SWOPblogger

Friends: What follows is a chronology of recent events in Oaxaca. We have tried to check all the information that appears below, but this has not always been possible. Please redistribute to as wide an audience as possible. Thanks very much for your solidarity on behalf of the people of Oaxaca

GENERAL TIMELINE OF EVENTS SINCE THE ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE AND THE ENTRANCE OF FEDERAL FORCES

FRIDAY 27

Ulises Ruiz’s paramilitary groups shoot at the barricades of Santa Maria and San Bartolo Coyotepec, injuring approximately 20 people, and assassinating 3 people: Esteban López Zurita, the teacher Emilio Alonso Fabián and Brad Will, correspondent from Indymedia New York

The “death caravan” (paramilitaries in unidentified vehicles) continue their random attacks on various barricades

At least 15 people are reported to have been kidnapped at different barricades, being brought the following day to the military base in Miahuatlan.

SATURDAY 28

Elements of the Federal Preventive Police (PFP) arrive at the Oaxaca airport and begin to surround various barricades. Shots are heard in various neighbourhoods.

The Secretary of the Interior (/Secretaria de Gobernacion/) gives an ultimatum to the APPO to hand over the city and the government offices that very afternoon

Radio Universidad, the radio of the movement, starts coming under attack.

SUNDAY 29

At 7 a.m., the PFP begin advancing on the city accompanied by armored vehicles to lift the barricades, riot police armed with clubs and shields, backed up by federal units with firearms. Approximately 4,500 elements of the PFP try to enter the city with armored vehicles and high pressure water canons (water which was mixed with chemicals), shooting teargas and firearms, and backed up by helicopters pertaining to the PFP and the Army.

The APPO calls for peaceful resistance. To impede the advance of the armored vehicles, people take the streets creating human shields by laying down in the streets. Among the nonviolent actions, citizens distributed flowers and food to the Federal officers, formed human shields, and even sung the Mexican national hymn 10 meters from federal forces. In further protest of the violent incursion by these repressive forces, many citizens confronted the police, cutting themselves and letting their blood fall to the ground in a symbolic act.

Attacks against Radio Universidad continue with unmarked patrols shooting towards the installations, blockage of their signal, and even at one point cutting the electricity to the station. The transmission went in and out throughout the night, due to various attempts to silence the last voice of the APPO in their disinformation campaign (Radio APPO can be heard on their website at http://www.asambleapopulardeoaxaca.com ).

An accident involving PFP forces is reported in Tehuacan, Puebla, resulting in 14 wounded, among them 3 seriously, and 1 killed.

The operative this Sunday, October 29^th , leaves a toll of 4 dead, among them a nurse, two teachers (one man and one woman) and a child of 12 years. As of 1 p.m. on Monday, October 30^th , Radio Universidad reported a total of 40 disappearances. For its part the APPO (Press Release, 10/30, 11 a.m.) reports more than 60 people detained, many of whom were transported to military bases, illegal under Mexican law.

Police begin raiding houses in search of members of the APPO.

The PFP evicts and occupies the zocalo (main plaza) of the city. APPO members withdraw to the university campus (ciudad universitaria), only to return with more strength and surround the federal forces that occupy the zocalo.

Section 22 (the teacher’s union) informs in a communiqué that they will not return to classes.

The National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) announces a indefinite national strike in the states of Guerrero, Michoacan, Tlaxcala, Morelos, Zacatecas, Mexico City, and Oaxaca

On Sunday 29/10, the bodies of 6 APPO members who were assassinated are found in the mountains of Oaxaca ­ at every moment the number of disappeared continues to increase.

In Mexico City, 20 protestors are arrested at the demonstration in front of the Secretary of the Interior (Segob): 8 women and 12 men. Today, Monday 30/10, the twenty were set free with legal conditions.

MONDAY 30

At one in the afternoon, a large mobilization departs from three different places in the city of Oaxaca (Procuraduría, IEEPO and Santa Rosa) in order to arrive at the city´s zocalo. The marchers surrounded the police that were guarding access to the central plaza with tanks, clubs, tear gas and assault rifles. Mexico City’s Independent Media Center reports that 20,000 people were present in the march.

The detention of at least 23 people by the special operations unit of the PFP this past Sunday has been confirmed. Before being turned into the prosecutor’s office, these people were transported to the 28th military zone.

A caravan of 6 buses carrying students from DF to Oaxaca is detained by members of the PRI (Party of the Institutionalized Revolution ­ to which URO pertains) in Nochistlan. The students are beaten and at least 3 of the buses (each carrying 45 people) are reported disappeared.

