Oaxaca, Mexico Striking teachers and other protesters took over Uaxaca al the end of August as violence raged through the city centre. The struggle intensified when PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party government officials tried to evict an encampment of teachers. In response to the violence inflicted on the strikers, a movement called APPO (Popular People's Assembly of Oaxaca) has been formed as a broad coalition in defense of the strikers. Talks are now underway between the Mexican government and the teachers with no results as we go to press. Colombo, Sri The Sri Lankan government has denied accusations by aid groups of murdering, "execution style", 17 aid workers in a battle with the Tamil Tigers in August. The mostly Tamil strike. Having withdrawn their original demand of a 13 percent basic pay rise and $30,000 in bonuses, they appear ready to accept a 5 percent rise and $17,000 in bonuses. Guatemala City, The Guatemalan government announced a "suspension of constitutional rights", called a "state of prevention" in five cities along its Mexican border, supposedly in an effort to stop drug trafficking. This has allowed the government to suspend meetings and stop all political demonstrations, while extending police stop and
CUTE Striking teachers in Oaxaca Dozens of members of the CFMEU (Construction, Forestry and Mining Union) appeared in court in late August charged with fines of up to 20,000 Australian dollars each for participating in a February strike due to the passing of recent laws which make individuals liable when taking action -effectively outlawing strikes. The railworkers were joined by members of other trade unions, which represent public and hospitality employees in a rally outside the federal court in Perth to oppose the charges brought, not by the company, but by the Australian Building and Construction Commission. U3, JAMAS SERA VENDI