Federal and state forces were successful today in reopening highways in 15 locations in the state of Oaxaca after removing blockades erected by protesting teachers and their allies.

Nine people were arrested in connection with acts of vandalism and looting after 3,000 members of federal and state police were deployed to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec by air and land.

Among the highways that were freed was that which provides access to the Pemex refinery at Salina Cruz, allowing 50 tanker trucks to reach the plant and take on propylene gas, stocks of which were becoming dangerously high.

Officials feared that pressure created by the excess inventory could result in a leak and create an environmental emergency.

There were confrontations with protesters at six of the blockades but in others, such as Nochixtlán, Huajuapan de León and Hacienda Blanca, there was no resistance from those mounting the barricades.

Still under control of protesters are the Vidrio, Teotitlán de Flores Magón, San Juan Guichicovic, Matías Romero and the bus terminal in Puerto Escondido.

The state’s Public Security Secretary, Jorge Ruiz, said many of the blockades were manned by pressure groups and urged the CNTE teachers’ union, which had called for the blockades, to distance itself from organizations whose purpose was to commit acts of vandalism.

He said the presence of organized crime elements was also detected at some blockades.

Source: Milenio (sp)