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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | October 2006 
Riot Police Advance into Mexico's Violent Oaxaca
 Noel Randewich - Reuters
| | Mexican federal police hold roses as they stand at the entrance to Oaxaca City, Mexico October 29, 2006. Riot police backed by helicopters and armored trucks advanced to the edge of the Mexican tourist city of Oaxaca on Sunday, meeting little initial resistance from protesters demanding the removal of the state governor. (Henry Romero/Reuters) |
Thousands of riot police backed by helicopters and armored trucks broke up barricades to take control of Mexico's popular tourist city of Oaxaca on Sunday, firing water cannons to disperse leftist protesters.
Mexico sent the forces to the picturesque colonial city, which striking teachers and activists have occupied since May to demand the state governor's resignation, after gunmen thought to be local police shot dead a U.S. journalist and two other people on Friday.
On one road into the city, hundreds of protesters fled as three trucks, with V-shaped plows and flanked by police, edged forward at walking speed.
A Reuters reporter saw a small group of protesters throw rocks at the trucks as helicopters buzzed overhead.
In another part of the city, armored trucks brushed aside a makeshift barricade of old furniture and rocks, and riot police followed on foot, heading for the city center. On this road, police met with no resistance from demonstrators.
Radio stations reported similar peaceful scenes on other access roads to the city, famous for its colonial architecture, cuisine and indigenous crafts.
The protesters accuse state Gov. Ulises Ruiz of corruption and repressive tactics, and had insisted they would not give up their occupation until he is removed. But as riot police circled the city, they said they would avoid confrontation.
Although the crisis in Oaxaca is over local issues, it has raised fears it could spark unrest elsewhere in the country, which was shaken by weeks of street protests after a fiercely contested presidential election in July.
Earlier, police in body armor and SWAT teams armed with assault rifles took over several roads at the edge of the city and stood their ground for several hours to wait for instructions to move into the city center.
Hundreds of chanting protesters formed in front of the riot police, waving white flags and banners. Some raised their white-painted hands to show they were unarmed and that their protest was peaceful.
POLICE OFFERED FLOWERS
One woman offered a policeman flowers and she dropped them at his feet when he declined to take them in his hand.
"This is the fault of just one man, Ulises Ruiz," said teacher Carlos Como, 39.
It is unusual for federal forces to be sent to conflicts in Mexican states, which are the jurisdiction of local police. A police spokesman said 4,000 riot police were taking part in the Oaxaca operation.
The protesters have said Ruiz was behind recent shootings and accused him of corruption and repressing dissenters, whose roadblocks have driven tourists from Oaxaca and hurt business.
Other Oaxaca residents, exhausted from months of anarchic protests, welcomed the arrival of the federal police.
"I'm sick to death of these damn barricades," said Oaxaca resident Noemi Gutierrez. "I want them to come in and put the teachers in their place."
About a dozen people, mostly protesters, have been killed since activists took to the streets in a bid to topple Ruiz, who blames the protesters for the violence.
The crisis has steadily escalated with frequent shots taken at the barricades built by the activists and teachers.
Outgoing President Vicente Fox has vowed to end the crisis before handing over to President-elect Felipe Calderon of the conservative ruling party on December 1.
Fox is keen to avoid bloodshed but has come under pressure from the governor and local businessmen to break the protests.
Uniformed police have not entered the center of Oaxaca since being fought off by protesters during a failed attempt in June to break up a protest camp in the city's central square. |
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