OAXACA RIOTS: AMERICAN JOURNALIST KILLED

The riots in Oaxaca, Mexico, which began when teachers went on strike there to demand better salaries, has only recently begun to get media coverage. There was at least one person killed in the past few months, and now, an American journalist has died as well. From the Wash. Times:

OAXACA, Mexico -- Mexico sent federal riot police to the southern tourist city of Oaxaca yesterday after gunmen killed three persons, including an American journalist, in the latest violence sparked by protests to oust a state governor. Hundreds of federal police arrived in five planes yesterday morning, a Reuters photographer said. Isolated gunshots were heard in the city, famous for its colonial architecture, cuisine and indigenous crafts.

Three persons, including U.S. independent journalist Brad Will, were fatally shot Friday when men in civilian clothes opened fire on the protesters. A Mexican newspaper gave the names of the attackers and said they were local police. About a dozen people, mostly protesters, have been killed since the conflict began five months ago, when striking teachers and leftist activists occupied much of the city, chasing out police and blocking streets in an effort to oust Oaxaca state Gov. Ulises Ruiz. The crisis has escalated with frequent drive-by shootings on protester barricades.

Critics accuse the governor of corruption and repressive tactics against dissenters, whose hundreds of roadblocks have driven foreign tourists from the city and hurt business. Mexican President Vicente Fox's office declined to say if the federal police would try to take control of Oaxaca or look to negotiate a presence in the city. It is unusual for federal forces to be sent to conflicts in Mexican states, which are the jurisdiction of local police.

Not in this case, I wouldn't say. The demonstrators practically shut down businesses, schools and stores during their protests, causing tons of innocent shopkeepers to lose money and a lot of other people misery. However, if the authorities caused the death of a journalist, as may have happened, that is simply unacceptable.

Fox is outgoing, and won't be missed, I'm sure, but the sad thing is that incoming president Felipe Calderon may not be much better. From what I know, wages for work in Mexico are very little, and if Calderon doesn't make any attempt to raise them, the problems will continue.

Reliapundit adds: Industry and competition raise wages effectively, not the State - and Calderon is NOT a socialist, so I hope he doesn't interfere with the marketplace. However, Mexico is so very socialist - like France - a good move to the right will still leave them on the Left. And Left behind: ALL the nations which have lifted themselves out of poverty in the last two decades have done so by decreasing socialism and increasing freedom in the marketplace: Ireland; India; China; eastern Europe; Chile; etc. Mexico need lower taxes and less socialism if they want to improve their econopmy and reduce poverty. (They might start by privatizing Pemex and the oil industry.) And NOT by allowing Leftist rebels takeover their cities and states. HERE'S ANOTRHER REASON THE LEFT MUST BE SQUASHED IN MEXICO: The Left in Mexico may very well be ripe for collaboration with jihadoterrorists - as the Left already is in Venezuela.