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 Editorials | At Issue | October 2006 
Gov. Ruiz Feeling the Heat
 Kelly Arthur Garrett - The Herald Mexico
| | Members of the Popular Assembly of Oaxaca (APPO) and striking teachers shout during a rally in downtown Oaxaca October 4, 2006. Protesters trying to oust state governor Ulises Ruiz have paralyzed the city center with barricades and sit-ins in a conflict that began four months ago with a teachers' strike. (Reuters/Daniel Aguila) |
Ulises Ruiz´s hold on power seemed to weaken Wednesday as calls for his ouster intensified and even a key National Action Party (PAN) legislative leader suggested the embattled Oaxaca governor may have to consider resigning.
"If he is an obstacle, he must evaluate it," said Jorge Zermeño, who presides over the Chamber of Deputies. "If society finds that respect for authority is lacking, I think we have to do whatever is necessary to re-establish order and respect for government."
The PAN-led federal government has taken the lead in recent weeks in attempts to mediate the civil strife in the historic southern state, alternately urging dialogue and threatening intervention with force. But so far, it has resisted calls by striking Oaxaca teachers and social organizations for the removal of Ruiz, a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI.
Zermeño´s comments indicated a possible change of position. He also criticized the governor´s handling of the Oaxaca unrest, which spiraled out of control in June after Ruiz mobilized state troops to break up the teachers´ protest encampment in Oaxaca City´s central plaza.
Recently, Ruiz has urged the federal government to end the crisis and has openly advocated deployment of federal police or military troops in his state.
"I think the governor is mistaken," Zermeño said. "The conflict originated in Oaxaca and it´s up to Oaxacans, first and foremost, to resolve it."
Ruiz´s fate dominated events surrounding the Oaxaca crisis Wednesday.
A delegation of five indigenous leaders, along with noted Oaxaca artist Francisco Toledo, walked out of a government- sponsored "forum" on Oaxaca issues, telling Interior Secretary Carlos Abascal that there could be no social peace in Oaxaca until Ruiz is no longer governor.
Ruiz was present at the event, which was intended to produce a "Governability, Peace and Development Pact" for Oaxaca.
PACT AGREEMENT
Ruiz told reporters after the forum he has no intention of resigning, but will sign the new pact.
However, the event was boycotted by the teachers and their allies in the Oaxaca People´s Assembly (APPO), without whose support the pact will mean little.
The protest leaders said the roster of forum participants was stacked against the interests of ordinary Oaxacans. However, teachers union and APPO leaders indicated they might attend a negotiating session with the Interior Secretariat on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) announced it will push for Senate action to have Ruiz removed from office.
The Constitution gives senators the power to declare a governor unable to carry out the duties of office, and have him or her replaced.
"Not only is (Ruiz) unable to govern, he is responsible for the breakdown of political and social coexistence in Oaxaca," said Carlos Navarrete, the PRD Senate coordinator. "The state legislature has difficulty holding sessions ... the state capital is socially and economically paralyzed ... tens of thousands of children have been out of school for months, (and) the productive sector is suffering enormous losses."
The Senate´s Interior Committee would hear debate on the removal procedure, known as "desaparición de poderes públicos," or disappearance of state control. The membership of that committee was just decided on Tuesday. Presiding over it will be Jesús Murillo Karam, a PRI senator opposed to the removal of Ruiz.
But Javier González Garza, the PRD floor leader in the Chamber of Deputies, said he was confident that all sides will soon realize that a Ruiz exit is the only way forward toward a solution to the Oaxaca crisis. "His resignation alone won´t solve all the problems, but the problems won´t be resolved without his resignation," he said. "Ulises has to step aside to clear the way for all the parties involved to discuss (solutions)."
González Garza said he supported an effort in the Senate to have Ruiz removed, but said he thinks the governor will step down before the process is complete.
"He´s already fallen," the deputy said. "But nobody has told him yet." |
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