AM 2 OCTOBER 1968!

There are situations in life that should not happen, but they happen. There are things that should not happen and go. But our duty is to pass and was something of themselves and not the force of time and energy subtract them submit to oblivion. Such situations mentioned, some happen at the time, so that there is present a dynamic and leading to social change.

In Mexico, as in other countries, in the decade of the 60's, were several social events in nature that would come to take shape the perception of a different world: First happened in Czechoslovakia, then France and then in Spain. It was those moments of canmbios airs in humanity. The Cuba of the late 50's he had dared, in her same American continent, to oust Batista puppet regime and implement a social community.

That wave of incidents and events, began to provide a set of scenarios so superlative inquietarían young people from other parts of the world. The United States itself had to face riots and street protests in his great and powerful nation with a movement "hippie" than to show the world that through love, drugs and peace, it was possible to live: No to war killer of innocent and defenseless people and youth outside the tricks and interests of powerful politicians and wealthy!

Was this troubled world, a disorder, suitable to propose a different order and different from existing social process.

In Mexico, the Union of Railwaymen, electricians and protests by health professionals, were already driving and operating several years before 1968.

The Mexican government made several errors in its sociopolitical action and close the homes of students province, established in Mexico City and suspend economic aid via scholarships for youth in their schools (especially at the Polytechnic) , led a student uprising that would go to slaughter more vile, cowardly and disgraceful in the entire history of the country ...

Mexico, from those then, like any other country exploited by international imperialism, was not entitled to great participation even less respect for their most basic human rights. Everything flowed based on a large pink scenery, mounted by the mass media in open collusion with politicians in turn, they were the same with over forty years in power. The truth is that the people, as a whole, suffered much hunger and repression. The interests and concerns of the majority, did not have any political representation. The existing political parties, left no room for such social approaches outside vested interests and established: It was a great handling machinery and alienation!

People were very tired, sick and exhausted. Politicians and the wealthy, made and unmade at will, under the tint of honesty and respect, within a framework of "peaceful coexistence". Even had already been associated with the international mafias, to celebrate the XIX Olympic games, when the people lacked the basic necessities for survival: More than 3 million farmers without land to farm. Over 45% of illiterate. 40% of people without eating meat, fish, poultry, eggs or milk. 25% no modern calazado carry a lot of barefoot in their villages. 80% of the rural population could only taste food very low quality and balanced, once a day, and the diet was based tortilla, corn, beans and chili, as well they were doing. The monthly income of their salaries, was under one thousand dollars. There were millions of marginalized indigenous civilization. Many of them died of disease easily controlled elsewhere in the world.

Thus a student brawl between young high school and vocational Issac Ochoterena 5 of the National Polytechnic Institute, would give way to the 1968 student social movement.

I was a high school student Issac Ochoterena, went mate Felipe Muñoz, "the warm" Olympic gold medal in breaststroke of those games. Our school was a small school, aptly directed by two teachers, sisters, Magda and teacher Amanda Sanchez.

We were attacked by surprise one night in July. The facts are narrated in another text of the same blogg, in October last year: Never, never, never!

Now I would only add that for me, everything started from a montage cleverly planned and spontaneous anything dark and strange interests.

I remember, that came SAG extras, which was in front of my high school, where he went frequently to be selected to perform a role that would allow me to get some money. Suddenly, about ten young people mature, their backpacks Jacqueline was caught a few bottles and set them on fire, throwing them to the windows of the school, which was made of wood. They were already pursued by high school students Electricians' Union, which was up streets, as they also had gone on fire by launching Molotov cocktails. We pursue the attackers together and although a number greater than them, catch them at the side of the Government Secretariat, located on Calle Bucareli, we could not with them: They were armed with sticks and chains powering of a very neat and professional. Wore football helmets and various protections. They were retreating to achieve vocational facilities 5 and already there, were supported by some students of the polytechnic. We dispersed and ran to our respective schools. That was the first brawl and was conducted by the evening of July 21, 1968.

