Coalition of Workers, Peasants, and Students of the Isthmus
Encyclopedia
The Coalition of Workers, Peasants, and Students of the Isthmus (COCEI) is a Mexican
socialist political organization in Juchitán
, Oaxaca
. Founded in 1973/1974, it supports agrarian reform
, and workers rights. In 1981 it won municipal elections, after which it formed the first socialist city council in Mexico.
The COCEI was initially composed of indigenous Zapotec farmers and supported by portions of the local Juchitán society who were not in agreement with the government of the time. The COCEI was known for "organizing a discontented population" and linked to theories of democratic emergence and popular defense movements. Among the groups original goals, was securing changes to the electoral process in the Isthmus
region, making them more transparent, seeking agrarian reform, and engaging in union movements
for wage increases. The groups rapid expansion was noted as being due to its ability to diversify its goals and ideas and, through incorporating new sectors. In 1976, the COCEI won the election for the Communal Lands Commission.
In 1981, the COCEI won the municipal election in a coalition with the Unified Socialist Party of Mexico
(PSUM) and founded the Popular City Council with the goal of "rescuing Zapotec culture" and achieving urban development with autonomy. The Popular City Council, and the COCEI electoral win, constituted the first socialist city council in Mexico; COCEI member Leopoldo de Gyves became mayor of Juchitán. The COCEI made the Zapotec people the focus of the election, advertising in their language and promoting indigenous culture
. The ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party
(PRI) feared that the COCEI demands would create a "state within a state" through their actions. The Oaxaca state government began subordinating the Popular City Council, expropriating the functions of the city council to higher chambers of government. Rumors began to leak of the Popular City Council being linked to Guatemala
n and Nicaragua
n guerrilla fighters
, a smear campaign
began on TV, radio and news outlets, aldermen
were murdered and the army took up presence at the local city offices and municipal palace.
The Popular City Council however continued on with their social programs, starting literacy campaigns in shanty town
s, coordinating with the Independent University of Guerrero to found the preparatory school and the Popular Teacher Training College of the Isthmus, and to begin the Popular City Council Radio, which aired without the permission of the government. Municipal officials repaired streets, built and refurbished local health centers, created a public library and rebuilt city hall. On August 3, 1983, the ruling PRI government called an extraordinary session of the federal Chamber of Deputies, removing all municipal powers, officially removing recognition of the COCEI.
In response on August 6, a referendum was called by approximately 30,000 people from Juchitán. The result of the referendum was to continue to maintain the Popular City Council through self funding, despite of the governments attempts to dissolve the COCEI's control. On December 13, federal police officers and army soldiers evacuated the municipal palace, arresting 250 people. In response, thousands of people rallied at the city center, met by army units from Oaxaca and neighboring Veracruz
, 150 additional prisoners were taken, effectively dissolving the COCEI government.
With incoming President
Carlos Salinas de Gortari (1988-1994) came a shift in dealing with opposition groups. In 1989, the convertación social project was launched. The project offered economic and political support for opposition groups in exchange for a cessation of militancy, and a public acknowledgment of coexistence with the Salinas government. The COCEI accepted and from 1986 to 1989, the COCEI participated in a coalition city government alongside the ruling PRI party. In 1989 the COCEI again won the Juchitán municipal elections, ruling until 1992.
In 2007 the COCEI again won the municipal election, this time in a coalition with the Labor Party
.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
socialist political organization in Juchitán
Juchitán de Zaragoza
Juchitán de Zaragoza is an indigenous town in the southeast of the Mexican state of Oaxaca.It is part of the Juchitán District in the west of the Istmo de Tehuantepec region...
, Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
. Founded in 1973/1974, it supports agrarian reform
Agrarian reform
Agrarian reform can refer either, narrowly, to government-initiated or government-backed redistribution of agricultural land or, broadly, to an overall redirection of the agrarian system of the country, which often includes land reform measures. Agrarian reform can include credit measures,...
