Blockades Close Chiapas in Defense of Oaxaca

November 20, 2006
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Dear Colleagues,

Today thousands of indigenous civilians from Zapatista communities
successfully stopped traffic on all major roads and highways in the
highlands and jungle regions of Chiapas.

Giordano reports:

"Narco News has confirmed that the blockades, begun at 5:00 a.m. on
Monday, November 20, have stopped traffic along the following routes:

Tuxtla Gutiérrez - San Cristobal (toll highway)
Tuxtla Gutiérrez - San Cristóbal (old route)
San Cristóbal - Comitán
San Cristóbal - Chamula
San Cristóbal - Tenejapa
San Cristóbal - Simojovel
Ocosingo - San Cristóbal
Palenque - Ocosingo

"Yet unconfirmed: As of last night, plans had been made to blockade
the coastal routes, including the Pan-American highway, at various
points from Tapachula to the Oaxaca border.

"At each of the blockade points, hundreds to thousands of masked
Zapatista civilians stand silently in formation across the road or
highway...

"The blockades are kept for intervals of 45 minutes, then allowing 15
minutes for traffic to pass.

"A national holiday commemorating the Mexican revolution of 1910,
November 20 is normally a date of extraordinary travel, especially to
tourist meccas like the mountain city of San Cristóbal de Las Casas.
But there, this morning, many businesses that would normally be open
at these hours were closed; a result of employees either deciding to
respect the 'national strike' in defense of Oaxaca called for today,
or simply unable to get to work due to the blockades. The streets of
the former state capital are uncharacteristically quiet with little
traffic."

Visit the Narco News Bulletin for developing news on today's
blockades as well as other news, including updates on our coverage of
Oaxaca and the DEA/DOJ "House of Death" report:

http://www.narconews.com

From somewhere in a country called América,

David Briones
Webmaster
The Narco News Bulletin
http://www.narconews.com
webmaster@narconews.com