Over the weekend there were reports in both US and Mexican media about increasing unrest in the city of Oaxaca.
So are things there as bad as the news reports imply?

I'd love to know too, as friends and I had been planning a trip there the first week of September (based in part on great info provided by the OP in other threads). ^ We put it on hold last week after reading that rather dire AP story last weekend.

Sunday's Washington Post has a much milder take:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...072900956.html

Hard to know what to believe. It sure would be nice to hear from someone who has actually been there this month.

Oaxaca is occasionally riven by strife - demonstrating angry locals and heavy-handed "aguacates" (avocadoes, the name for the green-clad soldiers, who often arrived crammed in army trucks like - crates of avocadoes) getting into big hassles with injuires on both sides, in rural areas and in the city.

Here's the current deal: 10,000 teachers in Oaxaca have been striking for some time (this year,) and have taken over the Zocalo (central square.) The authorities have occasionally cracked down on them badly. The governor is moving his offices around from place to place, and there have been protests and counter-protests by supporters and a few opponents. I think this article is the most accurate I have read - given my many years' living in Mexico, my familiarity with politics in various states including my beloved Oaxaca, and my onoging contacts with people connected with internal national issues.

Businesses have been picketed and vandalized, streets have been blockaded, a number of teachers and their supporters have taken to sleeping in the Zócalo and the streets (those blue tarps,) and many services have been disrupted. Many tourists have wisely left town, hotels have been vandalized.

Recently things have been made worse by the big brouhaha over the presidential election - both candidates have declared themselves winners, and many in Oaxaca (which supported Mr. Andrés Manuel López Obrador "AMLO" pretty heavily,) have joined in the demonstrations. It's a good time to stay away right now, frankly; the stridency and actions have escalated the last few weeks.

The Universal newspaper indicates things have gotten worse in Oaxaca.

The APPO (Asamblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca - Oaxacan People's Popular Assembly) protestors have stated they will invade two newspaper offices (Tiempo and Extra,) accusing the newspapers of being collaborators with the state government, and threatened the same with a television station, TV Azteca. The owners have preemptively closed the offices. They have taken control of Corporación Oaxaqueńa de Radio y Televisión, the Oaxaca TV and Radio Corporation.

Members of APPO and SNTE (Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Educación - Union of Education Workers) had groups of 20 - 30 wait at intersections, where they took over at least 15 vehicles (evicting the drivers, and beating at least one.) The vehicles have been taken to the Zócalo, where the protesters have now been in control for 71 days.

The protesters have also taken over busses from the ADO, AU and Fletes y Pasajes fleets, using them to block major intersections and highways. Especially affected is the México City - Oaxaca highway, and a large roadblock has been erected in front of television Channel 9's buildings, which the protesters have taken over. As a result of traffic blockages, commutes that used to take 40 minutes now take two hours, and there are many bottlenecks.

Protesters attempted to take over the PRI (Partido Revolucionario Instituticional - Party of the Institutionalized Revlution,) but couldnot get access. The workers left by the back entrances, and slogans were painted on the building's surfaces.

The protesters are hoping to overthrow governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz (PRI party,) claiming corruption, and to effect various changes and reforms, including pay increases, for Oaxaca's schools system. They say they will burn all vehicles in their control if Ruiz Ortiz does not resign office.

This much they have taught me: go to Oaxaca later.

There were a very closed presidential election last july. The loser candidate Lopez Obrador is commanding several groups of PRD-party advocates, teachers and others to create a state of no-law in the Oaxaca state (ruled by a PRI-party governor), so they can ask the removal of this close friend of the PRI-party presidential candidate.

So, as long as the presidential problem hasn't resolved, nor the current governor has been removed, the problem will persist, probably more radical as time goes by. They have already taken public offices, television and radio stations, almost blocked the Guelaguetza traditional celebration, and have burned vehicles and blocked airports and several roadways.

My advice is don't go to Oaxaca if you can. Better go to other mexican places until this problem solves.

ˇAsí es! Oaxaca has hosted regular demonstrations by educators and others for years, but this summer it has gotten much more intense with a number of actions of civil unrest that have included damage to property, takeovers, thefts of vehicles and other destructive acts. Unfortunately, some people have also been injured. IMO, tourists in search of a trouble-free holiday should avoid the city of Oaxaca (though rural highland Oaxaca, such as Teotitlán del Valle, etc. should be fine.)

Even the guelagetza website is down

Well, Guelaguetza - I understand the demonstrators burned the stage, so that may explain some problems. But, anyway, to continue with that is currently happening in Oaxaca (pardon my brief absence - medical necessity.)

The last couple of days, things have unfortunately escalated. There has been a shooting, with lots of accusations - demonstrators blame it on the governor, at least indirectly - and they took hostages. The four hostages have been released after a tense day, but a number of actions and vandalism of private and public property continues, and the education syndicate has stated that they will not return to the classroom (classes were scheduled to begin next week, if memory serves.)

To recap: occupation of the town central "Zócalo" square, public and media buildings, some blockades of roads and intersections, the taking of various vehicles including public transport with threats of more actions, including burning the vehicles. A shooting has occurred, hostages have been taken and released - stay away from Oaxaca city for a while folks. Let's hope peace eventually prevails.