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6/11/2000 - Making the Power Serve the People Not the PRI by Wendy L. Call

WC THE AMERICAS Wendy Call donor supported Healthies Societ Fellow living writing southern Mexico Making Power Serve The People Not PRI By Wendy Call Introduction June Looking world today widening between growing ecologi crisis ceaseless violence search healthy society might doomed failure If planet equally doomed For reason alone I intrigued challenge Institute donor supported Healthy Societies Fellowship Beyond though I believe there examples deserve attention Why looking healthy society Mexico places asked months Fair enough For healthy society would spire broad participation decision making ensure equal access cation health basic necessities offer mutual respect support members balance individual rights collective needs Above large scale extinction plants animals entire systems healthy society would exist healthy environment People would strive within their means ecologically speaking This criterion eliminates developed world For person alive today standard living United States would times total resources earth Rees Wackernagel Ecological Footprint New Society Publishers While average Mexican consumes Mexicans economically speaking Mexico means country It varied natural resources educated middle class strong industries Perhaps everyone world could aspire Mexico average standard living Setting aside fellowship entire country Isthmus Tehu antepec My interest diverse communities isthmus different indigenous groups cities rural villages agrarian commercial economies grappling industrial development globalization Here squeezed miles separate Atlantic Pacific Oceans strip connects Yucatan Peninsula Mexico northern southern halves Western Hemisphere story encom passes powerful economic interests global commerce shift rural economies Perhaps surprisingly story includes Many isthmus indigenous communities easily between Mexican cultures striving blend worlds There strong tradition communal regularly towns virtually residents Most isthmus communities control their manage collectively Living stretch tudied invaded coveted foreigners years people isthmus tained their traditions autonomy against significant Most istme great pride region natural sources their protecting Several lages elect their leaders meeting process In search model healthy society isthmus offer I going spend years So newsletter about strike march electoral campaign written weeks before election Two important things happening Mexico right potential changes governance growth spurt Mexico burgeoning civic movement A after I arrived Mexico every public school teacher state Oaxaca where southern isthmus located joined nationwide strike For first month fellowship newsletter about istme Mexico Cit running office agitating change MEXICO CITY A spray painted image sheet flapping corner Z Mexico City center plaza tells election season A young dressed balanced chair In front computer gleams small table broken splintered The typed message English bright screen Dear Mr President I hungry Please The request political commentary Francisco Labastida Ochoa presidential candidate Institutional Revolutionary Party PRI promises English classes computer training primary schools throughout country Painted banner version forms several strik teachers three weeks On May sands Mexico primary ondary school teachers claimed Z other public squares Centro Hist their About teachers southern state Oaxaca Four hundred miles southeast Z Isthmus Tehuantepec candidate Labastida promises English computers little enthusiasm Many region residents already bilin speaking Spanish second language after indigenous languages Theirs history rebellion They always tried chart their development deciding which elements global village their indig enous cultures For seems learning English using computers their priorities The response Labastida mantra En glish computers amusement anything The southern isthmus Oaxaca state highest levels poverty illiteracy country Oaxacan teachers often nourished students basic infrastructure classro On September earthquake rattled south Oaxaca The tremor registered Richter scale startling earthquake Mexicans Chiapas Mexico City The earth swayed hammock Since movement lateral buildings escaped serious damage Still walls Oaxaca poorly built schools crumbled The state government reported school buildings WC damaged leaving students without class rooms Eight months later schools repaired The buildings become something symbol general neglect Mexico teachers their schools In communities government spending public schools about pesos about cents pupil In wealthier areas figure about cents Meanwhile children being reached More million Mexicans between enrolled school On May frustration coalesced tionwide teachers strike An estimated teachers refused In southern states Oaxaca Guerrero Chiapas along Michoac every public school closed All strikers members National Coordinating Agency Education Work CNTE strike sanctioned union national leadership Dissident movements within Mexico corrupt government affiliated unions sprung frequently recent years An estimated striking teachers Mexico City