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 News from Around the Americas | October 2006 
US 'Concerned' by Violence in Oaxaca
 AFP
| | Brad Will, a cameraman for the independent media website Indymedia, was killed Friday by a bullet to the chest. (Hinrich Schultze via nyc.imc) |
The death of a US journalist in Oaxaca is worrisome, a State Department spokesman said, adding that it is up to Mexico's government to deal with unrest in the southern Mexican state.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of innocent life," Sean McCormack said.
Brad Will, a cameraman for the independent media website Indymedia, was killed Friday by a bullet to the chest. Eight others have also died in Oaxaca over the course of a five-month protest by striking teachers there.
"Any time you have a resort to violence which results in the death of a citizen, whether it's an American or any other nationality, that's a source of concern."
"But that is really going to be up to the Mexican government to deal with -- how they deal with this," he said.
Will died Friday when a group of gunmen opened fire on demonstrators demanding the ouster of Oaxaca State Governor Ulises Ruiz.
On Sunday, federal riot police took over Oaxaca's city square, evicting squatters from a tent city which had come to symbolize the protests against Ruiz and for a raise in teachers' pay.
The State Department also warned US citizens not to travel to the area.
"US citizens should at this time avoid travel to Oaxaca city due to this increase in violence, which has resulted in at least nine deaths over the past several months," the department said in a statement.
The State Department said that visitors to the popular tourist spot could find that closed roads and airports made travel impossible at any time.
"Since the timing and routes of marches and demonstrations are always subject to change, US citizens should monitor local media sources for new developments and exercise extreme caution while within the vicinity of any protests."
"US citizens are reminded to avoid participating in demonstrations and other activities that might be deemed political by Mexican authorities."
"The Mexican constitution prohibits political activities by foreigners, and such actions may result in detention and/or deportation," the statement said. |
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