Ulises Ruiz Ortiz
Encyclopedia
Ulises Ruiz Ortiz is a Mexican politician
and former governor
of the State of Oaxaca
. He took office in 2004 as a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party
(PRI).
. Therefore, many did not view him as the popularly elected governor of Oaxaca.
First, the newspaper "Noticias de Oaxaca", which holds political views contrary to those of Ruiz, suffered a massive strike organized by the Confederación Revolucionaria de Obreros y Campesinos
union, affiliated to Ruiz's PRI. Some media outlets, like Reforma
viewed this action as a repression of free speech. The paper tried to publish out of the state, but distribution trucks were vandalized. The paper openly accused Ruiz of repression.
Other examples included the destruction caused by public works to the historic city center of the state capital. Some intellectuals called the destruction so appalling that they feared that UNESCO
would retire the city's declaration as a World Heritage Site
.
As governor he was also accused of committing genocide
and acts of repression
against indigenous groups.
At the beginning of the Mexican general election, 2006
campaign, Presidential candidate Andres Manuel López Obrador
tried to campaign in one of the state's poorest municipalities in Guelatao, also the birth place of Benito Juárez
. The rally was obstructed by public works started only a day earlier by the state government.
(the National Union of Teachers). Among other demands, the teachers demanded an economic reclassification for the state of Oaxaca, which would allow a raise in the salaries. Protesters sat in the city's main square until their demands were met. The protesters refused to meet with the government of Ruiz, insisting on meeting only with members of the federal government. On June 14, 2006, police were sent to remove the teachers forcibly from the square using gas bombs and rubber bullets. The strikers responded and managed to repel the police forces. After these actions, the teachers movement added to their demands the immediate resignation of the governor. The perceived repression used against the teachers ignited numerous protests from the people inside and outside of the state.
Numerous civil and political organizations joined the teachers movement, forming the APPO or Asamblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca (Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca). The main petition of the APPO is the immediate resignation of Ulises Ruiz. Numerous popular protests demanding Ruiz's resignation took place all over the state. Government offices, public radio stations and public broadcasting systems have been taken over by the APPO. A legal petition was sent to the federal Congress
to remove the governor.
Ruiz Ortiz has stated that he has no plans to resign. While initially not involved in the conflict, the Federal government has since sent a commission to help in the negotiations and has called for the governor to step down. On October 29, federal police were sent to occupy the city and have been involved in confrontations with the APPO throughout November.
Since the government offices have remained closed due to the protests, the governor has moved his office to a hotel.
In August 2006 the conflict became increasingly violent, with increased attacks aimed at terrorizing protesters. Armed groups have fired on popular protests, and on August 21 and 22 attacked radio stations held by the APPO. Ulises Ruiz's administration denies responsibility for these attacks.
On September 3, 2006, 193 delegates from different organizations which constitute the APPO
(Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca) declared the governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz (URO) "proscrito" – banned, exiled, unwelcome – in the state of Oaxaca. The ex-governor will be replaced by a "proclamation of good government for the city of Oaxaca, a proclamation for the 570 municipalities, and a manifesto to the nation, declaring the banishment of Ruiz Ortiz from the government, and that the government will continue to be exercised from the historic center of the city of Oaxaca".
At least seventeen people have been killed in Oaxaca, almost of them by police or paramilitary forces allied with Ulises Ruiz Ortiz since the onset of the conflict, including US IndyMedia Journalist Bradley Roland Will. In response to recent deaths, Subcomandante Marcos
of the EZLN has issued a statement from the Clandestine Indigenous Revolution Committee, claiming that the Federal Government caused these deaths to help Ruiz stay in power.
