Giordano: Blockades Close Chiapas in Defense of Oaxaca
November 20, 2006
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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:
From somewhere in a country called América,
David Briones
Webmaster The Narco
News Bulletin