ustxtxb_obs_2006_12_15_50_00019-00000_000.pdf

Page 18

by

December 15, 2006, 12:00 AM, CST

Nati V1,10x\(\(

Share:

<div id="pico"><p>Nati V1,10x\(\(<?  f  A; 0%4 it  tr.  14p  V1-.0i\\I   utr o , Ito   14, ,C4fatz   POit .  , L-1C, No  Or o   Mourning in Oaxaca   photo by Antonio Turok  ing Calderon's victory by approximately  234,000 votes out of more than 41 million cast. On September 16, several hundred thousand Lopez Obrador supporters amassed in the Zocalo. Vowing to  never recognize the Calderon presidency, they proclaimed Lopez Obrador the  legitimate president of Mexico.  Meanwhile, Calderon tried taking a  tip from Bill Clintonor perhaps Dick  Morris, who had reputedly advised the  PAN campaign. He borrowed a phrase  or two from Lopez Obrador and proclaimed that poverty was Mexico's number one priority, while appointing an  orthodox economist and former top  IMF official to head his economic team.  After losing time with the protracted  post-electoral protests and litigation, he  began making the rounds on the international travel circuit, meeting heads of  state. He began in South America and  ended up in Washington, D.C. on one  of the worst of all possible days to meet  with President Bushright after the  November 7 elections.  Despite rifts within his own party  and indications that he had lost popular support, Lopez Obrador continued  to insist that Calderon would not be  allowed to take office. On November 28,  amid rumors that the PRD was about  to make its move on the congressional  podium, the PAN seized the upper tier,  sparking a free-for-all and a three-night  sleepover as opposing congressional  delegations vowed to maintain their  battle positions in the halls of Congress.  "Pajama Party in the Congress!" barked  the headlines of several Mexico City  newspapers, whose columnists wondered whether the ever-shrinking delegation of international guests would  ever witness Felipe Calderon putting on  the presidential sash.  In the end, the backdoor maneuver,  which was not shown on Mexican television, accomplished its mission. However  improvised, however hastily, Calderon  was now the man wearing the sash with  the red, green and white colors of the  Mexican flag.  As the sash was passed in  Mexico City, the "problem"  in Oaxaca raged out of control. U.S. journalist Brad Will,  a videographer with indymedia \(www.  indymedia.org October 27 while filming a police shootout at barricades several miles outside  of Oaxaca. Fox ordered some 4,000 federal military police into the city. Two  days later, the president boomed that  peace and tranquility had been restored  to the southern state. But the APPO  regrouped, and the protests continued.  On November 25, a march was called to  demand Ruiz's resignation.  The protest, which started out peacefully, suddenly went very wrong as stones  and Molotov cocktails flew and rockets  were launched, setting buildings on fire  throughout the center. At no time did  firemen ever enter the city. When the  fires burned down, the courthouse was  in ruins; thousands of files were lost.  Provocateurs? Infiltrators? Alienated  kids? Paramilitary sharpshooters? The  DECEMBER 15, 2006 THE TEXAS OBSERVER 19 
</p>
</div>

Republish this article for free

All of the Texas Observer’s articles are available for free syndication for news sources under the following conditions:

Articles must link back to the original article and contain the following attribution at the top of the story:
This article was originally published by the Texas Observer, a nonprofit investigative news outlet. Sign up for their weekly newsletter, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.”
Articles must include Texas Observer alongside author byline (first name / last name / Texas Observer)
Articles cannot be rewritten, edited or changed beyond alignments with house style books. Partners must notify [email protected] to make style changes.
Photos, illustrations and other art may be available for syndication but must be confirmed.
Promotional materials distributed by your outlet, including all social media work, must include cites for the Observer and our reporter. Outlets must also tag the Observer in all social media posts.
Please notify us by email that the article will be republished at [email protected].