Oaxaca, the southern state of Mexico, may be the fuse that lights the exploding bomb of revolution in this country of one hundred million. That’s what Alejandro tells me tonight in the Zocalo, the central plaza, which has been occupied now for nearly two months and seems intent on removing the corrupt state governor, Ulises Ruiz, from power.

By now OaxaqueÐos have gotten as used to the teacher’s strikes as to the seasonal influx of tourists. For five years the teachers have occupied the zocalo (in what is known as a “plantation”) every may in protest of the neoliberalization of education. Neoliberalization in education means lower pay for teachers and more work (maximization of production), fewer services for students and a greater amount of the overall expense transferred to the communities.

This year is special, however. The teachers were coming to the end of their “planton” or live-in occupation of the zocalo, when the police arrived and attacked the sleeping multitude at 4:30 a.m. In addition to two children and six adults confirmed dead, there were fifteen “disappeared,” numerous wounded and a large number of people who were brutally beaten. Nevertheless, the teachers fought back against the estimated three thousand policemen and were finally able to reoccupy the zocalo and fend off later attacks.

Since that incident, Oaxaca has gone disappeared from the newspapers and media. Most think everything has gone back to normal, but thatÇs far from the case. For over a month now there has, indeed, been relative calm and the teachers have gained the support and sympathy of the city. They have since been joined in their planton by numerous community and social organizations and the gazebo at the center of the zocalo serves as home base for the Oaxacan People’s Assembly (APPO), the acting governmental organization of the social movement that has been generated in this new phase of conflict and struggle. The demands have become at once more specific and more general. Specifically, the protestors are calling for the immediate renunciation of power of Oaxacan governor Ruiz. Generally, the protestors are intent on revolution, the total transformation of the state.
counterpunch.org

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