The sixth commision of the EZLN and the Other Campaign block the bridge that links Sonora with the United States. A call is made to close streets, highways and airports all over the country on the 1^st of November and to convene an indefinite national strike on the 20^th of November in protest against the repression in Oaxaca and calling for the exit of Ulises Ruiz from the position of governor of Oaxaca.

With the exception of the PRI, the remaining sections of the House of Representatives reach an agreement to ask the governor of Oaxaca, Ulises Ruiz, to request resignation or step down from the position, with the objective of recuperating the governability of the state. URO refuses to receive the correspondence from the mentioned office.

Fox declares that the PFP entered the city without fire arms although there are photos of agents with AK-47s and R-15s.

A contingent of the APPO installs another encampment in front of the Santo Domingo.

SOLIDARITY ACTIONS
Solidarity actions are reported in:

MEXICO:

Mexico City, Merida, Michoacán, Cuernavaca, Tlaxcala, Pachuca, San
Luis Potosí, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Sonora, Chihuahua, Jalisco

USA:

Austin, Chicago, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Raleigh, New
York City, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle,
Miami, Tucson, Washington DC, Fresno

Montreal, Quebec

Vancouver, Canada

Sao Paolo, Brasil

Londres, Inglaterra

Barcelona, Cataluna

Santiago de Chile, Chile

Madrid, España

Milan, Italia

Munster, Alemania

Berlin, Alemania

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Caracas, Venezuela

In a joint statement, organizations from Honduras, El Salvador, Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia, Argentina and Uruguay demand that Vicente Fox and Felipe Calderon resolve the problems in the state of Oaxaca, and holds them accountable for all of the deaths. They make a call to all of the people of the world to work in solidarity with Oaxaca.

For more information:

http://www.narconews.com/

http://www.indymedia.org/en/

CIEPAC, A.C. (Centro de Investigaciones Económicas y Políticas de Acción Comunitaria) calle de la Primavera No. 6 Barrio de La Merced
29240 San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas MEXICO
tel/fax en México (01 967) 674-5168
fuera de México (+52 967) 674-5168
ce: ciepac@laneta.apc.org
personal: mpickard@laneta.apc.org
skype: miguelpickardwhite
www.ciepac.org

# posted by karlos @ 12:09 PM 0 comments links to this post

Ya Basta! Stop the Violence, Building a Bridge to Peace

Wednesday November 1, 2006 4:30PM @ SWOP office

Learn about tradition and history of Dia de los Muertos
Design float
Design altar
Design costumes
Make sugar skulls for altar
Make paper marigold flowers

Saturday November 4, 2006 12 – 3PM @ SWOP office

Build float
Build altar

Sunday November 5, 2006

12 pm – set up altar at the West Side Community Center
1 pm – Set up float at old Solo Grocery store at Bridge and Goff
3pm – Be in position for parade
4 pm – Parade starts, finishes at West Side Community Center

# posted by karlos @ 6:25 PM 0 comments links to this post

Job Announcement: Communications Organizer

The SouthWest Organizing Project was founded in 1980 with a mission to empower our communities in the southwest to realize racial and gender equality and social and economic justice. Our work is built on a foundation of direct community organizing—building personal and political relationships in the community, developing leadership, and taking action. We are a statewide community based organization and work throughout New Mexico in working class communities of color.

We are seeking applicants for the position of Communications Organizer. This position will work closely with and report to the Lead Organizer and the Executive Director. SWOP is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of national origin, race, gender, sexual orientation, age or religion. People of color and women are encouraged to apply.

RESPONSIBILITIES

GENERAL DUTIES

1. Ensure all activities are carried out in line with the SWOP Mission Statement and with the involvement of membership.

2. Adhere to Staff Responsibilities Statement.

3. Work with the membership and staff to develop and implement strategic communications plans that support organizational campaigns and program efforts.

4. Involvement in overall SWOP campaigns and program efforts.

5. Work to conduct regular system of reporting back to staff and membership and incorporating membership into campaigns.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

1. Coordinate the production of quarterly newsletter Voces Unidas by working with staff and membership to develop themes, collect articles and photographs, design, lay out and edit the newsletter.
2. Develop and maintain relationships with mainstream and alternative media outlets including regular communication in the form of crafting press releases and media advisories related to SWOP program work.
3. Update web site to reflect current work, support campaign and fundraising efforts, opportunities to volunteer, obtain resources and foster political discussion.
4. Work with staff and members to develop media and messaging strategies that support goals and objectives of program efforts.
5. Conduct training for staff, members and allied organizations about effective communication strategies and corporatization of mainstream media.
6. Collaborate with Development Coordinator by developing materials and messages to be used in the areas of donor recruitment, grassroots fundraising events and foundation proposals and site visits.
7. Create a system for archiving and filing images and press coverage of organization.

