Mexico's National Human Rights Commission, an independent government council investigating the 2006 unrest in Oaxaca, recently concluded that the federal government should have intervened sooner after state authorities were overwhelmed. The commission also said that hundreds of human rights complaints it received from the uprising were credible, and the 12 people killed in the clashes were mostly protesters shot by gunmen.
In May 2006, a teachers’ strike that was joined by leftist groups turned into a larger movement, occupying the city center for almost 5 months. Teachers, union members, students, and indigenous activists joined in calling for the removal of the state's governor. The unrest in Oaxaca has become a symbol for tensions that exist throughout Mexico, including corruption and social inequality. While the government cracked down on the public demonstrations, the discontent remains, raising the possibility of continued protest.
See also: Too quiet in Oaxaca (San Francisco Bay Guardian) and Mexico rights panel criticizes Oaxaca uprising response (Jurist)
