August 14 Update: "Normalized" Zócalo and the Release of Four Spanish Citizens

The zócalo looks not normal but normalized. Today there were many people sitting on the walls, walking around, parents with kids, etcetera. No vendors. no banners, no protesters.

The four Spanish-Catalans who were arrested have been released. The translation of their account of events is below. The governor apparently thinks this is a good moment to consolidate his “win” (Jeez, I feel like I have begun to speak in quotation marks no matter what I say) by issuing arrest warrants for ten APPO activists, allegedly for inciting to riot, or some such, on June 16 when the police attacked the Guelaguetza marchers on Fortin Hill. It seems to not matter that at least three of the accused were not present, not even in the city, according to Zenén Bravo, one of the ten.

Incidentally, Erendelio Mendoza, (who was reported dead by Limeddh, and me, and all others who read the initial reports) has emerged from the coma induced by the severe beating administered by police (well-documented in photos; but then; the photos of two men shooting Brad Will also are available). He apparently still requires assistance to breathe, and despite initial efforts by the hospital to discharge him, his family protested vigorously and publicly. The governor wishes him a speedy recovery, and he remains in the hospital. I am not sure how much ability he has to use his body; his daughter a few days ago (so it may have changed since then) said he could not use one side of his body and was breathing through a tracheotomy.

I ran into a friend from the Sierra Norte and asked, (inevitably) what next. He is a good honest guy and said, “We have to come up with another strategy.” He does not have much hope for the municipal elections either, where he sees possible PRI wins, although he did say that in smaller towns, especially those choosing authorities by usos y costumbres, the situation may be better “because it is not so easy to lie to your neighbors.” He assured me he was not discouraged, but determined to continue in the struggle for a decent government.

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Translation of account of events by the four arrested Spanish-Catalans:

We are four persons of Spanish nationality who the past August 5, 2007, were walking through the center of the city of Oaxaca on Independencia Street, about 21:30. Suddenly we were surrounded by paramilitary, some of them with high caliber arms and wearing dark blue uniforms, and bullet roof vests (antiballistic elements of protection). Two of them who were giving the orders were dressed in civilian clothes; they were accompanied by some white Nissan pick-up trucks.

Then they made us four and a Mexican youngster face to the wall with hands on our heads in spite of the presence of other people on the street at this moment. Without asking us for any identification or explanation they violently forced us to get into one of the pickups.

During the ride we asked them why they were doing this and they replied with blows and insults. It was then when one of us showed his press credential. Subsequently, they forced us to stretch out and they covered us with a canvas, blocking all visual contact among ourselves and them and between the passersbys.

After the ride of approximately ten minutes we arrived at a place that seemed to be a barracks in which were persons in green and blue uniforms. On getting down from the pickups they hooded us and dragged us to a wall where they obliged us to kneel and they took our backpacks, kangaroo pouches, documentation and money.

They carried us one by one into a dark empty room. Once inside they began to take photos from the front and profile. They forced the three girls to remain standing with faces to the wall and with hands on their heads. And for the guy, on their knees and also facing the wall.

During this time of confinement some of us reeived blows, humiliations, insults and threats. One of the girls received sexual aggression and the Mexican kid was obliged to do pushups while a group of agents laughed and threatened him with “applying their knives.” Also the climax of psychological terror increased on hearing gunfire, having us in darkness all the time, taking photos, randomly focusing on us with flashlights in our faces, pushing and shoving us, etc.  

Later, (at the end of approximately one hour) they made us leave with our heads lowered and they separated the men from the women. They put us again into the pickup, obliging us to lower our heads again.

At no moment did they tell us where we were, nor where they were taking us. From there they drove us to another place that seemed to be a commissary, they put us one by one in an office where they took our personal data and asked us about our state of health.