REQUIREMENTS

· Bilingual is preferable but not required.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications as well as desktop publishing, web publishing and graphic design.

· Ability to organize materials efficiently and present effectively to small and large gatherings.

· Ability to effectively manage multiple projects.

· Ability to challenge historical problems and traditional solutions and work toward finding creative and just solutions.

· Willingness to participate in training programs to upgrade skills as may be required by this job description.

· Ability to travel out of state and throughout the state to achieve specific goals.

· Flexibility to work evenings and weekends.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

1. English literacy

2. Excellent written and verbal communication skills

3. Experience/training/interest in desktop publishing and/or graphic design and/or effective communication strategies.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Starting salary $25,000 depending on experience including generous vacation and full health benefits. Eligible to participate in a retirement plan after one year of employment.

Expected start date is November 30, 2006. Please send cover letter and resume by November 15^th, 2006.

SWOP
Attn: Hiring Committee
211 10^th St. SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102

Job Announcement: Statewide Field Organizer

The SouthWest Organizing Project was founded in 1980 with a mission to empower our communities in the southwest to realize racial and gender equality and social and economic justice. Our work is built on a foundation of direct community organizing—building personal and political relationships in the community, developing leadership, and taking action. We are a statewide community based organization and work throughout New Mexico in working class communities of color.

We are seeking applicants for the position of Statewide Field Organizer. The Statewide Field Organizer is expected to spend as much as 50% of their time outside of the Albuquerque metro area. The field organizer reports directly to the Lead Organizer and Executive Director. SWOP is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of national origin, race, gender, sexual orientation, age or religion. People of color and women are encouraged to apply.

RESPONSIBILITIES

GENERAL DUTIES:

1. Ensure all activities are carried out in line with SWOP Mission Statement and with the involvement of membership.
2. Adhere to Staff Responsibilities Statement.
3. Work with the membership and staff to develop and implement strategic plans for campaigns, program efforts and organizational development.
4. Involvement in overall SWOP campaigns and program efforts.
5. Work to conduct regular system of reporting back to staff and membership and incorporating membership into campaigns.
6. Assist in fundraising efforts by participating in donor recruitment, grassroots fundraising events and the development of foundation proposals and site visits.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

1. Work with staff and membership to Identify and address member development needs through trainings, workshops, conferences, mentorship and movement building activities.
2. Conduct regular community outreach in assigned communities including organizing outreach materials.
3. Train and assist community members in setting up house and community meetings to address problems and issues.
4. Develop and coordinate efforts and work with groups in formulating, implementing and evaluating empowerment strategies.
5. Work as needed, in a community, city, state and regional wide capacity.
6. Develop strategic working relationships with other organizations and individuals for effective collaborative work.
7. Communicate regularly with staff and members committees regarding campaign plans, budgets, and strategies.
8. Ensure membership and campaign activities that build an organization that can accomplish its mission.
9. Maintain timely and accurate records of meetings and field activities including minutes, photos, published articles, etc.

REQUIREMENTS

· Bilingual is preferable but not required.

· Ability to organize materials efficiently and present effectively to small and large gatherings.

· Ability to effectively manage multiple projects.

· Ability to challenge historical problems and traditional solutions and work toward finding creative and just solutions.

· Willingness to participate in training programs to upgrade skills as may be required by this job description.

· Ability to travel out of state and throughout the state to achieve specific goals.

· Flexibility to work evenings and weekends.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

1. English literacy.
2. Good communication skills.
3. Basic computer literacy skills.
4. Experience in community organizing work.
   
   

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Starting salary $25,000 depending on experience including generous vacation and full health benefits. Eligible to participate in a retirement plan after one year of employment.

