What's going on in Oaxaca?

There is a lot I want to write about Oaxaca, but work is relentless this week. So this brief post is a way of saving some links to news sources, and getting started.
If you read Spanish, Mexican newspaper La Jornada has a detailed report on the battle in the streets of Oaxaca between federal police (the PFP) and citizens. An editorial in La Jornada reports that the people of Oaxaca have united to repel the militarization of the struggle. But other sources from Oaxaca and in the mainstream press characterize the situation as the forces of law and order trying to quell a mob, stirred up by "outside agitators" who have taken over the city. Who to believe? Many people who have been to Oaxaca know it as a beautiful historically fascinating tourist destination. It is also one of the poorest states in Mexico, one in which indigenous people continue to suffer neglect and oppression at the hands of a regional oligarchy, that is supported by the PRI in alliance with the PAN parties on the national level. Over the last few years,those who have demanded change have been met with political assassinations, disappearances. Rape and torture have been reported at the hands of police and paramilitary thugs.

For the person who wants to know more about what is happening, and understand the context of the struggle, US mainstream media sources are useless because of the intense focus on the upcoming elections and the lamentable state of international reporting in general. The coded language of "anarchy" and "restoring order" along with the lack of context make it appear that violent protesters are disturbing the peace. So we have to turn to alternative sources such as Democracy Now! where we can read an interview with journalist and educator-activist Gustavo Esteva. Global Exchange publishes this timeline and information on how to take action.
Why are the teachers on strike? what is APPO? why do they want the governor to resign? what relation does this have to the recent elections? What role has the U.S. government taken in this situation? What do the people think?
The media sources in Mexico are also highly politicized and partisan, Global Voices has a good round-up on the coverage, including that of bloggers of various perspectives.


NarcoNews posts material in both English and Spanish and is a good place to return for ongoing coverage

IndyBay, a Bay Area independent media aggregator carries news about US solidarity actions in support of the people of Oaxaca, as well as news updates.