Demonstration, Flyering and Press Conference
on
Brad Will’s Murder,
His Family’s Recent Trip to Mexico,
and
Efforts Underway to Obtain Justice

When:

Friday, March 30, 5-6:30 pm.
Press Conference at 6p.m.

Where:

Mexican Mission to the United Nations
Two United Nations
4,5,6, 7, S train to Grand Central
then 10 minute walk

Speakers to be announced.

Rain or shine (there’s an overhang there for participants to stay in out of any precipitation

ENGLISH FOLLOWS
Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca. Sábado 24 de Marzo de 2007

2:50 horas de la mañana.

Denuncia:

*Detienen y golpean a 4 compañerxs anarkopunks*

* *

La media noche del día viernes 23 de marzo, fueron detenidos
arbitrariamente 4 compañerxs anarkopunks en un municipio aledaño al la
ciudad de Oaxaca.

Después de haber sido golpeado, un compañero editor de la publicación
Pensares y Sentires, fanzin anarkopunk y que dos días antes participó en
la huelga de hambre a las afueras de la PGR en Oaxaca para exigir
castigo a los asesinxs de todxs nuestrxs compañerxs y justicia para el
compañero reportero de Indymedia Brad Will, logró escapar de la agresión
y nos ha comunicado los siguientes hechos.

Se encontraban caminando por una colonia aledaña al centro de la ciudad
de Oaxaca cuando aproximadamente 5 elementos policiacos vestidos de
negro y que pertenecen a la Policía Municipal de Santa Lucía del Camino,
arremetieron contra ellxs. Con brutalidad detuvieron a 4 de lxs 5
compañerxs que se dirigían la casa que habitan. Al momento de la
detención hicieron uso de sus armas de fuego disparando al aire en
alguna ocasión.

Cabe mencionar que el médico legista no quiso reconocer los golpes,
moretones y heridas en los cuerpos de todos los compañeros detenidos y
que fueron remitidos a las celdas del municipio antes mencionado.

Quién logró escapar a la detención, regresaba de haber ido a visitar a
los compañeros libertarios presos en el CERESO de Miahuatlán de Porfirio
Díaz, Oscar Santamaría y Sacramento Cano.

Uno de los compañeros detenidos participa en el colectivo Somos
Resistencia y uno más forma parte de la red de comunicación libertaria
Anarkalactica.

Con la ya clásica forma de represión, se les inventaron los cargos de
alteración del orden público, daños causados a una motocicleta de la
policía y a una camioneta. No bastando la brutalidad con que todxs
fueron tratados se les ha cobrado una multa, además de una cantidad
proporcional a los supuestos daños causados.

Aproximadamente a la 1:30 de la madrugada fueron liberados.

Denunciamos estos hechos como parte de la creciente represión que se
vive en el estado y principalmente violenta con los jóvenes y contra
quienes protestan ante los malos tratos y la injusticia que se vive.

En Oaxaca NO HAY PAZ, solo existe una Guerra de Baja Intensidad que
provoca indignación entre el pueblo de Oaxaca. Los medios de
desinformación ocultan la mediocridad de las demás instituciones y la
constante brutalidad de los cuerpos policiacos como medida de venganza
contra el pueblo oaxaqueño que sigue resistiendo junto a otros pueblos
del mundo. No existe en Oaxaca tranquilidad, ni acuerdos, ni
conciliación, existe resistencia y represión.

*/¡ALTO A LA REPRESIÓN!/*

*/¡DISOLUCIÓN DE CUERPOS REPRESIVOS!/*

*/¡ABAJO LOS MUROS DE TODAS LAS PRISIONES!/*

*/ /*

*/ /*

Kolectivo Todxs Somos Presxs

anarkagalactica@lists.riseup.net

Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca. Saturday, March 24, 2007

2:50 a.m.