On November 6, 2006, the conflict escalated after five groups committed a series of small bombing attacks in Mexico City
demanding Ruiz's resignation. The attacks consisted of 3 explosions in the PRI
headquarters, the TEPJF main office, a branch of Scotiabank
. Presumably, 8 bombs were set and another Scotiabank branch was set to explode, as well as a Sanborns
store, however these last two targets failed to explode. The Federal Government has stated that these acts are terrorist propaganda activities that seek to plant fear in the population, however it has also stated that the only possible solution is that Ruiz resigns his post in Oaxaca, or personally negotiates an end to the violence.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and former governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the State of Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
. He took office in 2004 as a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party
Institutional Revolutionary Party
The Institutional Revolutionary Party is a Mexican political party that held power in the country—under a succession of names—for more than 70 years. The PRI is a member of the Socialist International, as is the rival Party of the Democratic Revolution , making Mexico one of the few...
(PRI).
Election Controversy
Ruiz Ortiz was accused by some of murder and rigging the 2004 electionOaxaca state election, 2004
The Mexican state of Oaxaca held an election on Sunday, 1 August 2004.At stake was the office of the Oaxaca State Governor, the unicameral Oaxaca State Congress, and 570 mayors and municipal councils.-Governor:...
. Therefore, many did not view him as the popularly elected governor of Oaxaca.
Controversies during his government
Besides the controversial election, a number of conflicts occurred during Ruiz's administration.First, the newspaper "Noticias de Oaxaca", which holds political views contrary to those of Ruiz, suffered a massive strike organized by the Confederación Revolucionaria de Obreros y Campesinos
Confederación Revolucionaria de Obreros y Campesinos
The Confederación Revolucionaria de Obreros y Campesinos is a Mexican trade union confederation. It is one of the most important and influential trade unions in the History of Mexico....
union, affiliated to Ruiz's PRI. Some media outlets, like Reforma
Reforma
Reforma is a Mexican newspaper based in Mexico City. It has 276,700 readers in Mexico City. The paper shares content with other papers in parent newsgroup Grupo Reforma. The cumulative readership of the newsgroup is above 400,000...
viewed this action as a repression of free speech. The paper tried to publish out of the state, but distribution trucks were vandalized. The paper openly accused Ruiz of repression.
Other examples included the destruction caused by public works to the historic city center of the state capital. Some intellectuals called the destruction so appalling that they feared that UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
would retire the city's declaration as a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
As governor he was also accused of committing genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
and acts of repression
Political repression
Political repression is the persecution of an individual or group for political reasons, particularly for the purpose of restricting or preventing their ability to take political life of society....
against indigenous groups.
At the beginning of the Mexican general election, 2006
Mexican general election, 2006
A general election was held in Mexico on Sunday, July 2, 2006. Voters went to the polls to elect, on the federal level:*A new President of the Republic to serve a six-year term, replacing then Mexican President Vicente Fox .*500 members to serve for a...
campaign, Presidential candidate Andres Manuel López Obrador
Andrés Manuel López Obrador
Andrés Manuel López Obrador , also known as AMLO or El Peje, is a Mexican politician who held the position of Head of Government of the Federal District from 2000 to 2005, before resigning in July 2005 to contend the 2006 presidential election, representing the unsuccessful Coalition for the Good...
tried to campaign in one of the state's poorest municipalities in Guelatao, also the birth place of Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez born Benito Pablo Juárez García, was a Mexican lawyer and politician of Zapotec origin from Oaxaca who served five terms as president of Mexico: 1858–1861 as interim, 1861–1865, 1865–1867, 1867–1871 and 1871–1872...
. The rally was obstructed by public works started only a day earlier by the state government.
2006 conflict
Since May 2006 (previous to the federal elections), Ruiz Ortiz's administration faced protests by striking teachers from Section 22 of the SNTESindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación
The Mexican National Educational Workers Union is the largest trade union in Latin America, with over 1.4 million members. Formed in 1949, the SNTE is composed of local sections in each of Mexico's states...
(the National Union of Teachers). Among other demands, the teachers demanded an economic reclassification for the state of Oaxaca, which would allow a raise in the salaries. Protesters sat in the city's main square until their demands were met. The protesters refused to meet with the government of Ruiz, insisting on meeting only with members of the federal government. On June 14, 2006, police were sent to remove the teachers forcibly from the square using gas bombs and rubber bullets. The strikers responded and managed to repel the police forces. After these actions, the teachers movement added to their demands the immediate resignation of the governor. The perceived repression used against the teachers ignited numerous protests from the people inside and outside of the state.
