In recent months, the Oaxacan capital has been hit by blockades on streets and intersections, highways, and roads throughout the state alike. This method has become institutionalized. More or less, it is used, especially by normalistas (teachers), teachers from Section 22, and union members from other institutions and social organizations. One of its main drivers is money, handouts, more sinecures, and more privileges.
What is surprising is the crude way in which, as a society, we have embraced this type of pressure and blackmail. The threat is constant and in complete bad faith. The capital is strangled without passage from north to south, or key sites in the regions are taken hostage. Doing more damage has become the watchword. Bringing citizens, passengers, employees, taxi and bus operators to their knees. Mothers going to work, as well as the disabled, children, or elderly people going to a doctor’s appointment, are equally at stake.
“Let’s blockade” is the slogan of leaders of social organizations, community members, transport workers, settlers, those demanding public works, schools, and teachers! And the citizenry is kidnapped, defenseless, frustrated. Cornered at intersections, bridges, or in their vehicles if they’re traveling by road. It was exactly the same thing that some who are now in government were doing. But today they’re on the other side of the table. And in the face of this affront to the citizenry, they repeat like parrots: dialogue and more dialogue!
Is the police appearing even as a deterrent mechanism? No. Or with some and not with others. Part of the social tension must be attributed to inept officials. Good at making a fuss or making a fuss; claiming that everything is fine here; that social peace is guaranteed, but faced with the reality of blackmail by groups and unions; faced with violence and insecurity, their knees tremble.
The blockade is the corollary of blackmail, the most profitable industry in Oaxaca. Which, paradoxically, represents a brake on the economy, on civility, on governability. The same government has allowed it to grow; to become what it is today: an abominable institution that, at least we Oaxacans, are fed up with.
There’s much talk about the great project of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec Interoceanic Corridor, but you have to see how many times a week the famous iron bridge is blocked. For four months now, traffic has been suspended on the Isthmus highway following the collapse of the tunnel known as “El Tornillo.” The only route is Highway 190, which has already been blocked by residents of the San Carlos Yautepec area.
It’s an affront to the intelligence of the people of Oaxaca to be told that the blockades have diminished and that the policy of dialogue has brought peace to the citizens. It’s a joke.
Source: cuartaplana
