|
|
|
||||||||||||
 
|
 |
|
Contents
 |
|
| Claudia Vera Noriega, director of Tepeyac Human Rights Centre, a KAIROS human rights partner in Oaxaca, on tour in Canada. |
KAIROS is extremely concerned about the use of excessive force by police against striking teachers in Oaxaca, Mexico. Teachers continue to occupy the central square in Oaxaca, demanding better wages and working conditions. We fear an escalation in police violence and human rights abuses. Take action now to help prevent this.
Background
In the early morning of June 14, Oaxaca state police entered the central square in Oaxaca City to evict striking teachers. Police used extreme force including tear gas and batons to evict protestors. At least 11 teachers were detained and a number were injured, some seriously. The Red Cross reports to have attended to 192 people and taken 113 to several local hospitals. Participating in the protest were teachers, many with their children, from most of the over 500 municipalities in Oaxaca. In the general confusion and chaos, many protestors fled the city in fear without advising their delegations, accounting for initial reports of several deaths and disappearances.
KAIROS partner in Ottawa
When this violent eviction occurred, Claudia Vera Noriega, director of Tepeyac Human Rights Centre, a KAIROS human rights partner in Oaxaca, was on tour in Canada. Claudia had been invited by KAIROS to participate in the National Migrant Justice gathering in Toronto and meetings with members of parliament in Ottawa, June 10-16. While in Ottawa, Claudia was receiving news directly from Oaxaca. Clearly, for her, it was a difficult time to be away and she was very worried about the safety and welfare of her colleagues and friends. At these meetings in Ottawa, Claudia spoke out about what was happening in Oaxaca, denounced the excessive use of force by the Oaxaca state government and police, and called for a response from Canadian civil society and government.
Ongoing human rights concerns
Striking teachers continue to occupy the central square and the surrounding streets, demanding improved wages and working conditions. Teachers in Oaxaca are among the worst paid in Mexico, most earning the equivalent of a dollar a day. Many of these teachers are from Indigenous communities and teach in both Spanish and their Indigenous language.
The situation remains tense and there is no clear indication as to when the labour dispute will be resolved. Human rights partners continue to monitor the situation, particularly with regard to possible new attempts to carry out forced eviction of striking teachers. Partners fear a further escalation of violence, repression and human rights abuses by police.
KAIROS is concerned that the state government’s response to the just and legitimate demands of the teachers has resulted in multiple violations of human rights including: the right to protest, and civil and political rights guaranteed under the constitutional and international human rights conventions. Partners fear that there has been an attempt by all three levels of government in Mexico to criminalize the legitimate struggle of the teachers for decent wages and working conditions.
Furthermore, we are concerned by reports of threats and intimidation against human rights defenders who are accompanying the teachers and monitoring the situation.
This is not an isolated incident. Disturbingly, there was a very similar example of police violence and repression in San Salvador Atenco, Mexico on 4 May 2006, about a month prior to the police operation in Oaxaca. In this incident, at least 205 people were detained, many suffering severe beatings. When transported to prison, those detained reported suffering torture including rape and sexual assault of at least 23 of the women arrested. One person died as a result of police violence.
Partners have expressed concern about this increase in police violence
and repression in the days leading up to the Mexican election on
July 2 and have called for increased vigilance and accompaniment
from the international community.
KAIROS letter
KAIROS has written a letter to the Mexican authorities in response to this situation
Take Action
Using your own words, please write your own letters to the State Governor of Oaxaca and the President of Mexico, copied to the Canadian Embassy in Mexico and the Mexican Embassy in Canada, the Oaxacan human rights network and KAIROS:
- expressing concern about the police use of excessive force against striking teachers in the centre of Oaxaca City on 14 June 2006, resulting in the injury of many protestors, including children;
- calling on the Mexican authorities to:
- ensure that the use of excessive force against the striking teachers is not repeated and that the right to protest as well as civil and political rights guaranteed under the constitutional and international human rights conventions are respected;
- use dialogue and peaceful negotiations to resolve the labour dispute with striking teachers;
- guarantee the safety and integrity of the human rights defenders who are monitoring the situation in Oaxaca .
Send letters to:
The Governor of Oaxaxa
Ulises Ruiz Ortiz
Gobernador del Estado de Oaxaca
Carretera Oaxaca-Puerto Angel Km 9.5
Santa María Coyotepec
Oaxaca, Mexico
Fax: 011 52 951 505 0531 (If answered, say "El tono de fax,
por favor.")
Salutation: Señor Gobernador / Dear Governor
AND
The President of Mexico
Lic. Vicente Fox Quesada
Presidente de los Estados Unidos de México
Residencia Oficial de "Los Pinos"
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec
México D.F., México
Fax: 011 52 5 55 277 2376
Salutation: Estimado Presidente / Dear President
With copies to:
Mexican Ambassador in Canada
Her Excellency María Teresa GARCÍA SEGOVIA
Ambassador for the United Mexican States
45 O'Connor Street, Suite 1000
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1A4
Fax: (613) 235-9123
E-mail: info@embamexcan.comCanadian Ambassador in Mexico
Ambassador Gaetan Lavertu,
Canadian Embassy in Mexico
Schiller 529
Col. Polanco
11560 Mexico, District Federal
TEL: (5255) 5724-7900
FAX: (5255) 5724-7985
email: gaetan.lavertu@international.gc.caRed Oaxaquena de Derechos Humanos
Crespo 524, Centro, C.P. 68000
Oaxaca, Mexico
Fax: (52 951) 5141634
rodhmx@yahoo.com.mx
Please copy Rachel Warden, Latin America Partnerships Program ( rwarden ) or 129 St Clair Ave West, Toronto ON, M4V 1N5 or fax to 416 463 5569.
THANK YOU.
Top
of page |
|