Expected start date is November 30th, 2006. Please send cover letter and resume by November 15th, 2006

SWOP
Attn: Hiring Committee
211 10^th St. SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102

# posted by karlos @ 5:39 PM 0 comments links to this post

PRESS ADVISORY

October 11, 2006

For further info, contact:

Javier Pérez (El Paso) – cel (915) 875-5236 or chamucos00@hotmail.com
Rubén Solís (Juárez/San Antonio) – cel (210) 378-5699 or grulla@igc.org
Cipriana Jurado (Juárez) – 52-656-624-4993/cel 52-656-199-8413 or cisorg@prodigy.net.mx
Sandra Mejía (Torreón) – 52-87-1762-0157 or sandramejiasoto@hotmail.com

www.forosocialfronterizo.com

Partial Listing of Organizations/Institutions to be represented at Border Social Forum, Cd. Juárez, Chih., Mexico – October 12-15, 2006

International delegates and guests participating in the Border Social Forum will include:

Magdalena de León, Ecuador – Council of the Hemispheric Social Forum and International Council of the World Social Forum.

Azril Bacal, Brazil – International Council of World Social Forum and the Paulo Freire Institute

Victor Quintana, Mexico – International Council of the World Social Forum and the Democratic Farmers Front.

Leonel González, Cuba – Council of the Hemispheric Social Forum and the Cuban National Assembly of Peoples’ Power

Michael Leon Guerrero, United States – International Council of the World Social Forum and Grassroots Global Justice

Alice Lovelace, United States – United States Social Forum

Mirta Rodríguez, Mother of Antonio Guerrero, one of the Cuban Five political prisoners encarcerated in the United States.

Organizations/Institutions (Partial)

