Mexico: Weekly Newsletter
We share hereby an unofficial translation of the latest Weekly Newsletter’s Mexico part published by Sol Rojo.
The democratic-revolutionary movement has carried out various activities this week. In Mexico City, on August 17, took place the Mega-March for Gaza where according to its organizers participated more than a thousand of people from different people’s sectors, organizations, and unions. In this mobilization, as in recent anti-gentrification marches, the opportunistic and reactionary government of Clara Brugada deployed anti-riot police operatives involving special operations groups known as “Ciclones, Guerreros, and Zorros,” the latter trained in counterinsurgency by the Israeli and Yankee armies. They attempted to dismantle the demonstration, leading to clashes with the protesters, who this time responded in an organized and combative manner. Supported by the experience of various organized sectors that attended, they demonstrated that it is through organization and not spontaneity that the plans of the reaction are defeated. During the event, the protesters made graffiti, put up posters, held a rally in front of the U.S. embassy, fought back against the police, and placed a figure for Palestine in front of the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SER), demanding the immediate cut of relations with Israel. We salute the combative action of the people’s and union movement in this important demonstration for Palestine!
In Chiapas, the “Some Parts of the Whole” Encounter of Resistances and Rebellions, called by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), has concluded after several days of activities that began on August 3. Desinformémonos has shared a chronicle of impressions from this event; so far, there is no official statement from the meeting or its organizers.
In Oaxaca, the unity of the people’s and union movement is being built beyond centrist discourses and short-term agendas, responding to the state’s campaign of repression. This week, democratic organizations, class-conscious unions, and civil society organizations carried out various activities focusing on UNITY ON PRINCIPLES AND UNITY IN ACTION. On Tuesday 12th of August, members of the Unique Union of Workers of Community Telebachilleratos of the State of Oaxaca (SUTTEBCEO) – part of the Intersindical – were repressed by State police with tear gas and batons while they were protesting with a blockade on Calzada Héroes de Chapultepec near the ADO terminal. The members have initiated an indefinite mobilization since August 11 in the state capital, demanding the establishment of a dialogue table and the dismissal of the General Director of the Telebachilleratos subsystem, Filemón Bernardo Hernández, for gender violence, threats, and harassment against the Secretary General of SUTTEBCEO, Zurisadai García. The eviction resulted in five injured members, with no arrests made. In solidarity with the SUTTEBCEO members, at least ten organizations issued a joint statement condemning the repression.
Afterwards, on Friday, August 15, marking 15 years of unjust imprisonment for forest defender Pablo López Alavéz, was summoned a march by Consorcio Oaxaca, Current of the People Red Sun, CODEDI, and Front Line Defenders, joined by various organizations and workers’ unions denouncing the situation of this political prisoner, who has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. “Pablo was detained by Ulises Ruiz, subjected to abuse by Gabino Cué, isolated by Alejandro Murat, and condemned by Salomón Jara,” the protesters denounced. Upon arriving at the city square, they held a combative rally and covered the Palace of Ignominy (government palace) with posters.
On Monday the 18th August 18 was held a press conference in solidarity with the SUTTEBCEO members in front of the Palace of Ignominy, attended by some unions affiliated with the Intersindical, such as the National Free Union of Social Security Workers – Oaxaca Section, the Independent Union of Workers and Professionals in Health (SITYPS), and the Classist Current of Education Workers (COCLATE). Democratic organizations like Current of the People Red Sun, the Committee for the Defense of Indigenous Rights (CODEDI), the Committee for the Defense of the Rights of the Peoples of Oaxaca (CODEPO), the People’s Front of June 14, the Oaxacan Movement for Democratic Left (MOID), the Zapotec Indigenous Front (FIZ), and Displaced People from San Juan Copala, among others, also responded to the call. At the end of the conference, a dialogue table between union leadership and the state government was planned, so the SUTTEBCEO members, along with accompanying unions and organizations, gathered outside the palace to cover the table, which brought some initial positive results. The SUTTEBCEO members remain mobilized and report that there is a strike notice for salary review demanding a 50% direct salary increase along with benefits, with the strike scheduled for August 25. Long live the struggle of SUTTEBCEO! Long live the struggle of workers!
