At the last Congresso Constitutivo of APPO (Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca) on Nov 12, the people agreed on a certain list of actions. Marked for November 20th was the occupation of the Palacio del Gobierno, a government building located on one side of the Zòcalo. The unexplained plan was to bring enough people in to the area with a march and surround the Zòcalo. However, the day before the scheduled event, the APPO realized what they had done. They had agreed by consensus on the overall list of actions but did not discuss each one, point-by-point. They realized that this particular action was not practical and could potentially lead to violence. They tried to disseminate information to their supporters notifying them that there would only be a march which would walk past the Zòcalo to Santo Domingo. However, the main form of communication is through radio and cell phones, and this could not reach everyone. And others were ready for a fight. This is a growing problem for APPO. While their main ideology is in line with non-violence and they have tried their best to maintain this in the face of violent repression, many of the young people (teens and young adults) are pushing for a violent reaction. Many APPO members are afraid that if the government pushes hard enough, their will be a violent reaction, which could lead to fighting in the streets for an undetermined amount of time.
A glimpse of this was seen yesterday. While march walked past the Zòcalo, a group of young people climbed a vehicle (or a bus, I am uncertain) and provoked the PFP (Policia Federal Protectiva) with words and possibly rocks. The PFP fired back with a rock, which reportedly hit one of the young people. This started a fight between the two groups. The PFP threw out tear gas to disperse the crowd. The PFP on Garcia Vigil street are stationed at the entrance to the Zòcalo. They threw up tear gas two blocks up toward Santo Domingo. Activists, shoppers, vendors, and children, ran from the gas that was filling the air. It was difficult to find a place free from the stinging gas. 
A young boy was carried to a vendor’s table as he was overcome by the gas. At this location, two blocks up from the PFP (it is a slightly elevated hill), APPO set up an impromptu barricade with supplies from a nearby construction site and from the abandoned vendor tables. A bus was brought in behind the barricade carrying bottles, Molotov cocktails, and fireworks. When one of the APPO members anticipated something was about to happen, they would whistle. Directly afterwards, many of the women would ask the men to calm down and not do anything. A bus was also set on fire a couple blocks from Santo Domingo in order to prevent a tank and PFP from advancing up the street. At this point, Marcelino Coache, a speaker for APPO, and a few reporters approached the PFP and negotiated for the release of some of the detained activists in exchange for a truce. Seven people were released as both groups retreated back.
Some people were looking for a fight, and it is likely that some of the police want to give it to them…but for now it is a waiting game. The young men who were part of starting this may be APPO or they may be Porros (a young gang that does the bidding of Ulises to provoke violence in the community). Young APPO members were prepared for a fight because of the announcement that they would be occupying Palacio del Gobierno. After four hours of fighting with thrown objects, 58 people were injured, mostly from the tear gas, a few from being hit by gas canisters.
The majority of the people in this movement want to see a peaceful change in the governing of their people. They want recognition of their traditional ways of governance that is representative of all people, especially the indigenous, and uses consensus. However, every meeting, event, march, and barricade is a negotiation between communities, families, businesses, organizations, ideologies and goals. If the incoming government of Calderon pushes harder, the debate over violence or nonviolence will be decided.
Please look in my photos section for more pictures from this event.
en mexico siempre tendremos problemas de este tipo, mientras los depredadores que controlan al pais sigan usurpando la presidencia de la republica, como el nuevo falso gobierno que tenemos de fecal,..con este usurpador la reprecion de los mexicanos zera peor cada dia,..es necesario castigar a traidores a la patria como el merolico vicente fox que impunemente se contonean y gastan los dineros del pueblo a manos llenas el su asquerosa familia y sus entenados. cuando los mexicanos recobren la cordura y se hagan justicia mexico podra hablar de democracia. mientras los impunes sigan libres seguiran los problemas sociales, economicos y laborales.
muy necesario que los mexicanos tomemos conciencia que no debemos de dejar mas a gobiernos espurios que controlen los destinos del pais es por ello que los mexicnaos estamos se encuentran medio vestidos, medio comidos y un cuarto de estudiados, dejamos que los saqueadores de las riquesas del pais,.. sigan su marcha campantemente como el irlando mexicano y traidor a la nacion mexicana de vicente fox y su ratera raza asi como sus entenados los LADRONBRIESCA quienes con la proteccion del sujeto que dejaran a la fuerza como un falso presidente de la republica llamado FECAL por sus siglas..y este junto con sus compinches cubran y protejan a tan despreciables sujetos DIOS SALVE A LOS MEXICANOS DE TAN DESPRECIABLES DESHECHOS HUMANOS.