Denunciation:

*4 anarkopunk comrades arrested and beaten*

* *

At midnight on Friday, March 23, four anarkopunk comrades were
arbitrarily arrested in a neighborhood on the outskirts of the city of
Oaxaca.

After having been beaten, the editor of the anarkopunk fanzine /Pensares
y Sentires/ was able to escape. The comrade had participated two days
earlier in a hunger strike outside the Attorney General’s office in
Oaxaca to demand punishment for the killers of so many of our comrades
and justice for the Indymedia journalist Brad Will. After escaping, he
informed us of the following chain of events.

The comrades were walking along the street in an outlying neighborhood
of the city of Oaxaca when they were attacked by approximately 5
policemen dressed in black from the suburb of Santa Lucía del Camino.
The police brutally arrested 4 of the 5 comrades who were headed towards
the house where they were staying. During the arrest, the police shot
their guns into the air several times.

It’s especially important to note that the official forensic doctor made
no mention of the bruises and wounds on the bodies of the comrades who
were arrested and jailed in Santa Lucía.

The person who escaped had just gotten back from visiting the anarchist
prisoners Oscar Santamaría and Sacramento Cano, held at the CERESO de
Miahuatlán de Porfirio Díaz.

One of the arrested comrades participates in the Somos Resistencia
collective and another is part of the Anarkalactica communications network.

In a classic case of repression, the charges invented included creating
a public disturbance and damage done to a police motorcycle and truck.
Not satisfied with the brutality that all the comrades were subjected
to, officials fined them and charged them for the alleged damages.

At approximately 1:30 a.m. they were released.

We denounce these attacks, which are part of the increasing repression
experienced in this state that does violence mainly to the youth and
anyone else who protests against the abuse and injustice that prevails.

THERE IS NO PEACE in Oaxaca. What does exist is low intensity warfare
that arouses indignation among the people of Oaxaca. The news
disinformation media hide the mediocrity of all the major institutions
and the constant brutality of the police forces against the Oaxacan
people, who continue to resist together with other peoples of the world.
There is no tranquility in Oaxaca, no accords, no conciliation––only
resistance and repression.

*/STOP THE REPRESSION!/*

*/DISSOLVE ALL REPRESSIVE FORCES!/*

*/TEAR DOWN ALL PRISON WALLS!/*

*/ /*

*/ /*

Kolectivo Todxs Somos Presxs

anarkagalactica@lists.riseup.net

From the Beehive Collective

To the international human rights organizations
To the independent media organizations
To social and political organizations
To our compañeros in ¨La Otra Campaña¨

