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GUEST: Telesforo San Diago, grade school teacher in Oaxaca, Angela Thielan, interpreter

Last Friday, Amnesty International urged Mexican federal authorities to address escalating violence and human rights abuses in Oaxaca. In the most recent wave of violence at least two people have been murdered and many more injured and imprisoned. Information obtained by Amnesty International strongly suggests that militias are working in conjunction with state security forces. For months, protestors have been calling on Ulises Ruiz to step down as Governor of Oaxaca. An ongoing strike of Oaxaca’s tens of thousands of teachers that began on May 22nd has transformed into a movement to oust Ruiz. On June 14th, PRI Governor Ulises Ruiz ordered riot police to forcefully break up an encampment of striking teacher’s in Oaxaca City. A massive march of half a million people followed and was organized to demand the resignation of Ruiz. Since that time, demonstrators have set up roadblocks, taken over radio and television stations and have begun encampments outside of all major state government buildings. Members of the newly formed, People’s Assembly of Oaxaca have declared a willingness to negotiate with Mexican federal officials. Demonstrators insist, however, that state officials from Oaxaca not be present and are unwilling to comprise the demand of Governor Ruiz’s resignation.