By Ernesto Reyes

Ever since the APPO (Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca, The People's Assembly of Oaxaca) formed in response to state aggression against teachers on June 14, 2006, there has been a partially hidden struggle among several groups and factions to gain control of APPO's decisions, and to influence its political agenda. These factions, forgetting that the largest, best organized faction within the APPO is Sec 22 (the teachers union), believe in manipulating the goals of APPO, even though APPO bases its legitimacy on a broad sector of the population that acts beyond political factions and parties.

APPO embodies multiple visions of the so-called "left" in Oaxaca, formed outside the state's political process, even while some factions operate in both arenas. One is the Frente Popular Revolucionario (FPR), once identified by the state as the civil arm of the Ejército Popular Revolucionario (EPR), but that has since adopted positions so moderate that critics now accuse it of betraying its own principles.

Facing the FPR in diametrical opposition is VOCAL (Voces Oaxaqueñas Construyendo Autonomía y Libertad), whose sympathizers sprang from the street barricades setup during the 2007 uprising, but who are all too prone to call for "direct action" regardless of the consequences that such confrontations inevitably bring with the state.

At the close of the meeting this past November 25, attendees witnessed a confrontation between these two factions. Their disagreements spread out into violence in the streets, and the images were used by the media to discredit the struggle of the APPO in the eyes of the public opinion.

Throughout the march, thousands upon thousands of Oaxaqueños peacefully paraded, but what stood out was this infighting between "sectors of the APPO."   One example is that hooded street artists took to spray painting depictions of events of the 2006 uprising and subsequent repression, to the dismay of media compañeros, photographers and cameramen.

This violence and vandalism brought forth widespread negative repercussions. Unfortunately, the teacher's leadership failed to do more than distance themselves from these acts and failed to take anticipatory steps to resolve the split peacefully. 

The dispute has multiple strands. VOCAL argues that the FPR has used the APPO to obtain political perks. It provides as an example the post of Zenén Bravo Castellanos as state deputy, a post he obtained as the external candidate of the PRD, PT and Convergencia parties (a result of the proportional system of election in Mexico).

The FPR claims what set off the conflict was a threat to burn their flag moments after David Venegas of VOCAL, alias "El alebrije", took the microphone to launch accusations against his opposition in the midst of the encuentro. In return, VOCAL alleges that the threats came from the Secretary of the CES of Section 22, Gabriel López Chiñas, who they claim is a member of the FPR, who prevented VOCAL's main director from speaking. Both groups accuse each other of betraying the principles of the APPO, of moral decadence and ideological deviation.

In the end, infighting benefits the state and hence the government of Ulises Ruiz.  Neither of the groups restrain themselves from their violent impulses, which they both claim as taken in self-defense to protect their compañeros.

The FPR has published a half page article in the newspaper to explain its position, and VOCAL has circulated its own explanation via the Internet. We wait for the teachers to take a position so that the APPO doesn't remain held hostage by irreconcilable factions.

Both sides have valid arguments, and both are accused by circumstantial evidence. We don't label either as traitors; we just acknowledge that they pursue different paths. Yet if the APPO claims to be an organization that can encompass disparate views, then during its second congress (planned for next year) its members will have to find mechanisms to overcome these differences. If not, the disputes within the APPO will continue to weaken it.

Contact: Ernesto_reyes_ 647@hotmail. com
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