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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | October 2006 
Protesters in Mexican City Consider Deal
 E. Eduardo Castillo - Associated Press
| | Striking Oaxaca teachers and members of the Popular Assembly of Oaxaca (APPO) set-up tents in the plaza in front of the Mexican Senate building in Mexico City, Tuesday Oct. 10, 2006. The teachers, who have paralyzed the city of Oaxaca are demanding the resignation of the state governor Ulises Ruiz. (AP/Eduardo Verdugo) |
Leftist protesters and striking teachers could let local police back into Oaxaca under a deal to ease months of unrest that has paralyzed the colonial city, scaring off tourists and costing millions of dollars.
The agreement would allow local officers under federal command re-enter the barricaded city. It could be derailed, however, by the protesters' demand that Oaxaca state Gov. Ulises Ruiz resign.
Activists from a protest camp outside the Senate building in Mexico City met with legislators Tuesday to press their demand for Ruiz's resignation. Their fellow protesters in Oaxaca were to meet Wednesday to decide on the proposal to permit police to enter the city again.
Since late May, protesters have taken over much of Oaxaca, setting up barricades and seizing media outlets. The protesters have essentially run police out of the picturesque, arch-ringed main plaza and much of downtown.
The protesters suggested after talks with federal officials Monday that they would accept police patrols only if they were under federal command, apparently fearing reprisals by state officials.
Meanwhile, the Senate — the only body with the power to remove a governor — began deliberations on the resignation demand Tuesday. A Senate commission decided to send several senators to Oaxaca to assess the situation.
One key legislator said that Ruiz could only be removed if the Senate judged that all three branches of the Oaxaca state government — the executive, legislative and judicial branches — had stopped functioning. Oaxaca state congressmen have vehemently denied this has happened.
The Senate debate on the governor's fate could extend into next week.
Protesters have said they won't give up until Ruiz is forced from office. They accuse the governor of winning his post in rigged elections and using force against protesters.
Protest leader Flavio Sosa told local media that the policing proposal "is important progress, but the central part of our demand is still there," referring to the removal of Ruiz. |
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