The purpose of this communiqué is to alert the world about the Mexican Government’s brutal attack on the people of Oaxaca in an attempt to destroy the popular movement that is taking place. Only with your solidarity and monitoring have we been able to continue on this long journey of mobilization, and without a doubt, we will continue moving forward with the fraternity and love that all of you have shown us.
As you know, on October 27 2006, in an action planned to justify the intervention of the Mexican Army (dressed in grey) and to massacre the people of Oaxaca, the state governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz sent troops to simultaneously attack various locations where the resistgance was most visible. On October 27 at approximately 3:30 in the afternoon mercenaries following orders from the state government used high caliber weapons to attack the encampments located at the government offices in Santa María Coyotepec, the Judicial Police headquarters (PGJ) in ¨La Experimental¨ neighborhood, and the Calicanto barricade in Ferrocarril Avenue in Santa Lucía del Camino.
It was in the Calicanto barricade that Indymedia journalist Bradley Roland Will was filming the armed aggressions perpetrated against the people of Oaxaca. While filming on Juárez Street, Brad was hit by bullets fired by plained-clothed police at the service of the State Government. Without the presence of an ambulance to provide medical assistance, the protesters themselves gave Brad first aid help and transported him to the nearest location where he could receive medical treatment. Unfortunately Brad died on the way to this facility.
It is public knowledge that the policemen who were detained for this crime, and can be clearly identified through photographs and the video that Brad himself filmed minutes before his death, were liberated just weeks after being arrested because of a supposed lack of evidence, providing further proof of the factious nature of government institutions.
In spite of the evidence, the state and federal justice systems are trying to blame this assasination on those parcipating in the Oaxacan social movement, on the people who demand justice and punishment and the resignation of state governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz , a man intent on criminalizing the social protest by looking for someone to blame, a ¨scape-goat¨ to hide his ineffectiveness and inefficiency.
The government has used the politics of intimidation, persecution and harrassment against the people of Oaxaca. In this particular case the Federal Government has used the Federal Agency of Investigation (AFI) and the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) as means to fabricate charges against innocent people in order to protect the real assasins.
For the reasons stated above:
We demand that the Mexican Government begin, in a public and imparcial manner, a serious and just investigation with the guaranteed right to due process, and using the presumption of the accused being innocent until proven guilty.
We invite the PGR to begin the corresponding investigations needed in order to dismantle the paramilitary organizations by means of capturing, judging and sanctioning those who inspired, organized, commanded, collaborated, aided, and financed them. It is urgent that you bring about an end to these armed groups.
We are dedicated to fighting for true justice for Bradley Roland Will and for all of our compañeros assasinated during the conflict in Oaxaca and we will not stand for the common practice used by our state and federal governments of blaming innocent people.
We are calling on all types of civil, national, and international human rights organizations, media, artists, intellectuals and all people to demand justice for those assasinated and to be vigilant against any and all physical or psycological aggressions that may be suffered by our compañeros (or their families) after testifying on March 22 of this year at 9:00 am in front of the PGR, in the municipality of San Bartolo Coyotepec, Oaxaca.
Accompany and support the compañeros who will be giving their testimonies so that justice may be realized:
Gustavo Vilchis Ramirez (LIMEDDH)
Miguel Cruz Moreno (CIPO – RFM)
Gualberto Rco. Santiago Navarro (Colectivo Siembra y Cosecha)
Alberta Guadalupe Navarro
Leonardo Ortiz Cruz
Sincerely,
Members of ¨La Otra Campaña¨

Program of Activities

March 21, 2007
11:00 am. Meeting at the corner of calle Calicanto (street) and Avenida Ferrocarril (avenue) to retrace Brad´s route.
13:00 Press conference in the CIPO-RFM community center – 210 Emilio Carranza (street), Santa Lucia del Camino

March 22, 2007
9:00 am. Witnesses testify in front of the PGR about the death of Bradley Roland Will
9:00 am. Demanding an end to harrasment and repression and that the truth behind the assasinations of participants in the movement be revealed, a hunger strike will be staged in front of the PGR in Oaxaca to support those testifying in the case of Bradley Roland Will. The address of the PGR is 203 7ª privada de Aldama Sur (street), San Bartolo Coyotepec.
Please bring flowers and candles for this event
We ask that all of you who read this message act urgently and call on the federal and state governments at the following addresses and phone numbers to demand that security measures be put in place to protect the families of those who will be testifying, and furthermore that this investigation be conducted in a just and imparcial manner.
President FELIPE DE JESÚS CALDERÓN HINOJOSA
Residencia Oficial de los Pinos Casa Miguel Alemán
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec, C.P. 11850, México DF
Tel: +52 (55) 27891100
Fax: +52 (55) 52772376
The email addresses do not appear in the directory; please send all communications by fax.
Lic. Francisco Javier Ramírez Acuña,
Secretary of State,
Bucareli 99, 1er. piso, Col. Juárez,
Delegación Cuauhtémoc, México D.F., C.P. 06600, México,
Fax: +52 (55) 5093 3414 o 50933400
The email addresses do not appear in the directory; please send all communications by fax
Lic. Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza,
Secretary General de la República
Av. Paseo de la Reforma #211-213 Col. Cuauhtémoc, Delegación Cuauhtémoc. México
D.F., C.P. 06500
To send an e-mail go to: http://www.pgr.gob.mx/index.asp
Dr. José Luis Soberanes Fernández
President de la CNDH
Periférico Sur 3469, Col.
San Jerónimo Lídice,
10200, México, D.F.
Tel: 631 00 40, 6 81 81 25
Fax: 56 81 84 90
Lada sin costo: 01 800 00 869
correo@fmdh.cndh.org.mx
Javier Dovala Medina
State Delegate (951)501-96-02
Séptima Privada de Aldama Sur 203 Col.San Bartolo Coyotepec
OAXACA DE JUAREZ, Oaxaca México
Lic. Ulises Ruíz Ortiz
Ex-governor of the State of Oaxaca
Fax: + 951 5020530, gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx
Manuel Martínez Feria: Presidente Municipal.
Municipal President of Santa Lucia del Camino, Oaxaca.
(01 951) 51 7 50 40
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A los organismos internacionales de derechos humanos
A los medios independientes de comunicación
A las organizaciones sociales y políticas
A las y a los compañeros de la otra campaña

