THE OAXACA CRISIS and the roots of migration MIGUEL ÁNGEL VÁSQUEZ DE LA ROSA SERVICIOS PARA UNA EDUCACIÓN ALTERNATIVA A.C. EDUCA

A photograph to understand Oaxaca

Oaxaca: History and Reality Oaxaca is the indigenous conscience of Mexico. It’s a place with history and tradition. A place with natural and cultural wealth. Oaxaca is a very diverse state. 3.5 million people live in Oaxaca. It has a surface area of 95 thousand square kilometers. There are 570 municipalities (counties) and 10,000 communities in the state.

The global crisis is reflected in Oaxaca Globally, there is a disenchantment with globalization. The results of globalization: more poverty, exclusion, and authoritarian rule. Democracy is undergoing a serious crisis, it lacks substance.

World-wide change and Oaxaca A cycle of protest and social uprisings, world-wide. New forms of global protest. New citizenships. In the world: emerging powers and a new political map.

Oaxaca is painful to Mexico The process to democratic transition, pushed forth by civil society, failed. A decomposition of the political regime, obsolete law and institutions. Now we have a government that rules with an iron fist.

In Mexico they don’t care about the poor Government Priorities: National Secuity. Foreign Direct Investment. Structural Reform. Social Programs. Social crisis: inequality, quality of life deterioration, the lack of access to judicial system.

Oaxaca an image of the global crisis

Poverty, the root of migration Oaxaca is the second most marginalized state in Mexico. 76% of the population lives in extreme poverty % of the economically active population earn less than 70 pesos (approximately seven dollars) on a daily basis. Only 2.9% of public spending is destined to small farmers in the Oaxacan countryside causing a crisis. 150 thousand Oaxacans migrate each year to look for work in northern Mexico and in the United States. Migrant remittances are the third source of income after tourism and coffee. Oaxaca is responsible for only 1.5% of the gross national product of Mexico.

Impacts of Free Trade in Oaxaca It has caused more poverty, especially for small farmers. Free trade has attempted to change small farmers into industrial workers. A proliferation of contaminated seeds, or genetically modified corn. A fall in production of basic grains and fruits. Foreign direct investment and development projects in indigenous regions.

The Political Crisis in Oaxaca The conflict synthesizes three decades of social damage. Political, social, and agrarian conflicts in Oaxaca. Authoritarian governments and cacicazgos in Oaxaca. A tradition of social and popular organization. 26 years of the teacher’s struggle in Oaxaca.

Oaxaca, the uprising In Oaxaca broke into a state of lawlessness. The government represses a teacher’s strike. The social movement, the APPO, emerges. The APPO demands the resignation of the governor and the political transformation of the state.

Human Rights Violations in the conflict The repression of the movement by the state and federal governments. The CNDH documented 15 deaths from the conflict, the CCIODH documented 23 deaths and AI reported 18. The CNDH had 304 complaints from detained people, the November 25 th committee documented 350 detained people. The CNDH received complaints from 275 APPO sympathizers who had both serious and minor injuries. Cruel and inhumane treatment, torture, and threats were documented. 20 cases of harrassment against activists have been documented

THE GOVERNMENT FACES JUDICIAL PROCESS For genocide before the Federal Attorney General’s office. The Political Trial that is taking place in the House of Representatives. The investigation of the Supreme Court for human rights violations. The Recommendation emitted by the National Comission on Human rights on May 23, And international human rights organizations have made demands to the Mexican Government.

The spiritual force of the people

Challenges The political crisis polarized the Oaxacan society. There persists a climate of ingovernability in Oaxaca. The people most affected by the conflict were the excluded, the poor. In Oaxaca the structural causes of poverty have not been resolved. There will be long term effects because of the conflict. Migration, the “painful relief” to the economic crisis, continues. It is necessary to reconstruct the social fabric of Oaxaca through solidarity between peoples, nationally and globally.

SERVICIOS PARA UNA EDUCACIÓN ALTERNATIVA A.C. EDUCA Services for an Alternative Education MIGUEL ÁNGEL VÁSQUEZ DE LA ROSA Escuadrón Doscientos Uno No. 203 Colonia Antiguo Aeropuerto Oaxaca, Oaxaca, México y