The next day was another confrontation escenificaría among high school students of the UNAM, that supposedly came to support us, against students from various vocational IPN. Apparently it was the Regent of the city, gave the order to the police chief for using the "Riot Police" intervene in the conflict and then derive all start cutting into a strictly political scenario. So it was and so it was done. And thus, it began the 1968 student movement in Mexico.

Now in hindsight, we should see that the XIX Olympic Games were in door and thus the eyes of the world on our Nation. What was a small group of leftist seudodirigentes eternally unemployed and were seen as a major scourge for Mexican burges system. What had many interests involved, to implement political reform that would provide space for dissidents and social activists. What a great repression lived in matters of free speech and free association. There was a lot of political prisoners (as leaders Demetrio Vallejo and Valentín Campa detainees at Lecumberri.) Of previous movements that sought to liberate all costs.

Most students, who really believed in what he was succeeding, that it was only fighting school on other occasions, we had already taken place, for example in a sporting event between the two rival educational institutions, major the country. But on this occasion it was not suddenly appeared a petition calling on the authorities disappearance Grenadier Group, dismissal of police chiefs and from there jumped, within hours, to freedom of political prisoners and the repeal of several items, the 145 and 145 bis of the Mexican Constitution who favored the crime of social dissolution, and the request for indemnification to the families of the wounded and dead from July 26.

The opinions of many sectors of the country, were swift and everyone gave the opinion that they thought best regarding the matter more complicated every day. I remember the face of anxiety and concern of the director of my high school principal, when interviewed on Mexican TV. The poor woman did not know how to answer about all that he was approaching.

Apparently, there was a whole political puzzle, which was unknown and began to cover parts abound everywhere. For now, all operated to "fishing in troubled river" ... Nobody brought anything, not explaining anything to anyone. Pure unsubstantiated opinions of anything loose.

After the student brawls and clashes entanglement that threw many injured and arrested, abounded marches and protests during the months of July, August and September. There was already by then, a great social unrest. The police forces and the army itself, which has already been integrated into submission and social repression, since July 30, attacked students in different scenarios and capital: Santo Tomas
(Place where they are and were some schools in the National InstitutoPolitécnico), University City, the Zocalo, San Ildefonso School (whose front door was blown up by an army Bazukaso), Avenida Juarez Bucareli Street, Palma, Madero, San Cosme and the Chamber of Benito Juarez ... The magazine "Why" was destroyed in all of its facilities by the repressive forces and their editors arrested for seditious and biased: They showed the army to launching the Bazukaso door of the school.

Apparently, the government was at a critical juncture, ably led by strategists who were driving the whole process merely student protest, into other courses that have not yet managed to fully decipher accurately.

The study that we watched, we watched with surprise as suddenly, began to emerge in several action committees of schools and faculties of the leading schools in the city and even there was a national strike committee is supposed, coordinated all the movement's actions in different states of the Mexican Republic.

They appeared very avesados ​​fellow in political issues we had never met before. All this was very interesting, we were teaching to participate in a sociopolitical process and how this could jeopardize the system and even modify it ... It was very awake fellow and very knowledgeable. But the bulk of the student body, was being led in a very skillful to achieve highly accurate and precise objectives for a small group of seudodirigentes (radishes, red on the outside but white on the inside), who waited only moments of negotiation with the authorities to realize their claims: It was nothing more or less, to press toward the opening of the Olympics and try to prevent them or make them feel that they could stop and get well, their dark goals and objectives ... The first September, the day of the presidential report, would be very helpful to know how they were and if they had reached the authorities turn it to date ...

On September the appearance of the President of the Republic in its report said: "We are confident that a level prevent any sporting event door at best be achieved brilliance restarles. Injury does not offend me (the ape and students told him the truth if it seemed), slander not hurt me. Visible forces both outside and inside, have influenced to try to increase the student conflict. defend the principles and braved the consequences ... We would not want to see us in case you do not want to take action, but we will if necessary. "

The base "student" and some intellectuals, who first told the President on August 1 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, said he held out his hand to restore peace and tranquility of conscience, then, a month away in his presidential report says it will launch a military force who threaten the social order: a hand extended, that apply the paraffin test ...

