Peace Treaty of Sorts Signed with Triqui

Mexico can be a racist society.  In the state of Oaxaca, with sixteen indigenous groupings, amongst the lowest are the Triqui.

I've never understood why, but it seems to me that human nature is such that those at the bottom all too frequently fight amongst themselves, instead of banning together and helping one another.  This is the case with the Triqui. In the municipios that they control, corrupt state governments have assisted the in fighting.

In July of 2010, Governor Gabino was elected, and the people of the state of Oaxaca had great hopes that things would change.  Still, the women and children of San Juan Copala, the main city in the self-declared autonomous Triqui region, fled their homes fearing for their lives and for seventeen months set-up camp in the center of the city of Oaxaca.

In December, they went home because they were given assurance things would change.

Last Wednesday, Triqui leaders got together with the governor, documents were signed and discussion began.  Peace and security is promised.  Only time will tell.

Teachers, Triqui and Torturing Roosters

May’s annual teacher’s strike is in full swing. The union, Section 22, with membership of around one million, is the largest union in Latin America. Not everyone seems to realize that Section 22 members are all primary teachers working in the public school system,, and not all primary school teachers are members. Furthermore, not all Section 22 locals are militant. All that being said, the Oaxaca teachers who are members of Section 22 make their presence known on an annual basis.

Judging from the signs posted around the Chedraui, my neighborhood super market, this year Section 22 and militant Triqui have joined together.

“Jail Ulyses. Murderer. Political Prisoners. Freedom.” Is what the sign in front of Chedraui reads. Ulyses is the former governor. Apparently democratically ousting him from office wasn’t enough.

I’m quite sure the political prisoners referred to are Triqui. The teachers are not looking for improved working conditions this year. Another sign pleads for autonomy in the pueblos.

In 1948 state authorities disbanded the municipality of San Juan Capola, which was the start of Triqui loss of autonomy. Conflict began and continues to this day.

On April 27, 2010, a humanitarian caravan, which was allegedly bringing supplies to Triqui trapped behind barriers set up by their own people was attacked. Bety Cariño, a human rights activist, was murdered along with the Finnish observer Jiri Jakkola.

This year some of the Triqui are saying before the caravan left the city of Oaxaca they had met with Ulyses Ruiz. For me this implies, since Ruiz is a murder who knows what the allege humanitarian caravan was up to.

Down at the Zocalo the tents are pitched. Who knows how long the Triqui and teachers will be entrenched. At the Chedraui they’ve shut down the mall, only a few determined businesses have kept their doors open. But no tents are erected. I think they’ll be gone by tomorrow.

Xoxocotlán is having a rodeo (jaripeo). Xoxo (pronounced Hoho), as it’s more often called, is a pueblo on the outskirts of the city of Oaxaca.

June 2, 3,4 and 5 they will embrace their origins. Events will include carreras de caballos (horse races) and pelejas de gallos (fights of roosters - cockfights) This is one event I won’t be attending. I don’t like roosters, but I’m not up to seeing them tortured.

Feliz Halowen

Chedraui Chrismas store

On the Chedraui lot there sits a Christmas store, complete with pictures of snow and snowflakes

As you may know, I teach English to a group of preschool children. My time with them is between 11:30 and 12:30 every weekday.

They have a regular teacher from 9 a.m. to 11:30. Their teacher is Lolita, and the classroom is really more her's than mine.

To get to the children's class I walk down a hallway, at the end of the hallway there's a gate. Last week, on the gate there hung a store bought decoration that consisted of an orange pumpkin and a black witch and the words "Feliz Halowen."

When I entered the room Lupita was busy decorating the classroom with streamers, paper pumpkins, and skeltons.

I asked her about Halloween. She told be in Mexico they do not celebrate Haloween, she was decorating for Dia de los Muertos.

I mentioned that I was acquainted with Dia de los Muertos because I was in Mexico last year at this time.

I showed her the decoration she'd hung on the gate. "Que es Norte American," she said.

"Pero. . . las letras es diferente in ingles," then I gave her the English spelling of the word.

I have several songs that teach the number one to five in English. One of them is called "Five Little Snowmen." I decided not to use this song since I didn't think it was culturally appropriate. However, I was told these children, mostly Triqui, who have never left the city of Oaxaca, are well acquainted with snowmen.

Oaxaca never sees snow at Christmas. Where Jesus was born and lived there was never snow. Yet, here in the tropics Christmas and snow go together like . . .love and marriage?. . . horse and carriage?

Last year in Chihuahua I told one of the children I was teaching that the North Pole is in Canada. Therefore, Santa must be Canadian, and then I kept my fingers crossed hoping his mother or father wouldn't become angry with me.

I think Lolita took the Feliz Halowen decoration down. But, the pumpkins remain. I haven't said anything, but I'm wondering if pumpkin are part of the Day of the Dead tradition.

I don't think so.

Random Thoughts

I'm tired, but I can't sleep and I'm thinking I'll never be able to speak Spanish. In fact I'm wondering how I ever learned English.

I've downloaded (is that a word?) Skype and called my son's landline. The reception was awful, plus it costs $0.27/minute. He downloaded Skype and we could hear each other somewhat better.

I'm on Facebook. It's a good way to see what my grand daughters are up to. My friend Susan found me on Facebook. Susan and I haven't spoken to one another for about thirty-five years.

The Triqui children I teach are in for a surprise tomorrow. I've created powerpoint presentations to go with the songs they like to sing. They think they are singing songs, but I'm hoping they will learn to count.

We've got 5 little monkeys jumping on the bed, five little ducks who went swimming one day and five green and speckled frogs.

I'm going to a wedding on Saturday, tomorrow I must buy a gift. I won't know anyone at the wedding except the groom, his mother and sister. I'll have to speak Spanish, which I speak like a two year old.

I have a friend here in Oaxaca, apart from the family whose property I live on, she's a writer from Mexico City. We will be going to a free jazz concert one Saturday soon, and we will likely do coffee sometime too. She speaks English, but perhaps we should speak Spanish, which will limit our conversation.

I'm going to blog about October 2, a day the students march in the street.