Blockades continue: 18 in Oaxaca today - Mexico

3,000 teachers, allies close highways in six of the state's regions

Security forces don’t appear to have gained any ground freeing up highways in Oaxaca: there are more blockades today than there were before police began efforts to dislodge them last week.

Police say more than 3,135 dissident teachers and activists with affiliated organizations are manning 18 blockades in six of the state’s eight regions.

In Nochixtlán, where at least six people died in a violent confrontation between police and protesters yesterday, two highways remain closed despite police efforts, the Oaxaca-Puebla freeway and federal highway No. 190.

In the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, highways are closed at eight locations. The union’s biggest blockade is at Canal 33 in Juchitán, where 1,500 people have congregated to stop traffic on the Trans-Isthmus Highway.

Another barricade on the same highway is manned by 120 people, also in Juchitán, and in Matías Romero.

There are two blockades in Tehuantepec, one at Campo Rojo and another at Caracol.

Federal highway No. 190 has been closed at Jalapa del Marqués and Ciudad Ixtepec while more protesters have blocked the Salina Cruz-Coatzacoalcos freeway.

In the southern Sierra, highway 175, linking Oaxaca city and Puerto Ángel, is blocked at San José del Pacífico and Agua de Sol while there are two blockades on highway 135 in Teotilán de Flores Magón.

Highway 131 between Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido is closed at El Vidrio and there are more blockades in the municipalities of Jamiltepec and Rió Grande on the coast.

Near the boundary with Veracruz in the Cuenca de Papaloapan there are blockades on highway No. 175 and on a bridge that provides access to Valle Nacional.

Protesting teachers belong to Section 22 of the CNTE union. They have upped the ante in their ongoing protests against education reform following the arrests last week of two Oaxaca union leaders on charges of money laundering and robbery.