Thread: Gunmen exchange fire with protesters outside hotel in Oaxaca

http://www.signonsandiego.com

Gunmen exchange fire with protesters outside hotel in historic Mexican city


By Rebeca Romero
ASSOCIATED PRESS

7:55 a.m. September 25, 2006

OAXACA, Mexico – A group of gunmen exchanged fire with leftist protesters outside Oaxaca's Camino Real hotel on Sunday, injuring two men and forcing dozens of tourists, residents and journalists to run for cover.

The shootout came hours after the U.S. Embassy in Mexico renewed a warning for U.S. citizens traveling to the historic southern city, where protesters have camped out for months, burned buses and fought pitched battles with police.

About 300 demonstrators armed with machetes, knives and pipes descended on the Camino Real searching for Oaxaca state Gov. Ulises Ruiz, who they are demanding resign. They accuse him of rigging the 2004 election to win office and violently repressing dissent.

Thirty protesters entered the hotel and searched room by room for the governor. Ruiz later said he had been at a restaurant near the Camino Real but never went inside the hotel.

A group of about 40 men armed with sticks and guns then attacked and fired at the protesters outside the hotel's front door. Some protesters drew guns and returned fire, creating panic among dozens of people in the street.

Zenen Bravo, a spokesman for the Oaxaca People's Assembly, which is coordinating the protests, said one demonstrator was shot in the elbow and another had been beaten with sticks. Bravo accused the governor of being behind the armed group.

Ruiz denied that and condemned the violence.

“We cannot tolerate these acts of vandalism and aggression against Oaxacan citizens,” he said.

Hours before the confrontation Sunday, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico extended an existing advisory for U.S. citizens heading to Oaxaca City, saying they should “consider carefully the risk of travel at this time due to the recent increase in violence there.”

The Embassy also said it had received reports of robberies and assaults in the city, which normally has a low crime rate and is popular with tourists for its cobblestoned streets, craft markets and cuisine. The advisory warned that protesters might try to close the local airport and that travelers should monitor developments.

The advisory extends through Oct. 30, replacing an announcement released on Aug. 24.

On Monday, President Vicente Fox's spokesman, Ruben Aguilar, said the government still encouraged tourists “from all over the world to visit Mexico.”

“Mexico offers all conditions necessary for tourism,” Aguilar said during his daily briefing with reporters in Mexico City. “There have been no problems with tourists in Oaxaca City or in other parts of the country, despite violence committed by organized crime.”

Aguilar said negotiations led by Fox's top Cabinet member, Interior Secretary Carlos Abascal, were ongoing and that federal authorities will not intervene to restore order.

Asked if Fox would defend Ruiz, Aguilar replied, “He who has been elected by voters cannot be fired by street protests.”

Aguilar also said Fox's office “condemns and regrets” the brief detention and verbal assault of a radio reporter by protesters in Oaxaca on Sunday. “We should also condemn any kind of action that tries to repress or doesn't properly value the rights journalists have.”

Protests and violence have plagued Oaxaca City, 350 kilometers (220 miles) southeast of the Mexican capital, ever since teachers went on strike in May to demand higher wages.

The protests exploded in June when police tried to evict the teachers. Joined by leftists, anarchists and students, the teachers have since taken over government buildings, as well as radio stations to broadcast calls for revolt. Police and armed gangs have shot at demonstrators on several occasions, leaving at least two dead.

A group of protesters and striking teachers is making its way from Oaxaca to Mexico City to pressure federal authorities into helping broker a solution. Fox has promised to end the conflict before he leaves office Dec. 1.

“We absolutely promise that the problem in Oaxaca will be resolved before this administration ends,” Aguilar said.

On Saturday, Ruiz warned the teachers that they would be replaced by substitutes and lose their pay unless they immediately returned to work.



Associated Press writers Will Weissert and Ioan Grillo in Mexico City contributed to this report.

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http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/ ... oaxaca.ap/

Gunfight in Oaxaca sends tourists running for cover

OAXACA, Mexico (AP) -- Gunmen exchanged fire with leftist protesters outside Oaxaca's Camino Real hotel, injuring two men and forcing dozens of tourists, residents and journalists to run for cover.

On Monday, a day after the gunfire, President Vicente Fox's spokesman Ruben Aguilar said officials "absolutely promise that the problem in Oaxaca will be resolved before this administration ends" on December 1.

The clash at the hotel came hours after the U.S. Embassy in Mexico renewed a warning to U.S. citizens traveling to Oaxaca, where protesters have camped out for months, burned buses and fought pitched battles with police.

