Oaxaca • An alliance of forty organizations, some who participated in 2006 in the structure of the former Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca [APPO], will build the United Front of Organizations in Resistance Against the Federal Education Reform. The alliance is convened by Section 22 linked to the National Coordinating Committee of Education Workers [CNTE].
The creation of the new organization is scheduled for April 27 when a Major Assembly will be held. Many groups have confirmed their attendance, including the Popular Revolutionary Front, the Popular Indigenous Council and the Ricardo Flores Magón Popular Indigenous Council. In addition, organizations in resistance to the mega-projects have also confirmed their attendance, including the wind farm corridor in the region of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, the Vocal Group and even the Movement of Unification of the Triqui Struggle.
Pedro García and Florentino López Martínez, spokespeople for the Popular Revolutionary Front and former advisers to APPO, agreed that the new bloc of forces seeks to strengthen the organization and mobilization of the Oaxaca teachers who are preparing for a big day of protests in Mexico City not only against education reform, but against labor and other reforms that affect and injure ordinary people.
"On April 27 there is a forum organized by the State Teachers' Assembly, which is launching an appeal to groups and organizations who in 2006 formed the APPO and who joined together to construct a unified space that allows adding as many voices as possible against the privatization policy of the government of President Enrique Peña Nieto."The activists explained that there are organizations in Oaxaca that are discontented not only with the federal education reform, but with the labor reform and the pending reforms on energy and communications.
The protesters ask that the land and natural resources be respected, and they are against the mining concessions. They brought up the case of the conflict of San José "El Progreso" operated by a Canadian manufacturing company that exploits the silver. They also repudiated the wind energy projects and demanded cancellation of project permits for the Barra de Santa Teresa granted to the Spanish [company] Mareña Renewable.
They ask for opening and less harassment of community radio stations. They demand live appearance of the disappeared, including APPO members Edmundo Reyes Amaya and Gabriel Cruz, in addition to punishment of those responsible for the forced disappearances and arbitrary arrests committed during the social conflict of 2006.
Groups against repression by State terrorism have also announced their support of this movement.
Pedro García and Florentino López explained that after the social upheaval that occurred six years ago, many of the activists who participated in the popular struggle against the PRI regime are more mature, have more experience in the communities and are prepared to cope with the new PRI authoritarian process of imposing by use of force and repression the neoliberal policy that only leads to poverty and marginalization. They showed that the antecedent of the first popular uprising of the XXI century is in Oaxaca,
Pedro García and Florentino López explained that after the social upheaval that occurred six years ago, many of the activists who participated in the popular struggle against the PRI regime are more mature, have more experience in the communities and are prepared to cope with the new PRI authoritarian process of imposing by use of force and repression the neoliberal policy that only leads to poverty and marginalization. They showed that the antecedent of the first popular uprising of the XXI century is in Oaxaca,
"today it is improving, the movement is being conducted better, correcting past mistakes and raising awareness in the towns and communities in the new struggle that we must lead," they agreed.
"The APPO is the precedent, and Guerrero has emulated this organizational scheme," he explained, then announced that first there will be a long period of consultation in order to form a great social force followed by the struggle of mobilizing. The same will have to be developed in Mexico City, where the powers that be are installed."