begin while others organized demonstrations cities across country The strikers public plazas capital Centro Hist building On Day strike I tered plastic knotted fraying resolve teachers encampment Z Tied edges plastic tarps filled water bottles strings lights makeshift weights provide teachers defense against intense winds The early while negotiations ernment arrive Tankers drinking water reeking potties provided government edges encampment Many businesses Centro Hist complaining loudly about plummeting sales because tents sidewalks front their stores The government controlled opposition Party Democratic Revolution PRD begging PRI controlled federal government negotiate teachers The federal government claims teachers complaints should directed state level governments The state governments claim there little The teachers grumble become kickballs square Like erything Mexico during election season party politics swirl around strike Some assert federal La Jornada October taken World Wide Web La Jornada June Proceso No June INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS ernment refused striking teachers PRD government incompetent Others claim strike secretly organized PRI reason But walking through campment I imagine people camping urban center three weeks having impact Each labeled region union local inhabitants Teachers turns cooking small communal kitchens sweeping gathering trash The encampment miniature society state represented strike portion C Historico Each state reflects geography teachers region clustered together The mimics nation neighborhood People their neighbors share All decisions washes dishes relevant group individuals I approach teachers sitting outside their small folding chairs smoking chatting I looking teacher Isthmus Tehuantepec I explain The teachers point block correct stretch cement Between Republic Cuba Re public Venezuela streets I enter Republic Teachers A pinwheel tarps tether whirls statue Do Josefa Ortiz Dominguez Do Josefa Paul Revere Mexico Indepen dence War I Leonel G Cruz fourth grade teacher something instigator union local Another teacher directs tarps windows Now Republic Teachers includes guard night piece poster board captioned photos encampment black poster Che Guevara In front circle teachers Clipboard Leonel breaks group greets You early smile Ac tually I I source confusion occurs We Oaxaca tells We change spring Oaxaca Mexico City refer observed Oaxaca striking teachers Section Oaxaca state local CNTE history independent thinking internal democracy As NAFTA implementation Mexico shifted light saving In southern regions Oaxaca there little change length there economic integration aside spring ahead In parts isthmus regular NAFTA Leonel began teaching seven years Mexican requires primary secondary school teachers years education including versity degree Leonel college A severe shortage teachers willing rural areas pressed state government educators college degrees Leonel happy Santiago Tutla small foothills Si Mixe mountains He indigenous Huave community San Francisco Mar population Pacific Coast isthmus Last colleagues elected delegation which includes teachers Leonel students class normal Mexico Some teachers though third grade teacher Leonel school nearly students When strike began Leonel delegation members Mexico City After still there But today encampment They insist going until receive response demands In Mexico City Plaza Santo Domingo statue Mexico Independence War becomes striking teachers architecture During thousands teachers plazas throughout downtown Mexico became campgrounds WC submitted Oaxacan government May The included usual union demands raise better benefits improved higher education cilities throughout state Other demands current situation southern Mexico increased bilingual education indigenous languages passage forced political disappearances illegal Oaxaca militarization Chiapas repair classrooms damaged earthquake The teach demands something their vision healthier society culturally appropriate education violence access higher education Leonel leans close lowering voice plains strike might The meeting night discuss tentative offer received state government Tomorrow Los Pinos Presi Ernesto Zedillo official residence could their Late morning June flood bullhorns banners banter gushes subway station street financial district The teachers pavement already cleared traffic police The police presence sparse intersection Here Mexico City there problems police Just before southern state Tabasco though police clashed teachers conflict teachers jured Thirty seven those teachers As marchers latecomers settle morning coffee break Sitting middle street their signs newspapers coffee friends For twenty second morning blankets stretched across wooden pallets benches tened cardboard boxes For fourth marching Los Pinos The strike become routine excitement first No coffee breaks Leonel He encourages group unfold their banners rousts unexcited volunteers He greets stragglers thanks coming He carefully lists every member local egation still participating encampment member Union benefits loans scholarships based partici pation You participate shouldn benefit The march starting point block offices