About 300 demonstrators armed with machetes, knives and pipes descended on the Camino Real searching for Oaxaca state Gov. Ulises Ruiz, whose resignation they demand. They accuse him of rigging the 2004 election to win office and violently repressing dissent.

Thirty protesters searched room by room for the governor, who later said he had been at a nearby restaurant but never went inside the hotel.

A group of about 40 men armed with sticks and guns then attacked and fired at the protesters outside the hotel's front door. Some protesters drew guns and returned fire, creating panic among dozens of people in the street.

Zenen Bravo, a spokesman for the Oaxaca People's Assembly, which is coordinating the protests, said one demonstrator was shot in the elbow and another had been beaten with sticks. Bravo accused the governor of being behind the armed group.

Ruiz denied that and condemned the violence.

"We cannot tolerate these acts of vandalism and aggression against Oaxacan citizens," he said.

Hours before the confrontation Sunday, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico extended an existing advisory for U.S. citizens heading to Oaxaca city, saying they should "consider carefully the risk of travel at this time due to the recent increase in violence there."

The embassy also said it had received reports of robberies and assaults in the city, which normally has a low crime rate and is popular with tourists for its cobblestoned streets, craft markets and cuisine. The advisory warned that protesters might try to close the local airport and that travelers should monitor developments.

Aguilar said at his daily briefing on Monday said the government still encourages tourists "from all over the world to visit Mexico" and added, "There have been no problems with tourists in Oaxaca city or in other parts of the country, despite violence committed by organized crime."

Aguilar said negotiations led by Fox's top Cabinet member, Interior Secretary Carlos Abascal, were ongoing and that federal authorities will not forcibly intervene to restore order.

Asked if Fox would defend Ruiz, Aguilar replied, "He who has been elected by voters cannot be fired by street protests."

Oaxaca teachers went on strike in May to seek higher wages. Protests exploded a month later when police tried to evict teachers from the city's main plaza. Joined by leftists, anarchists and students, the teachers have since taken over government buildings, as well as radio stations to broadcast calls for revolt.

Police and armed gangs have shot at demonstrators on several occasions, leaving at least two dead.

On Saturday, Ruiz warned the teachers that they would be replaced by substitutes and lose their pay unless they immediately returned to work.

I'm looking for a bloody confrontation to end this conflict. Any tourist that go here have to be out of their mind.

http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorest ... l&id=93776


US citizens warned against Oaxaca travel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, September 26, 2006 (Oaxaca):


The US Embassy in Mexico has renewed a warning to American citizens travelling to Oaxaca, where protesters have camped out for months, burnt buses and fought pitched battles with police.

Just hours after the warning was posted on Sunday, gunmen exchanged fire with leftist protesters outside Oaxaca's Camino Real hotel, injuring two men and forcing dozens of tourists, residents and journalists to run for cover.

On Monday, President Vicente Fox's spokesperson Ruben Aguilar said officials "absolutely promised" that the problem in Oaxaca would be resolved before President Vicente Fox left office on December 1.

About 300 demonstrators armed with machetes, knives and pipes descended on the Camino Real searching for Oaxaca state Governor Ulises Ruiz, whose resignation they demand.

They accuse him of rigging the 2004 election to win office and violently repressing dissent.

Thirty protesters searched room by room for the governor, who later said he had been at a nearby restaurant but never went inside the hotel.

A group of about 40 men armed with sticks and guns then fired at the protesters outside the hotel's front door.

Some protesters drew guns and returned fire, creating panic among people in the street.

Increase in violence

Zenen Bravo, a spokesperson for the Oaxaca People's Assembly, which is coordinating the protests, said one demonstrator was shot in the elbow and another had been beaten with sticks.

Bravo accused the governor of being behind the armed group. Ruiz denied that and condemned the violence.

The US Embassy said American citizens should "consider carefully the risk of travel at this time" due to the recent increase in violence in Oaxaca.

The embassy also said it had received reports of robberies and assaults in the city, which normally has a low crime rate and is popular with tourists for its cobble stoned streets, craft markets and cuisine.

The advisory warned that protesters might try to close the local airport and that travellers should monitor developments.

Teachers protest

Oaxaca teachers went on strike in May to seek higher wages.

Protests occurred a month later when police tried to evict teachers from the city's main plaza. Joined by leftists, anarchists and students, the teachers have since taken over government buildings, as well as radio stations to broadcast calls for revolt.

Police and armed gangs have shot at demonstrators on several occasions, leaving at least two dead.

On Saturday, Ruiz warned the teachers that they would be replaced by substitutes and lose their pay unless they immediately returned to work. (AP)