Nos dirigimos a ustedes para dar la voz de alerta ante la brutal embestida del Estado para aniquilar el movimiento popular del pueblo de Oaxaca. Solo con la observancia y la solidaridad de todos ustedes hemos podido seguir caminando en este ya largo proceso de movilización que nos ha tocado andar, pero que sin duda con la hermandad y el cariño que todos ustedes han demostrado con nuestro pueblo saldremos adelante.
Como ustedes saben el día 27 de octubre del 2006, en una acción planeada para justificar la intervención del ejército mexicano (disfrazados de gris) y masacrar al pueblo de Oaxaca, el gobernador del estado Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, mandó a atacar de manera simultánea en varios puntos donde la resistencia era más visible. Como a las tres y media de la tarde de ese mismo día, mercenarios al servicio de este gobierno atacan con armas de alto poder el plantón de la casa de gobierno que se ubica en Santa María Coyotepec; el plantón de la Procuraduría General de Justicia (PGJ) en La Experimental y la barricada de Calicanto ubicada en Avenida Ferrocarril del municipio de Santa Lucia del Camino.
Es en esta barricada donde se encontraba el camarógrafo de Medios Libres “Indymedia” Bradley Roland Will filmando de cerca las agresiones que con arma de fuego recibía de manera directa el pueblo de Oaxaca. Es sobre la calle Juárez donde Brad es impactado por disparos de armas de fuego por parte de los grupos parapoliciacos al servicio del gobierno del Estado. Ante la dilación de una ambulancia que pudiera darle el servicio médico, es auxiliado y trasladado por los propios manifestantes al punto de socorro más cercano; desgraciadamente Brad muere en el camino.
Como es de conocimiento público, los parapolicías que fueron detenidos por la responsabilidad en este asesinato, y que se identifican claramente en fotografías y en el video que el mismo Brad filmó minutos antes de su muerte, son liberados unas semanas después por el supuesto desvanecimiento de pruebas, lo que hace evidente la utilización facciosa de las instituciones.
No obstante lo anterior, el sistema de procuración de justicia nacional y estatal pretenden la imputación de dicho asesinato a quienes participan en el movimiento social oaxaqueño que demanda la justicia y castigo y la salida de Ulises Ruiz Ortiz de la gubernatura estatal, con lo que pretende criminalizar la protesta social buscando culpables como “chivos expiatorio” para que su ineficacia e inoperancia no queden al descubierto.
El gobierno a emprendido una política de intimidación, persecución, y hostigamiento al pueblo de Oaxaca, y en particular en este caso el Gobierno Federal a través de la Agencia Federal de Investigación (AFI) y de la PGR implementan la misma política de fabricación de delitos contra personas inocentes para proteger a los verdaderos asesinos.
Por todo ello:
Exigimos al gobierno de México para que se lleve a cabo una investigación seria y justa apegada a derecho con condiciones de imparcialidad y publicidad con el respeto pleno a las garantías al debido proceso, especialmente la presunción de inocencia.
Exhortamos a la Procuraduría General de la República a que realice las investigaciones que correspondan para desmantelar a los grupos parapoliciacos mediante la captura, juzgamiento y sanción de quienes los inspiran, organizan, comandan, integran, apoyan y financian, ya que en Oaxaca es urgente poner fin a dichos grupos armados.
Estamos decididos a luchar para que se haga justicia verdadera para Bradley Roland Will y todos los demás compañeros asesinados durante el conflicto en Oaxaca y a no permitir que se involucre a personas inocentes, como ya es una practica común para el gobierno estatal y federal.
Hacemos un llamado a los diferentes organismos civiles nacionales e internacionales de derechos humanos, medios de comunicación, artistas, intelectuales y a todas las personas, para estar atentos exigiendo el esclarecimiento de todos los asesinatos, así como cualquier agresión física y psicológica que puedan sufrir cualquiera de nuestros compañeros (y sus familiares) que van a testificar el día 22 de Marzo del año en curso a las 9:00 hrs. en las instalaciones de la PGR, municipio de San Bartolo Coyotepec, Oax.
Acompaña y apoya a los compañeros que darán su testimonio para que se nazca la justicia:
Gustavo Vilchis Ramírez (LIMEDDH)
Miguel Cruz Moreno (CIPO-RFM)
Gualberto Fco. Santiago Navarro (Colectivo Siembra y Cosecha)
Alberta Guadalupe Navarro
Leonardo Ortiz Cruz
Atte:
Adherentes a La Otra Campaña
Programa de actividades
21 de Marzo de 200
11:00 a.m. Inicio del recorrido en el Municipio de Santa Lucia, la cita es en la calle Calicanto y Avenida Ferrocarril
13:00 Conferencia de prensa, en la casa comunitaria de CIPO-RFM (Emilio Carranza no. 210, Santa Lucía del Camino).
22 de Marzo de 2007

