises Ruiz] want is to provoke a stampede." In this sense, they made a call to strengthen their mechanisms of vigilance, reiterating that the logic of the operation is to spread fear. Furthermore, they mentioned that the dislocating operation would begin today, around 8:00 p.m., and it would occur from two flanks: one on the highway that goes in the direction of Mexico City and another on the encampments erected in the center of the Oaxacan city. Flavio Sosa, one of the directors of APPO, called on all its members to mobilize and carry out a march around the Zocalo capital plaza [in the center of Oaxaca City]. In a telephone conversation, Omar Flavio Sosa, asked the governmental representative, Francisco Yañez Centeno: Is this the governmental response?" The government functionary responded that the flights are only dealing with reconnaisance or vigilance. Even so, Flavio Sosa expressed his doubts: "I believe not, but they will stain Fox's hands with blood if they undertake these operations." The Navy helicopters, one of them with the call letters AMMLT-200, also crossed the airspace where the broadcast antennas of La Ley radio are found, which is the only one which continues transmitting APPO's statements, now that Radio Oro left the air yesterday afternoon due to supposed technical faults. From the kiosk of this city, the directorate of APPO began the burning of fires to decree anew the maximum alert.
Due to the presence of Navy forces in the airspace of the zone where protestors of the teacher's union and APPO are located, a maximum alert is decreed; warning that a dislocating operation may be carried out tonight
El Universal
Oaxaca City, Oaxaca
Saturday 30 September 2006
ping
I'm hoping this all comes out OK, but am fearing a major catastrophe. I have been to Oaxaca several times. For me, it has been a magic place.
I am so sad over what's happening. There are beautiful people there. Pray for them.
I would not blame the govt for taking armed action. These people are basically in rebellion.
I don't think they will go in shooting, though. This is not the government that massacred students in 1968. The faction that did that are the leftist "protestors" of the last several months.
Thank you for that; I noticed and was about to link it directly also.
You bet.
To: StJacquesYes, and it qualifies as News far more than most threads.
7 posted on 09/07/2006 4:32:52 PM MDT by California Patriot ("That's not Charlie the Tuna out there. It's Jaws." -- Richard Nixon)To: StJacques; Admin ModeratorIf I may join in here. poster StJacques has spent a lot of time translating articles and posting them on FreeRepublic, and not as a personal blog, but as an ahead of the curve effort. There is nothing "cesspool" about what he has been doing.
8 posted on 09/07/2006 4:35:12 PM MDT by Enterprise (Let's not enforce laws that are already on the books, let's just write new laws we won't enforce.)To: StJacques; Admin ModeratorThanks for your hard work on the translations.
Yes, this should be moved back to news - it's not a blog or anyone's personal opinion, but an original translation of a Spanish-language article on the Mexican election, which some FReepers have been following.
Unfortunately, most of us don't read Spanish as well as StJacques and wouldn't be able to follow the story by clicking on the link. The U.S. MSM has been largely ignoring the story, which has potential implications here if the situation in Mexico gets worse.
9 posted on 09/07/2006 4:36:05 PM MDT by conservative in nycTo: StJacquesWith great respect towards those in charge at FR, I do agree with you.
You have been translating for us the various Mexican papers to keep us apprised of what could end up being the next Mexican revolution.
You are NOT taking us to your personal blog and just because you are acting as a translator for us, there is no reason IMO to consider your deliveries of these important articles and issues as your own blog/comment on the issues.
I think you have been translating with maybe a comment or two after the issue is posted. You have not to my knowledge been posting your opinion as translation...
I think FR doesn't see a lot of this, so maybe they did not know how to handle this, but IMO this is the most BREAKING of Breaking News.
There is a potential Mexican Revolution breaking out IMO.
Keep up the good work and thanks for you efforts to keep us informed.
Tiger also fits the bill.
Tiger translates Korean and Chinese news.
Are Tigers' posts pushed into bloggers?
They are not.
The APPO seems to include other elements, like Zapatistas and indigenous groups (usually associated with PRI), as well as teachers and community groups.
Still, I'd say PRD is probably the most organized of the opposition groups, and probably is prominent in this opposition movement.
There was a serious incident last week when shots were fired -- apparently by the Governor's body guards -- at protesters who'd entered a hotel where the Gov. was holed up, and a prominent reporter (Ricardo Rocha of El Universal) was roughed up by...??? The APPO and PRD suggest the hooligans were military, given their discipline, youth and haircuts. There's a history of Mexican authorities using military units in civilian clothing to act as provacateurs during civil demonstations (justifying police intervention), so the story has some legs.
In other Mexican news, the teachers are still heading for Mexico City and the Fox Administration is looking to negotiate a settlement. I think the military fly-over was a "not so friendly reminder" of who gets to make the decisions... but I wouldn't be suprised to see Gov. Ramarez resign and an interim goveror from a minor party, or a "Mr. Clean" PRI figurehead to be appointed until the next election cycle. Maybe Dulce Maria Suares, who has a weird reputation as an honest PRI leader.
I had an email today from an artist friend in Oaxaca. The tourists aren't back, but everything's functioning despite the disturbances... and everyone is bending over backwards to make sure foreigners are unmolested.
I must say this issue is central to Americans in the War on Terror. I cannot imagine why it would be placed in Bloggers & Personal.
This is legitimate news.
We're back into f-news.
We will have to see what happens from here on out.
In the menatime, thanks again. This is very important to the US (more than most FReepers realize).
Oaxaca is one our favorite places in Mexico, too. Hope this uprising can be put down...
Yes, the government should take action. They are trying to stir up trouble. Oaxaca is an easy place to stir up, I suspect. We drove south from there towards Chiapas and ran into a burning-tires-road-block guarded by armed guards. Guerillas. Pretty unstable down that way.
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