Actively Building Community/Activamente Buscando Comunidad—Mt. Rainier, MD
Agricultural Missions
Alianza Indígena Sin Fronteras, Nogales, AZ
Alianza Internacional Ecologista del Bravo, Tucson, AZ
American Friends Service Committee, Philadelphia, PA
Annunciation House, El Paso, TX
Arizona Indymedia, Tucson AZ
Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular, Cuba
Asociación Cultural De Ayuda A La Comunidad, A.C., México, DF.
Asociación de Trabajadores Fronterizos, El Paso, TX
Border 101, Mesa, AZ
CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities, New York, NY
Campaign to End the Death Penalty Austin TX
Capoeira Quinto Sol, Las Cruces, NM
Casa Amiga, Centro De Crisis, Cd Juárez Chih
Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO), Oakland, CA
Centro de Atención a la Mujer Trabajadora de Chihuahua
Centro de DDHH Paso del Norte, Cd. Juárez, Chih
Centro De Derechos Humanos De Las Mujeres, A.C., Chihuahua, Chih
Centro de Investigación y Solidaridad Obrera A.C., Juárez, Chih
Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social
CEPRODEHL A.C, Yucatán
CHIRLA, Los Angeles, CA
Círculo de Estudios de Género, Chihuahua, Chih
Coalición de Derechos Humanos, Tucson, AZ
Coalition of Immokalee Workers, FL
Colombian@s Concientes (CC-NY & CC-LA)
Colonias Development Council, Las Cruces, N
Comisión Episcopal de Pastoral Social, Cd. Juárez, Chih
Comité Pro-Derecho de Vivienda San Pedro
Committee of Immigrants in Action, Providence, RI
Community & Regional Planning Program/University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Community Voices Heard, New York, NY
Datacenter, Oakland Ca
Delete the Border, Tucson, AZ
Detention Watch Network, Wash DC
Drum- Desis Rising Up & Moving, New York, NY
El Proyecto Bracero – México/USA, El Paso, TX
English for Action, Providence RI
Farm Labor Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO, Toledo, OH
Farmworker Association of Florida, Inc., Apopka, FL
FEDECO Chihuahua
Florida Immigrant Coalition
Frontera con Justicia, A.C., Saltillo, Coah
Fuerza Unida, San Antonio TX
Get The Lead Out And Students Against Asarco, El Paso, TX
Global-Local Links Project, Miami, FL
Grassroots Global Justice (USA)
Grupo Ceiba (Musica), El Paso, TX
Grupo México De Berlín En Apoyo A Los Zapatistas Baja Ca Mx
Grupo Norte & Sur (Musica), Las Cruces NM
Haymarket Books Chicago
Houston Social Forum
Iberoamerican Science Technology and Education Consortium (ISTEC), Albuquerque, NM
Immigrant Communities In Action New York, NY
Immigrant Nation Legal Outreach and Hispanic Law Students Association (HLSA), North Carolina
Indigenous Environmental Network (USA)
Indymedia New Mexico
Indymedia, Los Angeles, CA
Iniciativa Mexicana Contra La Guerra...No en nuestro Nombre
ISKA (Solidaridad Internacional e Intercambio Cultural), Ciudad de Guatemala, Guat
ISO, Austin, TX
Justicia Para Nuestras Hijas, A.C, Chihuahua, Chih
Kentucky Domestic Violence Association, Lexington, KY
La Mujer Obrera, El Paso TX
Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, El Paso, Tx
Las Comadres & Gila River Alliance for a Clean Environment, Tucson, AZ
Latin American and Caribbean Community Center, Atlanta GA
Lesbianas En Apoyo De Mujeres Migrantes De América Latina En Alemania
Liga de Unidad Socialista, Chihuahua, Chih/CD Juarez, Chih
Main Street Project/Raices, Minneapolis, Mn
March 25^th Coalition, Los Angeles, CA
Mexicanos Sin Fronteras; Committee of Indigenous Solidarity, Wash D
Miami Workers Center: LIFFT( Low Income Families Fighting Together), Miami, FL
MUJERES X Mexico, Chihuahua, Chih
Multi-ethnic Immigrant Worker Organizing Network (MIWON), Los Angeles, CA
National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights (NNIRR)
Office of Community Learning and Public Service (CLPS)
Outward Bound, Redford, TX
Participación Ciudadana AC
Paso del Norte Civil Rights Center, El Paso, TX
Pastoral Obrera De La Diócesis De Ciudad Juárez
People Organized to Win Employment Rights (POWER), San Francisco, CA
People’s Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition, New Orleans, LA
Peoples’ Insitute for Survival and Beyond, New Orleans, LA/Houston, TX/Atlanta, GA
Piñeros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, Woodburn, OR
Portland Sin Fronteras (PDX No Borders), Portland, OR
Prensa Editorial LeSVOZ, A.C., México, DF
Programa de Asistencia para trabajadores del campo, Las Cruces, NM
Project South: Institute For The Elimination Of Poverty & Genocide, Atlanta, GA
Radio Bemba, Hermosillo, Son
Radio La Chusma (Band), San Antonio, TX
Red de Solidaridad con México, Cd. Juárez, Chi
Red Fronteriza de Salud y Ambiente A.C.
Red Fronteriza de Salud y Ambiente A.C., Hermosillo, Sonora
Red Género Y Economía, México DF
Red Mexicana De Acción Frente Al Libre Comercio (Rmalc) Y Red Trinacional Frente Al Libre Comercio (CANADÁ, ESTADOS UNIDOS Y MÉXICO)
Research Center for Leadership in Action Fellow, NYU/Wagner School, New York, NY
Revista Mundo Especial, Cd. Juárez, Chih
Sectorial Juvenil del Partido del Trabajo, DF
Sisters of Mercy-Justicia y Paz
Southern Partners Fund, Winter Garden, FL
Southwest Network for Environmental & Economic Justice (SNEEJ), New Mexico
SouthWest Organizing Project, New Mexico
Southwest Workers Union, San Antonio, TX
Student Association for Latin American Studies, Las Cruces, NM
The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, Anglican Church of Canada, Toronto, CAN
The Young People’s Project, Jackson,MS
Tierra Madre, Sunland Park, NM
Unión de Trabajadores Agricolas Fronterizos (UTAF), El Paso, TX
Unión Popular Independiente, Torreon, Coah
United Electrical Workers (USA)
United States Social Forum
United Students Against Sweatshops
United Teachers, Los Angeles, CA
Vivienda de Wynwood Comite, Miami, FL
Voices for Planned Parenthood, EL Paso, TX
Western Colorado Justice for Immigrants Committee, Montrose, CO
Woodbridge Workers Committee, Woodbridge, VA
YES! Magazine, Bainbridge Island, WA
YWCA El Paso Del Norte Region, Las Cruces, NM

# posted by karlos @ 5:53 PM 0 comments links to this post

• Millions of immigrant workers and their families are mobilizing for human rights in small towns and big cities all across the United States
• Mexico's closely contested elections are disputed with millions of Mexicans hitting the streets in protest
• Oaxaca is in a state of revolution
• The US Congress says they want to build a fence to keep out immigrants
• Media savvy vigilantes use the media to spread hateful, racist propaganda while they patrol the border
• Money and products cross the border freely
  
• People die every day from violence or trying to cross the border
  

# posted by karlos @ 9:40 PM 0 comments links to this post

With this wave of layoffs, Intel has accomplished about 70 percent of its goal of paring more than 10,000 people from its global work force by the middle of 2007, said Intel spokeswoman Teri Munger.

# posted by karlos @ 2:13 PM 2 comments links to this post