9:00 a.m. Compañeros se presentaran a dar su testimonio ante la PGR sobre la muerte de Bradley Roland Will
9:00 a.m. Instalación del ayuno en la delegación de la PGR, en Oaxaca (7ª privada de Aldama Sur no. 203, Col. San Bartolo Coyotepec) para exigir el esclarecimiento de los asesinatos cometidos durante el movimiento, en apoyo a los testigos y cese al hostigamiento y represión.
Por favor traer para las actividades flores y velas.
Les pedimos a todos los que miren este mensaje puedan hacer acciones y llamados urgentes al gobierno federal y estatal en las siguientes direcciones, para exigir la seguridad de las familias de los compañeros que testifican y que la investigación se lleve apegada a derecho e imparcial.

Presidente FELIPE DE JESÚS CALDERÓN HINOJOSA
Residencia Oficial de los Pinos Casa Miguel Alemán
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec, C.P. 11850, México DF
Tel: +52 (55) 27891100
Fax: +52 (55) 52772376
La dirección mail no aparece en los directorios, favor de mandar comunicación por fax

Licenciado Francisco Javier Ramírez Acuña,
Secretario de Gobernación,
Bucareli 99, 1er. piso, Col. Juárez,
Delegación Cuauhtémoc, México D.F., C.P. 06600, México,
Fax: +52 (55) 5093 3414 o 50933400
La dirección mail no aparece en los directorios, favor de mandar comunicación por fax

Lic. Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza,
Procurador General de la República
Av. Paseo de la Reforma #211-213 Col. Cuauhtémoc, Delegación Cuauhtémoc. México
D.F., C.P. 06500
Para enviar correos en línea: http://www.pgr.gob.mx/index.asp

Dr. José Luis Soberanes Fernández
Presidente de la CNDH
Periférico Sur 3469, Col.
San Jerónimo Lídice,
10200, México, D.F.
Tel: 631 00 40, 6 81 81 25
Fax: 56 81 84 90
Lada sin costo: 01 800 00 869
correo@fmdh.cndh.org.mx correo@cndh.gob.mx