Interior Secretary federal agency responsible state government oversight As building teacher spray paints front Freedom Tabascan teachers They repainted building times three weeks Leonel One paint teachers marches Los Pinos The graffito shows shift discourse As strike concerns changed teaching education flict itself Public school teachers Mexico received raise years Leonel earns about INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS dollars month which means lucky Most Mexi primary secondary school teachers month It dissident teachers raise Fidel Herrera Beltr PRI federal deputy southern Veracruz north Isthmus Tehuantepec believes Mexico public school system On May after teachers strike began nibbled mango grown hometown Nopaltepec noted proudly silver designed especially considered national fruit Mexico At Mexico City exclusive neighborhood Los Pinos enjoyed daughter Rosa couple friends Rosa filled plates Her mother business Paris woman house father plained In midst heavy campaigning become Veracruz three federal senators still lunch As talked about shortcomings Mexico public schools Turning daughter friends Herrera asked private school Six hours classes answered He gestured eaten mango highlight point Mexican public system receive about hours instruction Herrera Vice Coordinator PRI delegation House Deputies widely sidered Francisco Labastida closest quick point three children attend elite English language American school Just hours before lunch though Herrera spoken proudly himself product Mexico public schools He taping television advertisement campaign At small recording studio exclusive Bosques Lomas neighborhood Herrera closed towel draped across shoulders Three women encircled This totally transparent assured whisked cosmetic sponge across forehead The second woman combed close cropped black while third protected handiwork hairspray Hair finished group moved cloth They started black jacket Maybe would better The driver loped leather interior American parked front fetch jacket Herrera reconsidered still I TV commercial black looks right The jacket arrived The three women directo fitted jacket Herrera short torso masking practiced gestures Both forefingers pointing camera Double thumbs Right cutting The failed slightly small jacket place Back black As taped black jacket Herrera verbally sketched ideas campaign commercials focus problems facing women another young people These people whose votes needed The jacket finally ready celluloid masking Segment One Takes One Two Three Nearly dozen Every ending This whole campaign It I senator Herrera forefingers point straight ahead Herrera spoke reading hesitant teleprompter though memorized lines Fi nally director pushed sleeves faded green shirt announced Cut That perfect The women murmured their agreement An Mexican about Presidential power floated The President staff member What What would comes reply During break three women lesson Herrera In recent national WC thing Mexicans believed prerequisite democracy country Herrera lawyer training considered Jobs A economy Women rights She shook answer He continued guessing She tinued shaking He finally What nation under Herrera impressed So later during lunch quizzed Rosa friends question They couldn answer either Humberto Alcal CNTE Section Oaxaca teachers union probably could Early June march Los P reporters gather around Alcal masterminds strike interview One reporter whether rumors Are teachers camping streets weeks Well answers slightly castic I think percent Mexico exploitation corruption Regardless issues surrounding particular strike demonstration about corruption within Mexican government always there somewhere either front surface The teachers demands state state least demand unites opposition munici palization Proposed modifications General Edu cation Law would change schools funded Mexico Each community would largely responsible funds negotiating state raised The changes leave possibility privatizing schools their budgets It imagine states Oaxaca could needs their schools equally imagine would schools state When I Leonel Mexican govern proposing public education funded U S responds ruefully Mexico wants United States Numbers flutter Twelve percent Article One hundred percent declare banners Currently about percent Mexico gross domestic product spent education The teachers raised percent Even Swedes devote about eight percent their GDP education Ar ticle Three Mexican constitution guarantees right public education As schools charge inscription require students purchase books uniforms other materials right erodes Some state unions demanding percent raise We figured might Leonel The teachers union questing percent raise decade The marchers mostly natured relaxed The chants sharply teachers friendly almost happy tones No somos somos prensa vendida entanos We weren hundred listen media count Zedillo entiende patria vende President Zedillo understand En jaula pendiente encuentra presidente robando Hanging balcony golden President robbing country Leonel estimates about percent nation primary secondary school teachers strike He proud figure Oaxaca percent The union Oaxaca fighting years Leonel seven democracy movement began members clearly