Perhaps the most important dates of the student struggle 68 were: The August 13 with the first protest march against the city authorities chime in Santo Tomas to Constitution Plaza. On Monday August 27th the march by attacks, arrests and approval peitorio specifications, from the Museum of Antropolgía with final stop at the Zocalo and the raising up in the middle of the red and black flag symbol of proletarian struggles. (On August 28, honoring the national flag by countless bureaucrats who shouted: "We will not take us! Let's not force us!). September 13" the Long March of Silence "to protest government policy in support of the list of demands and the need for public dialogue with the authorities, one of the slogans was: "Silence is more eloquent than words silenced the bayonets yesterday" ... On September 17 the Council National Strike wrote to the President of the Republic said: We reiterate the need for public dialogue again so as to achieve the final settlement and the six points from our list of demands. We would also remind you that the commitment of our country to organize the XIX Olympic Games, we require both parties to expedite the final resolution of the problem ... Interior THROUGH answered your Senior Officer: It took due note of the contents of the second paragraph of his letter. No realción clearly establishes that their application may have with the celebration of the Olympic Games ... I reiterate the government's decision to make use of legal resources for the games to operate smoothly and firmly resolved to defend the right having the Mexican people on its soil for the cultural sporting event in the world, as you call him, and make our nation meets with decorum, international commitment freely contracted. lived movement the most important moment of political activity. September 18, Tuesday, at 22 am. Taking University City facilities by the military and repressive forces of the Mexican intelligence service. everyone present were arrested and beaten with great violence. Ten thousand soldiers under Generals command of Gonzalo Castillo and José Hernández Toledo, led the invasorio operating, and illegal violation of the autonomy of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Rector Barros Sierra made public statements condemning toward dissenting students and teachers (sic!). The September 23 "The Night of St. Thomas." That day at midnight the army invaded polytechnic facilities in Santo Tomas. pupils resistance was quickly overcome by the high-powered weapons from the troops. The number of injuries and deaths was incalculable. Such student facilities were the main strongholds and centers meeting of all the leaders of the movement, after the military takeover of CU
October 2, 1968 (See text: Never, never, never!) March protesting the massacre of students at the hands of the repressive military and police forces. They depart from the Plaza de Tlatelolco and end in Santo Tomas, who was taken by the army. At the last minute, the National Strike Committee decided that to avoid provocation, the march would be changed by a rally in the Plaza of the Three Cultures in Tlatelolco ... not repeat the details of the infamous insults our young Mexicans (that information is in this very blogg as I mentioned), that were bordering a series of bloody confrontations that finally ended with his death through the decisions psychotic Mexican authorities when they knew, as well, about the true professional agitators of the movement ... and has been as it was, it was an outrage: Killing the innocent and most defenseless and real hope of any country!

Just one final consideration: if there was, in the 1968 student movement, and political trends found distant, especially in the crucial final phase: The student base was heavily forced into other courses that eventually exceed genuine and true positions of struggle that was becoming popular mass protest. Hence the change of place of the March, because in the Santa Maria la Rivera, where the Santo Tomas and facilities of the Polytechnic, having held the rally in that place, risks and losses, had been unimaginable, is a colony of countless dwellings everywhere and also facilitated the concealment of students. Then, it was much more practical, for what already had in mind, The Plaza of the Three Cultures, a plaza surrounded by buildings, one of which is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Church of Santiago Tlatelolco and several buildings, easily controlled by the troops and the bodies of assault. The Olympia Battalion, who was responsible for the slaughter-with-data from reliable sources, were drugged to carry out his felony that evening bloody and infamous ... And as usual, many of the seudodirigentes, mostly, were unharmed and well delivered, to the degree that still live and enjoy great privileges, embedded in political and academic positions of great importance in the country. Thus, the puzzle was completed on its front cover. But as in all Mexican puzzle, there are leftover pieces that fit or force and was pending on the cover sheet the trial (there was one false and framed!) The real culprits both executions as the mental strategies to use and annihilate those beautiful young people did believe in getting a better country for all Mexicans ... Unfortunately, it was, from my very personal point of view and from my research:
AM 2 OCTOBER 1968!