Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the situation in Mexico where mass electoral fraud has been alleged in the recent presidential election of Mr. Felipe Calderon; and if he has alerted or intends to contact the Mexican Ambassador in Dublin to express concern regarding the lack of transparency in this election. [34510/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Given the disputed outcome of the Mexican Presidential election on 2 July, the European Union, and Ireland nationally, expressed no immediate view on the result pending the completion of the relevant processes under Mexican law, although an EU Election Observation Mission concluded that the conduct of the election had been fair. Following the definitive ruling of the Mexican Federal Electoral Tribunal on 5 September declaring Mr Felipe Calderon the winner of the election, the European Union conveyed its congratulations to the President-Elect and urged all Mexicans to work for the future development of the country and respect the framework of its democratic institutions. The Taoiseach has written to Mr Calderon to convey his congratulations and to wish him success in confronting the important challenges which Mexico will face over the coming years, not least those issues which have been highlighted by the long election process. I shall not be raising the conduct of the election with the Mexican Ambassador in Dublin.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing situation in Oaxaca in Mexico where peaceful legitimate protestors have been intimidated, kidnapped and killed; and if he will contact the Mexican Ambassador in Dublin regarding these incidents to highlight and put pressure on the Mexican Government to prevent an escalation of such human rights abuses. [34511/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The situation to which the Deputy refers concerns an ongoing state of unrest in Oaxaca in southern Mexico. In May 2006, an initially peaceful teachers' pay-related strike developed into an increasingly violent and politicised protest, with protesters forming the Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca (APPO, or the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca). APPO took control of the centre of the city, as well as the local radio and television station, bringing the state government to a virtual standstill within the city. APPO has stated that it will only agree to negotiations aimed at ending the protest and reopening the state's 14,000 schools if the democratically elected state governor, Ulises Ruiz, is removed from power. At least five people are known to have been killed during the course of the protests.

The Mexican Government has been making intensive efforts to resolve peacefully the situation in Oaxaca. Most recently, on 10 October, lengthy negotiations were held in Mexico City between representatives of the government, teachers' union and APPO, at which it was agreed that the state and municipal police could resume their patrols in Oaxaca city under federal command. The teachers' representatives also agreed to consult regarding the reopening of schools, halting their strike and ending the occupation of the city centre. However, the subsequent rejection of these agreements by the protesters on 11 October sparked a fresh wave of violence, forcing the postponement of an assessment visit by the Mexican Senate.

I am satisfied that the Mexican Government is working to bring about a peaceful and democratic end to the state of unrest, with incumbent President Vicente Fox highlighting the resolution of the dispute as one of his priorities before the completion of his term in office on 1 December. Ireland, along with our European Union partners, monitors and regularly discusses with the Mexican authorities the human rights situation in Mexico and the fulfilment of their obligations under international law. I have asked our Embassy in Mexico to keep the situation under review.