three months school during strike He understand pening strong impression important That event marked turning point independent union movement state Presidential tions changed electoral politics entire country Deputy Fidel Herrera daughter Rosa about Humberto Alcal director Oaxaca state teachers union CNTESection speaks several thousand union members Proceso No June INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Presidential elections At lunch May Rosa asked innocently enough seemed So Dad happened elections Her father casually plained Cuauht C rdenas former PRI governor Michoac beloved populist President L C rdenas PRI formed coalition three small position political parties It because people confused about C rdenas departure PRI Herrera tinued People support Only someone toddler could accept Herrera version those famous elections The Historical Dictionary Contem porary Mexico calls disputed questioned Mexico history As Herrera C rdenas PRI create opposition coalition That where Herrera story stopped The surge support lowed C rdenas surprised almost everyone perhaps PRI Suddenly single party Mexico threatened The night elections PRI candidate Carlos Salinas Gortari named spite significant evidence C rdenas ahead three without providing count results The government announced counting computer system crashed A elapsed before resuscitated Controversy churned throughout summer On September Sali officially declared President Mexico House Deputies Or rather about Of Deputies PRI members three opposi members through paramilitary troops surrounded legislature build At Herrera family dining table Rosa friends teased You President No Governor corrected So I repre community Veracruz people But first I become Senator In spite power within PRI needs campaign Herrera faces candidate The opposition parties Veracruz unified behind candidate small Democratic Convergence Party At local state levels candidates running combined support right Na tional Action Party PAN PRD These parties along several smaller share little their hatred PRI For months party representatives tried hammer agree single presidential candidate against PRI Party activists levels invested months their lives Alianza Alliance Ra Toledo H S nchez ranking PRD Senator Oaxaca spent three months working PAN campaign governorship northern state Nayarit The campaign cessful enjoy A middle class Zapotec small southern isthmus Toledo strongly preferred meetings dusty squares parties wealthy urban housewives fancy taurants The perfume almost asphyxiated plained Toledo contributed impor faith PAN Still three weeks after victory celebration candidate Nayarit Alianza apart The PAN wanted select presi dential candidate delegate convention while PRD popular parti combined bership At involved would admit vious party insisted system thought would benefit their candidate PRD C rdenas PAN Vicente Fox Eight months after collapse Alianza Toledo shook thinking spent Nayarit Pffft universal Mexican expres annoyance surprise dismissal rolling We wanted C rdenas candidate couldn Toledo proudly C rdenas quite Fox former governor Guanajuato Coca Cola executive Four weeks before election C rdenas little Fox pulled front Francisco Labastida limping campaign Liberal progressive PRI leaders urging Diccionario Hist M contempor J Jes Nieto L Addison Wesley Longman Publishers WC pragmatic Fo It against pragmatists change versus PRI supporters avoid change An PRI federal legislator claimed PRI would still presidency because numbers He pointed million potential voters receive govern subsidies PROGRESA federal Health Education Nutrition Program Where there PROGRESA PRI Where there loses That combined million members military nearly predictably PRI means there PRI asserted Labastida needs million votes All Labastida mistakes concluded Labastida already making mistakes After Herrera TV taping session journalist handed Labastida latest campaign circular The cover photo Labastida broodi brows together looking slightly prised A someone placed photo Who would person With expression preoccupied Herrera energy Labastida paign Veracruz because wants coattails The weeks campaign Labastida Herrera mused himself during photo shoot The PRI PAN along there position grabs presidency Herrera handed campaign circular disappointment disgust The photo Francisco Labastida thousands paign posters blanketed country looks little appealing Still image thing cited anger among marchers Los Pinos June From offices Interior Secretary hundreds signs thousands surge northwest Senate office building thwest Los Pinos The teachers westbound lanes Paseo Reforma known thorough Three teachers young black clothes masks teach their attention strings plastic paign posters cross boulevard every The visage Francisco Labastida expressionless Jes Silva Herzog PRI candidate mayor Mexico City stare stuttered repeti Posters opposition candidates occasionally tuate ribbons PRI propaganda At block small angry marchers pulls string PRI ground tearing wrapping around their necks Many marchers cheer stretch plastic comes The policemen watch passive At Monument Angel independence toward Senate office building clean Only posters Mexico opposition arties still flutter telephone poles