On the eve of Independence celebrations, organizations take the Oaxaca zócalo hostage and prevent businesses from opening

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As always, the “leaders” are criminals, making cannon fodder for the poorest. They only want their “quota” under the pretext of “social struggles” or disguised as “uses and customs” and as soon as it is covered, they will say that their demands are already being worked on and that is why they withdraw their sit-in. As long as this situation continues to overlap, there will never be development for the peoples of southern Mexico

A twenty organizations protest this Wednesday in the Oaxacan capital; they accuse that the entity is undergoing a process of militarization to impose megaprojects of the federal government.

Oaxaca de Juárez .- On the eve of the Cry of Independence to be held on September 15 in the Historic Center of the Oaxacan capital, members of different social organizations took over the city’s main square, closed access, and prevented the opening of businesses and restaurants

These actions are part of an indefinite day of protests led by the Front of Oaxacan Organizations (Forum) that began this Tuesday, whose members demand a response to requests of a social nature. Added to these demonstrations are the blockades of roads that are maintained in different parts of the city, such as the Cinco Señores intersection and the ADO intersection. 

In total there are twenty organizations protesting this Wednesday in the capital of Oaxaca.

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This front is made up of an alliance of more than a dozen indigenous, peasant and popular organizations, which ensure that their protests seek justice and solutions to the legitimate demands of the people. 

Starting at dawn, this Wednesday members of social organizations took over the capital’s main square and the Alameda de León and settled in the portals on both sides of the square, preventing business and restaurant owners from opening to the public. 

In a tour carried out by EL UNIVERSAL, it was found that within the businesses there are employees who remain on the premises to protect them. 

Through social networks, the owners of these establishments reported that they were asked to pass through the placement of fences at the entrances to the zócalo and regretted that the state authorities have not intervened so far. 

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“Apparently the protesters got tired of negotiating. Today they do not allow us to enter the Terranova Oaxaca to work or enter the zócalo. Any solution?, questioned one of the businessmen through Twitter. 

Through a statement, the social organizations accused that Oaxaca is undergoing a process of militarization to impose megaprojects of the federal government, for which they denounce persecution and harassment of activists and defenders of human rights and the territory, in addition to the criminalization of social protest. 

In their demands, the organizations ask the Oaxacan government for “comprehensive and immediate reparation for the damage” caused to the activist Freddy Omar García, who is classified as a political prisoner, after being imprisoned for homicide and being acquitted and released in June 2022. 

They also ask for justice for the murder of five members of the Committee for the Defense of Indigenous Peoples (Codedi) on different dates in 2018, as well as for the crime of Catarino Torres, which occurred in 2010 and which remains unpunished. 

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They also demanded an end to the harassment of the Zapotec community of Puente Madera, which opposes the construction of an industrial park for the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT) and justice for a series of murders of activists and social fighters dating back to 2006. as well as other justice and social petitions. 

Given this, the organizations warned that they will maintain a day of protests in different regions of the state, as well as an indefinite sit-in in the state capital. “We will not withdraw until these demands are met,” they said. 

Added to these protests are those maintained by the Coalition of Workers, Peasants, and Students of the Isthmus (Cocei), which remains in a sit-in at the ADO crossing, as well as those carried out by the Lubizha movement. 

In addition, this Wednesday retired teachers belonging to Section 22 of the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE) marched from the Source of the 8 Regions to the capital’s main square to demand payment of bonuses, a 90-day bonus, improvements in medical care for the ISSSTE and that their pensions are paid in minimum wages and not in UMAS. 

Consulted by EL UNIVERSAL, the General Secretariat of the Government (Segego) indicated that dialogue is being maintained with the various social organizations that are protesting in the city of Oaxaca and reported that since Monday different groups have approached the agency to present their demands. . 

Through its spokesperson, the Segego highlighted that the highway to Tlacolula, which was closed due to protests from Teotitlán del Valle, had been released; however, she acknowledged that the dialogue tables were broken yesterday with the organizations that were installed in the zócalo, but pointed out that the government is in the best disposition to resume it. 

The Segego ruled out that other actions will be taken in the face of the protests and is betting only on dialogue; however, she recognized that there are demands that exceed the state government, especially because of the times. 

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Yesterday, the head of the Oaxaca Public Security Secretariat (SSPO), Dalia Bolaños Noyola, assured that the agency is respectful of human rights and open to dialogue. For this reason, she assured that the public force has been the last resource, for which she condemns any act of violence against citizens.

“We urge the organizations that maintain damages in the city’s roads to conduct themselves within the framework of dialogue and legality, always observing respect for the human rights of Oaxacans,” he said. 

Regarding the protests this Wednesday, the SSPO assured that in the state capital road traffic is flowing at 95%.

The Oaxaca Post