Plenty of Blame to Go Around for Turmoil in Mexico's Oaxaca

Guadalajara, MEXICO -- The tense situation that appears close to resolution in Oaxaca, Mexico, began in May with a teachers' strike, a fairly regular event. But with the unleashing of an authoritarian crackdown the following month on the striking teachers, it descended into an open revolt against the governor of one of the Republic's poorest and most corrupt states. The nearly six months of unrest has left at least 16 people dead and the state economy in shambles. And while some of the parties in the conflict -- namely the teachers and a left-wing group backing their demands -- have drawn some sympathy, seemingly everyone involved shares a portion of the responsibility for the debacle.

"It's not that one side is completely clean and the other completely violent," said Fred Rosen, a columnist with The Herald Mexico. ...