In Oaxaca

AMY GOODMAN: Democracy Now! producer, Elizabeth Press, is in Oaxaca, Mexico, covering the popular uprising against the state governor Ulises Ruiz. She filed this report.

ELIZABETH PRESS: On Wednesday 91 prisoners were transferred from the federal prison in Tepic, Nayarit to Cereso, the state prison here in Oaxaca. Friends, family and human rights observers gathered outside the prison, as rumor had it that the prisoners would be released on Thursday. Selena Morina waited for her brother who was detained on Nov 25th to be released, but he was not among the 14.

SELENA MORINA: [translated] I feel sad and worried because we don't know when they will release them, since, as they said earlier, this is political. So we are subject to the decisions made by governmental groups, when here they are playing with human lives, while there are people with feelings who need to see their families and be with them.

ELIZABETH PRESS: This was on the eve of the international day of solidarity with the people of Oaxaca, called for by the EZLN. "For the living reappearances of the disappeared; for the freedom of the detained; for the exit of Ulises Ruiz and the federal forces from Oaxaca; for the punishment of those guilty of torture, rape and murder," protests are scheduled all over the world today, including here in Oaxaca City.

OAXACAN WOMAN: [translated] We will participate in the march, because when they ask us if we Oaxacans are afraid, yes, we are afraid, but our indignation and anger are even greater, because this is not the way to treat a people who are asking for justice. And we do not rise up because we're troublemakers, as they call us here, but rather because the people are hungry, the people are needy. Yes, we will participate in the march.

ELIZABETH PRESS: For Democracy Now!, this is Elizabeth Press in Oaxaca City.
To purchase an audio or video copy of this entire program, click here for our new online ordering or call 1 (888) 999-3877.