Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had contact or discussion with the Mexican Embassy in Dublin regarding the ongoing human rights abuses by Mexican federal and state police forces in Oaxaca; and if he will raise this issue in view of protests that have left approximately 15 people dead, 200 arrested, over 30 disappeared and 150 seriously wounded. [4341/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The situation to which the Deputy refers concerns a state of civil unrest in Oaxaca in southern Mexico, which began with a strike by teachers in May 2006. This strike subsequently developed into a prolonged and increasingly violent and politicised protest whose objectives included removing the elected State Governor. The immediate consequence was the occupation by the protesters of the main square in the city centre.

Following an unsuccessful attempt by state police in June to evict striking teachers from the main square, the protest was enlarged under an umbrella organisation called the 'Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca' (APPO). The protest group took control of Oaxaca city centre in June, bringing the local government in the city to a virtual standstill, erecting barricades, blockading local businesses and burning state-owned buildings.

The Mexican Federal Government held a series of talks involving representatives of the state government and APPO, and using the good office of both the UN High Commission for Human Rights and the local Catholic Dioceses, in an attempt to broker a peaceful resolution. These talks were unsuccessful and, following further rioting, about 4,000 federal police were deployed in October 2006 to restore order. Estimates as to the precise number of people killed, injured, arrested and disappeared during the troubles in Oaxaca vary, but are believed to be in the region of those posited by the Deputy in his question.

The situation in Oaxaca has now stabilised and the withdrawal of federal police, which began in December, is expected to be completed shortly.

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. The EU Presidency in Mexico City has raised the situation in Oaxaca with the Mexican Federal Government, and EU missions have met with local human rights activists to hear their perspectives on the difficult situation there. Our Embassy in Mexico is keeping the situation in Oaxaca under review, while EU Member States and the European Commission are working with federal and local governments in Mexico to seek to improve governance and respect for human rights in the area.