Oaxaca Protesters Describe Jail Beatings, Abuse by Police

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In mid-December I went to Oaxaca City with an international human rights delegation. While we were there the government released 42 protesters who were rounded up following a large demonstration at the end of November. Demonstrators have been calling for the ouster of Oaxaca Governor Ulises Ruiz and the withdrawal of federal police who were sent there several weeks ago to crush the popular uprising led by striking teachers and APPO - the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca.

Many of newly released protestors have said they were beaten in jail and describe abuse at the hands of police. Scores of other protesters remain in jail including Flavio Sosa, a leader of APPO. Sosa was arrested in Mexico City the day before he was to resume negotiations with the governor to resolve the conflict. Meanwhile, the federal police have begun withdrawing from the center of Oaxaca.

I filed this report for Democracy Now with Global Exchange Human Rights Fellow, John Gibler.

Zapatistas Call For International Day of Protest in Solidarity With Oaxaca

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It was the eve of the international day of solidarity with the people of Oaxaca and I was at the prison on the outskirts of Oaxaca City where a few people trickled out of the prison after having been detained since late November. One young man (who asked not to be filmed or identified) was a bus driver who got caught in a crackdown on November 20, 2006. With tears in his eyes, he described the conditions of his detention and noted that the saddest part was that he was falsely charged with robbing the bus and pulling a knife of a police officer. To read the transcript of this report I filed for Democracy Now click here.

For a little update: Friends and relatives of prisoners in Oaxaca formed a human chain around the Tlacolula prison today.

Thousands March on Day of Solidarity With Oaxaca

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In southern Mexico’s Oaxaca City supporters of the People’s Popular Assembly of Oaxaca again took to the streets to demand the resignation of Gov. Ulises Ruiz, the release of political prisoners and the withdrawal of federal police from the city. Various cities in 37 countries held protests as part of a day of international solidarity with the APPO. This report I filed from Oaxaca for Democracy Now! on December 26, 2006

Zapatista Encuentro

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At the end of my trip to Mexico I headed out on at 13 hour bus ride from Mexico City to the state of Chiapas. On new years the Zapatistas held the First Encounter of the Zapatista Pueblos with the People of the World to share with the world their experiences with autonomous governments, education, health and communication. Throughout the four day teach-in, 0ver 7,000 people from 47 countries participated. Here is the transcript on Democracy Now.

Mike Burke for President

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It was before the 2004 elections when I was introduced to the parts and labor song "Mike Burke for President." Picking up on the political situation from that time this animation stars Mike Burke and has guest appearances by Judith Miller, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Ahmed Chalabi.

"Infested"

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Bedbug infestation. Another contribution to the public access monthly TV program "My Survival Kit." There is a ton of stuff online related to bedbugs infestations especially in NYC. Check out this Melbourne Indymedia post Experiments with bed bugs.

"See" - Stop Animation

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See - an animation and video meditation on satellite surveillance technology. Cut up and part of monthly MNN program "My survival Kit". Check out the show and the band here.

Switching over

Things to post but too lazy to keep up with the ftp. Maybe a blog is the answer?