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.
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