posts The anger damaging Labastida campaign posters In demon strating teachers their supporters forced candidate cancel campaign events Chiapas National Polytechnic Institute Mexico City The teachers arrive Los Pinos little after three afternoon traditional siesta Lethargy settles crowd Atop battered people rouse group spirited chants crackle through sound system The marchers almost curves through large surrounding Los Pinos In front thick fence blocks entrance President residence Behind layers metal posts chain police wearing helmets holding plastic shields stand As teachers snacks street vendors Reforma June INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS young guards shift their weight restlessly watch crowd Each bored other After couple hours Section leader Humberto Alcal several other union officials invited government negotiating Finally forward teachers drift Los Pinos across their tents Leonel I subway Z He cides avoid through I encampment chopping front After three weeks sleeping sidewalk through nights heavy storms Leonel other teachers ready That evening delegation leaders Oaxaca meeting decide whether accept state government offer point point response their demands The governor promises finish pairing earthquake damaged schools bring criminalizing forced disappear ances legislative session teachers percent raise Other promises document vague count When Leonel school Santiago Tutla fourth graders their families He derstands their anger frustration The struggle families It family Leonel Gloria their first child three months She tired caring without The I talked Gloria phone I think pinching would looking slightly sheepish As Leonel heads final assembly meeting I Was success He pauses slowly Well exactly Was failure I No certainly His answer comes Well Something It struggle On second teachers strike I Deputy Fidel Herrera house campaign T shirt Labastida ubiquitous campaign slogan Que poder sirva gente Labastida May power serve people The silkscreen machine perhaps operator acting shirt printed though leaving gente The shirt declares essentially May power serve Labastida Meanwhile gente Z claiming power selves The after their fourth march Los Pinos Leonel G other teachers Oaxaca returned They ceived response their demands response perhaps portant municipalization On Monday June Leonel other teachers school their students parents The parents students manded weeks class The teachers three hours every afternoon extend school In spite publi cized government promises striking teachers their weeks camped Z unpaid Epilogue On July Fidel Herrera lucky enough Francisco Labastida coattails political oblivion Although PAN Vicente Fox state Veracruz other Police await marchers front Los Pinos Mexican states Fidel Herrera still become Sena In Veracruz other parts voters chose Fox still voted PRI often PRD legislative seats Herrera already started politicking position PRI On July announced wanted alliance PRD municipal Jornada July state level elections Veracruz avoid fatal PRI The PRD interested another iance In response Herrera suggestion candidate mayor Veracruz At point would dream alliance PRIistas electoral matters That would represent total rejec voters INDEX A G Michoac S Alcal Humberto C G Cruz Leonel Guanajuato Guerrero Monument Angel municipalization N Salinas Gortari Carlos S nchez H Santiago Tutla C rdenas Cuauht C rdenas L Centro Hist Chiapas Coca Cola H healthy society Herrera Beltr Fidel Huave National Action Party PAN National Coordinating Agency Education Workers CNTE Nayarit Sierra Mixe Silva Herzog Jes T Tabasco teachers salaries D I O teachers strike daylight saving Democratic Convergence Party Institutional Revolutionary Party PRI Isthmus Tehuantepec Oaxaca Oaxaca teachers union Ortiz Dominguez Do television advertisement Toledo Ra V E Josefa Veracruz earthquake L P Z education English computers F Labastida Ochoa Francisco Los Pinos M Party Democratic Revolution PRD Paseo Reforma PROGRESA Zapotec Zedillo Ernesto Z Fox Vicente Mexican constitution public schools Entries refer ICWA Letter WC Letter number given before entry INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS ICWA Letters ISSN published Institute Current World Affairs Inc exempt operating foundation incorporated New York State offices located West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 The letters provided charge members ICWA available libraries professional researchers subscription Phone E Mail ICWA valley F Web Site Executive Director Peter Bird Martin Program Assistant Brent Jacobson Publications Manager Ellen Kozak Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foundation The information contained publication reproduced without writer permission WC Author Call Wendy Title ICWA Letters The Americas ISSN Imprint Institute Current World Affairs Hanover NH Material Type Serial Language English Frequency Monthly Other Regions East Asia South Asia Mideast North Africa Europe Russia Sub Saharan Africa Institute Fellows chosen basis character previous experience promise They young professionals funded spend minimum years carrying designed programs study writing outside United States 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