Human Rights Situation in Oaxaca Sample Itinerary

SATURDAY

9:00 Breakfast

10:30 Orientation with Casa Chapulín and Introductions

12:00pm Time to walk around the center of Oaxaca and to speak informally with protesting teachers in the Zócalo

2:00 Lunch

4:00 Socio-political context and brief historical overview of Oaxaca by EDUCA (Servicios para la Educación Alternativa)

SUNDAY

9am Breakfast

10:00 Meeting with Sara Mendez from the Oaxacan Human Rights Network for an overview on the Oaxacan political conflict and the human rights situation.

Testimonies of survivors of government-sponsored repression.

2:30 Lunch

4:00 Meeting with “25 de noviembre” committee working on behalf of Oaxacan political prisoners.

MONDAY

8:00 Breakfast

9:00 Meeting with Pedro Matias, a journalist for Las Noticias who has covered the social movement extensively.

1:00 Lunch

3:30 Presentation by CIPO, the Popular Indigenous Council of Oaxaca.

Testimonies of victims of the conflict over forestlands in San Isidro

Evening reflection

TUESDAY

7:00 Departure for Nochixtlan, Mixteca. Breakfast on the road.

9:00 Visit to CEDICAM (Center for the Integral Development of the Campesino of the Mixteca Alta). CEDICAM has worked for more than ten years to create alternative agricultural models that are environmentally and socially sustainable, in contrast to the neo-liberal economic development promoted throughout Mexico.

11:00: Travel to Tres Lagunas (1 ½ hour drive) to learn about CEDICAM projects.

3:00 Lunch

Return to Oaxaca (3 hour drive)

Free evening in Oaxaca City

WEDNESDAY

8:30 Breakfast

10:00 Meeting with Oaxacan Coalition of Indigenous Teachers and Promoters (CMPIO) and other members of the Sección 22 Teacher's Union to understand the strategies and challenges of the union’s organizing

1:30 Lunch

3:30 Meeting with members of the Coordinadora de Mujeres 1ro de Agosto—women involved in the takeover of the government television station.

Free evening

THURSDAY

7:30 Breakfast

9:00 Meeting with the Padre Manuel Arias, Catholic priest active in the popular movement for human rights and social justice.

1:30 Lunch

2:30-4:30 Free time in Centro

5:00: Meeting with Sergio Beltrán, UniTierra, speaking on the role of media in the popular movement and an update on current affairs in Oaxaca.

FRIDAY

8:00 Breakfast

Leave for the Isthmus of Oaxaca (about 4 hours travel time)

12:00 Arrive in Jalapa de Marquez. Visit hydroelectric dam construction project, meet with local fishermen opposed to the project, and meet with Erangelio, local activist and former political prisoner. Discussion of Plan Puebla-Panama.

3:00 Lunch

Late afternoon: Travel to Juchitan.

Free evening, dinner.

SATURDAY

Breakfast 8:30am

10am Visit La Venta, a region where many campesinos have lost communal land to a multinational wind turbine project. Meet with Carlos Beas of UCIZONI (Union of Indigenous Communities of the Northern Isthmus Zone) to talk about issues of sovereignty and resistance.

2:00 Lunch

4:00 Afternoon travel to local community radio station to talk about resistance and popular education.

Evening meal, reflections and planning session.