, and workers rights. In 1981 it won municipal elections, after which it formed the first socialist city council in Mexico.
Foundation
Isthmus of Tehuantepec
The Isthmus of Tehuantepec is an isthmus in Mexico. It represents the shortest distance between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, and prior to the opening of the Panama Canal was a major shipping route known simply as the Tehuantepec Route...
region, making them more transparent, seeking agrarian reform, and engaging in union movements
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
for wage increases. The groups rapid expansion was noted as being due to its ability to diversify its goals and ideas and, through incorporating new sectors. In 1976, the COCEI won the election for the Communal Lands Commission.
Municipal elections
Unified Socialist Party of Mexico
The Unified Socialist Party of Mexico was a far-left political party in Mexico. It later became the Mexican Socialist Party in 1988...
(PSUM) and founded the Popular City Council with the goal of "rescuing Zapotec culture" and achieving urban development with autonomy. The Popular City Council, and the COCEI electoral win, constituted the first socialist city council in Mexico; COCEI member Leopoldo de Gyves became mayor of Juchitán. The COCEI made the Zapotec people the focus of the election, advertising in their language and promoting indigenous culture
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
. The ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party
Institutional Revolutionary Party
The Institutional Revolutionary Party is a Mexican political party that held power in the country—under a succession of names—for more than 70 years. The PRI is a member of the Socialist International, as is the rival Party of the Democratic Revolution , making Mexico one of the few...
(PRI) feared that the COCEI demands would create a "state within a state" through their actions. The Oaxaca state government began subordinating the Popular City Council, expropriating the functions of the city council to higher chambers of government. Rumors began to leak of the Popular City Council being linked to Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n and Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
n guerrilla fighters
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
, a smear campaign
Smear campaign
A smear campaign, smear tactic or simply smear is a metaphor for activity that can harm an individual or group's reputation by conflation with a stigmatized group...
began on TV, radio and news outlets, aldermen
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
were murdered and the army took up presence at the local city offices and municipal palace.
The Popular City Council however continued on with their social programs, starting literacy campaigns in shanty town
Shanty town
A shanty town is a slum settlement of impoverished people who live in improvised dwellings made from scrap materials: often plywood, corrugated metal and sheets of plastic...
s, coordinating with the Independent University of Guerrero to found the preparatory school and the Popular Teacher Training College of the Isthmus, and to begin the Popular City Council Radio, which aired without the permission of the government. Municipal officials repaired streets, built and refurbished local health centers, created a public library and rebuilt city hall. On August 3, 1983, the ruling PRI government called an extraordinary session of the federal Chamber of Deputies, removing all municipal powers, officially removing recognition of the COCEI.
In response on August 6, a referendum was called by approximately 30,000 people from Juchitán. The result of the referendum was to continue to maintain the Popular City Council through self funding, despite of the governments attempts to dissolve the COCEI's control. On December 13, federal police officers and army soldiers evacuated the municipal palace, arresting 250 people. In response, thousands of people rallied at the city center, met by army units from Oaxaca and neighboring Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
, 150 additional prisoners were taken, effectively dissolving the COCEI government.
With incoming President
President of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
Carlos Salinas de Gortari (1988-1994) came a shift in dealing with opposition groups. In 1989, the convertación social project was launched. The project offered economic and political support for opposition groups in exchange for a cessation of militancy, and a public acknowledgment of coexistence with the Salinas government. The COCEI accepted and from 1986 to 1989, the COCEI participated in a coalition city government alongside the ruling PRI party. In 1989 the COCEI again won the Juchitán municipal elections, ruling until 1992.
In 2007 the COCEI again won the municipal election, this time in a coalition with the Labor Party
Labor Party (Mexico)
The Labor Party is a nationally recognized political party in Mexico. It was founded on December 8, 1990. The party is currently led by Alberto Anaya....
.