JAVIER DOVALA MOLINA DELEGADO ESTATAL (951)501-96-02
Séptima Privada de Aldama Sur 203 Col.San Bartolo Coyotepec
OAXACA DE JUAREZ, Oaxaca México
LIC. ULISES RUIZ ORTÍZ
EXGOBERNADOR DEL ESTADO DE OAXACA
Fax: + 951 5020530, gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx

Presidencia Municipal de Santa Lucia del Camino, Oaxaca.
Manuel Martínez Feria: Presidente Municipal.
(01 951) 51 7 50 40.

Newly subtitled video produced by MaldeojoTV now on-line in English.
Una producción de maldeojoTV, subitutlada al inglés, ahora está en línea

SITIO WEB: www.maldeojotv.net

“BLUE NIGHTMARE”
(”Pesadilla Azul”)

After police repression against Oaxacan citizens and APPO (People ‘ s
Popular Assembly of Oaxaca) on November 25, more than 200 people were
unjustly and illegally taken to varioius jails, suffering beatings and
rape. ” The Blue Nightmare ” contains testimony of some of the people
that were detained. THIS IS THE ENGLISH SUBTITLED VERSION OF ” LA
PESADILLA AZUL “.

Después de la represión que los oaxaqueños y la APPO (Asamblea Popular
de los Pueblos de la Oaxaca) sufrieron el 25 de noviembre, más de 200
personas fueron llevadas, ilegal e injustamente, a diversas cárceles,
siendo sometidas y sometidos a golpes y violaciones. “La Pesadilla
Azul” contiene testimonios de algunas de las personas que fueron
detenidas. ESTA ES LA VERSIÓN SUBTITULADA EN INGLÉS DE “LA PESADILLA
AZUL”)

VEANLO Y CORRAN LA VOZ
Watch the video and tell everyone!!!

The family of Bradley Roland Will, the independent US photojournalist shot and killed last October 27th in Oaxaca, will visit Mexico from March 19th to March 23rd, 2007. The purpose of the Will family’s visit is to push for a legitimate investigation into Brad’s murder and to insist that the responsible parties be held accountable.

Family members, consisting of Brad’s parents and his brother and sister, will visit Mexico City and Oaxaca City. They will meet with human rights and other non-governmental organizations, Mexican officials, the United States Embassy, eyewitnesses, and the media. Press conferences will be held in each city.

Brad Will was shot and killed in Santa Lucia del Camino on October 27, 2006. Brad had been covering the then 4-month long conflict between the state government and a coalition of organizations and unions pulled together in the Oaxaca People’s Popular Assembly (APPO) to protest Governor Ulises Ruiz’s use of excessive force against the Section 22 of the National Union of Education Workers on June 14, 2006.

Beginning in August, armed para-police units linked to both local and state police forces began opening fire on protesters. By October 27, para-police units had killed at least 10 protesters. During this time federal and state prosecutors did not open investigations into these crimes. On October 27, members of the Santa Lucia del Camino police and local government officials were photographed shooting at APPO protesters where Brad was shot. The national press published these photographs. However, state and federal prosecutors have declined to investigate possible government involvement in Brad’s murder, instead pursuing a speculative theory that members of APPO murdered Brad.

Family members are traveling to Mexico to demand a new rigorous and impartial investigation of Brad’s murder. “The cycle of impunity related to crimes against journalists and human rights violations in Mexico must end,” said Craig Will, Brad’s older brother. “It is our hope that this upcoming visit will increase the spotlight on the inadequacies of the Mexican judicial system and
encourage responsible leadership on the part of the state and federal governments to pursue real justice.”

Media interested in attending either press event should contact the Will family’s coadyuvante, Miguel Angel de los Santos at mdelossantos@laneta.apc.org or 52-967-678-8440.

