Saludos solidarios to all the rabble-rousers making change around the world!

Table of Contents

*Nearly eight months after 4 of the 12 Loxicha political prisoners were allowed to walk free. The violence and the harrassment against poeple in the Loxicha Region of Oaxaca continues.  In spite of murders, arrests, intimidations, and violence, the poeple of Loxicha continue to organize and demand justice.

*The militarization of the borderlands between the U.S. and Mexico has continued to increase despite promises to the contrary from the Obama administration.  Many folks have spoken about the deadly effects of the militarization on people crossing the border and its effects on communities of migrants throughout country.  The militarization also has consecuences for those living on the border, especially for the indigenous communities that stradle the border in Arizona and in Texas.  Ofelia Rivas is a Tohono O`odham woman and activist who lives on the U.S./Mexico border.  She was recently interviewed about the effects the militarization of the border has had on her community.

*On the 6, 7, and 8 of March 2010, the Campaign for Justice in Oaxaca and Punishment for the Assassins of Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes went to the Isthmus region and stopped San Blas Atempa, Juchitan de Zaragoza and Asuncion Ixtaltepec. The demand for justice was heard and supported by campesinos, women, youth, and community members from that region.

*Women, youth, and community members gathered to denounce the increased femincides in Ciudad Juarez and Oaxaca for International Women's Day.   Various activities were organize, including arts workshops, theatrical performances, and a book reading of "Mujeres de Arena" (Women of Sand) by author Humberto Robles. 

*Tension and violence has been mounting in the Triqui Region of Oaxaca. In past four months the at least 17 indigenous Triquis have been killed in the Region. In December participants in the UBISORT, a PRI-backed political\para-military group, took control of the offices of the Autonomous Municipality of San Juan Copala, which produced a series of violent clashes. On the 10th of March participants in the MULT-I re-took the Autonomous Municipality.

*Coca-Cola Moves into Mezcal: Agro-Industry Absorbs Oaxaca Land and Water for Private Profit, Stainless Steel Vats Replace Artisanship.  Casa Armando Guillermo Prieto (Casa AGP) distillery was inaugurated in August 2008, with intentions that "that in five years Oaxaca mezcal would be positioned in the international European and Asian markets".

*Zapatista Comunities and their allies have faced several attacks organized by para-military groups who have support from the federal and state governments. Just a few days after a forced eviction attempt, community members in the Zapatista Support Base Community of Bolon Ajaw were ambushed by several groups of the OPDDIC para-military.  One man, a member of the OPDDIC, was killed in the shooting. Then on the 28 of February, there was a conflict in the Ejido de Mitzitón caused by members of the para-military "Army of God".  The violence continues to increase and make the situation more and more tense for communities in Chiapas.

*As you may know, on February 18, 2010, Juan Manuel Martínez Moreno - the Oaxacan social activist falsely accused of the 2006 murder of Indymedia reporter Brad Will - was released after 16 months in prison. This is an important victory, but Martínez Moreno, his family, and other activists remain at risk. Since his release, Martínez Moreno and his family have been subjected to constant harassment. They have received death threats and the government-linked paramilitaries which eyewitnesses and photographic evidence tie to the murder of Brad Will have frequently been seen standing outside the Martínez Moreno home.

*The town of Juandho, Hidalgo, has been under siege since yesterday, when members of the Mexican Electrical Workers Union (SME) hung strike banners on their former workplaces as part of the national strike in support of the SME. The SME reports that the town's electricity went out last night. During the night, hundreds of federal police arrived. There are now between 1,000 and 1,500 federal police surrounding the town. The police presence is overwhelming: Tetepango county, where the Juandho community is located, has about 9,000 residents.

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As always, we encourage members and allies to support our work by donating to CASA Chapulin. We operate on a tight shoestring budget and depend on grassroots fundraising efforts made by you.   Donations will go towards maintaining a collective space open and ensuring that 2 coordinators keep building a grassroots base in Oaxaca.  Make a tax-deductible contribution by emailing the coordinators. Or consider making a check to Rights Action with CASA in the memo line and mail to: CASA, PO. Box 46008, San Francisco, CA 94146 US

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Saludos Solidarios,

CASA-Collective of Support, Solidarity and Action
Oaxaca, Mexico