The 10th APPO Megamarcha was reminiscent of those last year. Many of the same banners were scattered throughout the crowd of several thousand and anarchist youth spray painted “APPO,” “Fuera Ulises,” (Out with Governor Ulises) and “Libertad los Presos Politicos” (Free the Political Prisoners). The march started at 10am at the Benito Juarez monument on the outskirts of town and ended at Plaza de la Danza, the courtyard of a large church. Some in the crowd chanted “zocalo! zocalo!” as the march neared the historic center, but the majority continued to Plaza de la Danza. The zocalo (a site of much opposition for the last six months of 2006) was completely barricaded by Oaxacan Preventive Police behind large fences and barbed wire. I asked one of the members of COMO (Coordinadora de Mujeres Oaxaquenos, Primero de Agosto, APPO) what she thought of the march. She said that it was beautiful and quite a success, although the turn-out was less than expected, and that there were no incidences of violence. I know the person who takes care of maintenance at my apartment building would want to add that the graffiti is definitely a negative aspect. I’ve lost track of the number of times he has repainted the front face of the building. As we both stood on the roof of my building, I took pictures of the march and he frowned as the building was covered in graffiti.
Women spoke passionately at the rally about the need for women’s rights, the end to domestic and sexual abuse, the need for more female political representation, the protection of natural resources, and the need to free all political prisoners. Overall, the march was a sign that APPO continues, but it also visibly shows how it is injured. The APPO and the teachers of Section 22 continue their struggle, but many have gone underground or moved out of fear of imprisonment or a worse fate.
The newspaper Imparcial (which is known for being on the side of the government) stated that the march was a resurge in violence and vandalism. At the end of the article it stated that action is being taken against Radio Platnon which started their “clandestine” transmissions during the march.
My apartment is a block from the destination point of today´s 10th MegaMarcha in Oaxaca. I am waiting for the march to arrive. A few blocks from Plaza de la Danza, the destination point, is the zócalo. Each entrance to the zocalo is blocked by police, barricades, and barbed wire. I took pictures (to be uploaded later) of the police checking bags as people squeezed through the fence. Some businesses around the zócalo are closed for the day, assumedly in anticipation for the march. This megamarcha lands on International Women´s Day and therefore hopes to bring awareness to indigenous women´s issues in Oaxaca. The women are also making the freedom of the 64 remaining political prisoners a central issue.
I´m listening to updates about the march on Radio Platon. Today, Radio Platon is officially back on the air at 92.1 after being removed from the airways by the government in August. Radio Platon´s station is located at the Education Worker´s Union office.
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