Numerous civil and political organizations joined the teachers movement, forming the APPO or Asamblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca (Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca). The main petition of the APPO is the immediate resignation of Ulises Ruiz. Numerous popular protests demanding Ruiz's resignation took place all over the state. Government offices, public radio stations and public broadcasting systems have been taken over by the APPO. A legal petition was sent to the federal Congress
Congress of Mexico
The Congress of the Union is the legislative branch of the Mexican government...
to remove the governor.
Ruiz Ortiz has stated that he has no plans to resign. While initially not involved in the conflict, the Federal government has since sent a commission to help in the negotiations and has called for the governor to step down. On October 29, federal police were sent to occupy the city and have been involved in confrontations with the APPO throughout November.
Since the government offices have remained closed due to the protests, the governor has moved his office to a hotel.
In August 2006 the conflict became increasingly violent, with increased attacks aimed at terrorizing protesters. Armed groups have fired on popular protests, and on August 21 and 22 attacked radio stations held by the APPO. Ulises Ruiz's administration denies responsibility for these attacks.
On September 3, 2006, 193 delegates from different organizations which constitute the APPO
Asamblea popular de los pueblos de Oaxaca
The Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca , or simply the APPO, is an organization that was assembled in response to the political situation in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, first meeting in June 2006.-History:A public demonstration and a teacher's strike in May of every year had occurred every...
(Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca) declared the governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz (URO) "proscrito" – banned, exiled, unwelcome – in the state of Oaxaca. The ex-governor will be replaced by a "proclamation of good government for the city of Oaxaca, a proclamation for the 570 municipalities, and a manifesto to the nation, declaring the banishment of Ruiz Ortiz from the government, and that the government will continue to be exercised from the historic center of the city of Oaxaca".
At least seventeen people have been killed in Oaxaca, almost of them by police or paramilitary forces allied with Ulises Ruiz Ortiz since the onset of the conflict, including US IndyMedia Journalist Bradley Roland Will. In response to recent deaths, Subcomandante Marcos
Subcomandante Marcos
Subcomandante Marcos is the spokesperson for the Zapatista Army of National Liberation , a Mexican rebel movement. In January 1994, he led an army of Mayan farmers into the eastern parts of the Mexican state of Chiapas protesting against the Mexican government's treatment of indigenous...
of the EZLN has issued a statement from the Clandestine Indigenous Revolution Committee, claiming that the Federal Government caused these deaths to help Ruiz stay in power.
On November 6, 2006, the conflict escalated after five groups committed a series of small bombing attacks in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
demanding Ruiz's resignation. The attacks consisted of 3 explosions in the PRI
Institutional Revolutionary Party
The Institutional Revolutionary Party is a Mexican political party that held power in the country—under a succession of names—for more than 70 years. The PRI is a member of the Socialist International, as is the rival Party of the Democratic Revolution , making Mexico one of the few...
headquarters, the TEPJF main office, a branch of Scotiabank
Scotiabank
The Bank of Nova Scotia , commonly known as Scotiabank , is the third largest bank in Canada by deposits and market capitalization. It serves some 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world and offers a broad range of products and services including personal, commercial,...
. Presumably, 8 bombs were set and another Scotiabank branch was set to explode, as well as a Sanborns
Grupo Sanborns
Grupo Sanborns is a large restaurant, retail, pharmacy and department store chain located in Mexico and in El Salvador.-History:The retail company was founded in Mexico City on June 19, 1903 by California immigrants Walter and Frank Sanborn, who also opened Mexico's first soda fountain...
store, however these last two targets failed to explode. The Federal Government has stated that these acts are terrorist propaganda activities that seek to plant fear in the population, however it has also stated that the only possible solution is that Ruiz resigns his post in Oaxaca, or personally negotiates an end to the violence.
External links
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5082778.stm
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5272462.stm
- http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/columnas/59688.html
- http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2006/08/15/041n1soc.php
- http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2006/08/19/043n1soc.php
- Ulises Ruiz
- http://www.indymedia.ie/article/96493