Family Contact:

www.bradwill.org

willcomm@aol.com

Media Events:

The Mexico City press conference will be held a media non-profit, CENCOS, at 10am on Friday, March 23:

Medellin 33, col. Roma
CP 06700, México, D.F., México
Tel: 55 33 64 75 / 76 Fax: 52 08 20 62 cencos@prodigy.net.mx

The Oaxaca City press conference will be held at a graphic arts non-profit, IAGO, on Thursday, March 22 at 2pm:

INSTITUTO DE ARTES GRÁFICAS DE OAXACA
Macedonio Alcalá 507, Centro, Oaxaca C. P. 68000

Tel. (9) 516 20 45 fax (9) 516 69 80

Mexico rights chief blames govt for Oaxaca abuses
16 Mar 2007 00:52:21 GMT
Source: Reuters

MEXICO CITY, March 15 (Reuters) - The Mexican government was an accomplice in the killing of 20 people in last year’s conflict in the tourist city of Oaxaca and permitted torture and illegal arrests, a rights watchdog said on Thursday.

In a report on the conflict in which leftist activists tried to bring down Oaxaca’s governor, Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission said federal, state and municipal officials were responsible for human rights violations.

“Authorities and public officials … either by action or omission caused rights violations,” including the right to life of 20 people, Jose Luis Soberanes, head of the autonomous state agency, said on presenting the report to the Senate’s rights commission.

During the six-month conflict in the city, famed for its colonial architecture, exotic food and indigenous culture, protesters set up hundreds of barricades and chased police from the downtown area to try to oust state Gov. Ulises Ruiz.

In response, death squad-style groups, including men identified by local media as police officers, toured the city at night shooting at protesters.

The clashes escalated, leading to the fatal shooting of a U.S activist journalist and the occupation of the city by federal riot police. Police finally regained control of the city after fierce street battles and massive arrests.

Soberanes, Mexico’s highest rights official, said police used excessive force, threats, illegal arrests and torture to take back the city from protesters, and blamed the government for badly managing the crisis.

Sen. Alejandro Gonzalez, a member of President Felipe Calderon’s National Action Party (PAN), told Reuters lawmakers were awaiting the results of the government’s own internal investigation, which he hoped to see before the end of 2007.

“If the investigation reflects the issues raised in the National Human Rights Commission’s report, we must take action. We don’t want more impunity,” Gonzalez said.

The watchdog recognized that the protesters, who accuse Gov. Ruiz of stealing an election, corruption and heavy-handedness, had also exceeded their right to legitimate protest in some cases.

Soberanes warned the conflict had not been resolved and could flare up again if social, economic and political issues were not resolved in the state, one of the poorest in Mexico.

Check out FoB on KBOO commercial free community radio in Portland,
Oregon tonight at 5 p.m. on the west coast (8 p.m.) here.

His friends are advocating for a credible investigation into who
murdered U.S. journalist and activist Brad Will. They are writing
letters, calling ‘their’ representatives, demanding hearings and
answers as to why, 4 months after he was shot in front of witnesses,
the five Mexican government officials who were seen shooting in
Brad’s direction have not been arrested and tried.

What is the U.S. government doing on behalf of a u.s. citizen and
journalist murdered covering the social movement and teachers’ strike
in Oaxaca, Mexico on October 27, 2006?

Find out.

Tune in to streaming video at www.kboo.org at 5 PST (8 EST) tonight!

Friends of Murdered US Journalist in DC Advocate for Investigation and End to Impunity

The Friends of Brad Will attended the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere Oversight Hearing Overview of U.S. Policy Toward Latin America on March 1st to press for the appropriate investigation of the murder of US journalist Brad Will in Oaxaca, Mexico in October of 2006. The Friends of Brad Will is a national network working with the Will family for justice and accountability in his murder, and for an end to the impunity of human rights
violations in Oaxaca, Mexico.
(more…)