Mexican Federal Police Using Armored Cars to Advance Against APPO Leftists in Oaxaca (Translation)

El Universal ( Mexico City ) ^ | October 29, 2006 | Alejandro Torres, Jorge Octavio Ochoa & David Aponte ( translated by self )

[StJacques]

Here's a pic of the confrontation at Central Axis and Juarez Avenue I just described in my #38 above. Note that the protesters were trying to set up a blockade with a city bus they seized.

[GSlob]

They need to feed their water cannon from the sewage tanks. The leftists publicly p*ssed and crapped upon instantly lose all credibility, both for themselves and for their cause.

[rovenstinez]

7:30p.m. My friends in Oaxaca say APPO announces on their radio station for interested people to bring gas tanks. They tipped an LP tanker over and threatened to torch it. Several fires are burning in the street, quite a lot of gun shots heard. Other radio stations recaptured are giving thanks to the Mexican Federal Police for coming to their defense. Most of the citizens of Oaxaca are grateful and standing WITH the Federal Police, but tonight they expect the worst. At 11:30pm they promise to do live TV coverage

[Founding Father]

"Rumors fly, just heard from a friend in the centro that there is
fighting in 7 areas of the city, a bus was taken and rammed in to one
of the water tanks, and that a father and his 14 year old son have
been killed.

Anyone?"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oaxacastudyactiongroup/message/1153

[Brad’s Gramma]

Would you be so kind as to add me to your ping list?

[StJacques]

Thank you for the information rovenstinez. You are a very valuable resource here.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

"In Mexico City, several hundred supporters of the Oaxaca protests converged on a hotel where Ruiz was rumored to be staying, damaging the grounds around the entrance and screaming "Murderer! Murderer!"

The government news agency Notimex reported that a vehicle transporting federal police to Oaxaca crashed Sunday, killing one officer and injuring 12. Federal officials could not confirm the report, but protesters cheered wildly as it circulated Oaxaca."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061029/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/mexico_oaxaca_unrest

[StJacques]

APPO has abandoned the Zocalo in Oaxaca City.

---

APPO abandons the Zocalo in Oaxaca

The PFP occupies the gateways to the old Government Palace, without any resistance

Alejandro Torres, David Aponte, Alejandro Suverza & Jorge Octavio Ochoa/Correspondents El Universal (Mexico City)
Oaxaca
Sunday 29 October 2006

8:04 p.m.  The Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO) abandoned the Zocalo of Oaxaca this evening after six hours from the beginning of the operation, while the Federal Preventive Police (PFP) occupy the gateways of the old Government Palace, without any resistance.

Flavio Sosa, one of the leaders of the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO), had said that they would maintain resistance in the Zocalo of this city and made a call to their sympathizers so that they would bring them water, milk, and food.

For its part, the Federal Preventive Police (PFP) is maintaining a ring around the Oaxacan Zocalo and has already taken three of the four accesses [into its control].

Moreover, they acquired entrance to University City and minutes afterwards the Radio Universidad station, by which APPO transmitted its messages, left the air.

After a strategic withdrawal, the PFP surrounded the streets of the Zocalo and is maintaining squads to deny access to the area.

---

I think that just may do it. I'll check back in about an hour or so, but I think APPO's "grand resistance" has fizzled.

[StJacques]

Ping to my #48. I'm enjoying your posts by the way. You're very well-informed.

[JCEccles]

Thanks for your hard work in keeping us up to date on these important developments. You have kept us incomparably better informed than the MSM could or is willing to.

[Enterprise]

Crossing my fingers, and hoping your fizzle theory is correct.

[livius]

It does sound like a fizzle is underway. Good! Thanks for all the posting.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Looks like it is over:

Mexican police seize center of Oaxaca

By MARK STEVENSON, Associated Press Writer
5 minutes ago



OAXACA, Mexico - Federal police backed by armored vehicles and water cannons tore down barricades and stormed embattled Oaxaca on Sunday, seizing control of the city center from protesters who had held it for five months.


A 15-year-old boy manning one barricade was killed by a tear gas canister, human rights worker Jesica Sanchez said.

With helicopters clattering overhead, police earlier entered the city that was once one of Mexico's most popular tourist destinations from several sides. They marched up to a final metal barrier blocking the center, but pulled back as protesters armed with sticks attacked them from behind, hurling burning tires. The air filled with black smoke and tear gas.

Some demonstrators used syringes to pierce their arms and legs, then paint signs in their own blood decrying the police.

As night fell, however, protesters decided to abandon the center and regroup at a local university. They pledged to continue their battle to get Gov. Ulises Ruiz to resign, even as police tore down the banners and tents in the center that had served as the headquarters for months of often violent demonstrations.

At least eight people have died in the unrest since August.

For months, outgoing Mexican President Vicente Fox resisted repeated calls to send federal forces to quell the protests and violence in this city, opting instead to try to negotiate a peaceful end to the standoff.

But after the deaths of an American and two local residents in protests on Friday, Fox sent in thousands of federal police who launched the first major offensive Sunday to quell the unrest.

___

[SAJ]

Saint -- Just FYI, the markets are taking the whole Oaxaca problem as a non-event. MXN has been sneaking up all week on USD, gaining a bit here a bit there; tonight it's a big, bad ''unch'' with no particular volume to speak of.

This would **appear** to be an indication that the financial mkts are taking the view that, ugly as the Oaxacan situation might be, there's no threat to the stability of either the Mexican economy or the Peso at this point.

Obviously, this can change, but merely reporting ''da facts'' here.

Many thanks, yet again, for your extremely conscientious reporting!

[Alia]

Good Lord, rovenstinez. This is awful. The APPO stinks.

[DaoPian]

Good Morning! News this morning looks hopeful for some stability. I think they are rolling up the main troublemakers, which should take some of the steam out of the movement. Interesting commentary from all sides which indicates fairly neutral reception of federal forces. Now for the occupation period and rebuilding?

The bit about exchange rates is interesting, either it is a "non-event", "business as usual", or confidence in the future really is unknown.

[Texan5]

Thanks for all the great reporting-I hope you are right that this episode of leftist madness is at an end.

[onja]

Wow. Looks pretty serious. I just hope that this doesn't incite the leftists Obrador supporters to go more militant. A civil war would really mess up our economy and thus elections.

[Jack Black]

Thanks to everyone who posted pictures and updates on this thread.

[StJacques]

" wrote up a plausible description of [Saturday's] events . . ."

I meant to respond to this yesterday, but with all that was going on I got distracted.

Your explanation was definitely plausible and I would have to know the specifics of who took what pics to get to the details, but I submit that the larger question you address; namely, that we should all keep in mind that the individuals with guns are law enforcement officers and public officials trying to protect property and public order from people who were armed, is the thing everyone should keep in mind. Those guys with the guns in those photos were actually showing a lot of courage in my opinion to approach groups of APPO sympathizers, many of whom were armed and using their weapons, to protect public order. It is my guess that very few municipalities have been as well-served by their public officials as was Santa Lucia del Camino.

That was a good post on your part.