Cindy Hoover and Jo Ellen Reaves are staying in Puebla with Jerry and Vicki Love, says Curt Peterson, executive minister of the Department of World Mission. Laura Rodriguez is staying with Karl and Sue Peterson in Mexico City.
Violence has escalated in Oaxaca much faster than the missionaries expected following several days of conflict between Mexican federal police and protestors demanding the removal of Oaxaca Gov. Ulises Ruiz.
The governor is accused of rigging the 2004 election to win office and organizing bands of thugs to attack dissidents. At least eight people have died in the conflict, mostly protesters shot by police or armed gangs. The embassies of the United States, Canada, Britain, France and Germany all have issued advisories warning their citizens to avoid traveling to the region.
Hoover and Reaves were able to drive out of the city when federal police secured the highway leading north out of Oaxaca on Wednesday. Short-term missionary Laura Rodriguez left Oaxaca by airplane at noon Thursday – the last flight to leave before the airport was officially closed.
Leah Sander, daughter of Covenant missionaries Gary and Mary Lou Sander, has been studying in Oaxaca in a program with the University of California-Davis. She had already left Oaxaca with the study group three days ago and is reported safe.
“Jo Ellen and I had to quickly leave today as the ongoing civil unrest rapidly escalated and started to envelop our neighborhood,” Hoover wrote in an email to friends. “We are thankful to have been able to drive out (the road had been barricaded until yesterday evening) as that made it possible to bring my dog with me.
“As we were leaving, there were several fires going on in the outskirts of our neighborhood, unknown young men with masks roaming in our neighborhood with clubs, rocks, and Molotov cocktails, and riot police marching down the walkway on the edge of our neighborhood,” Hoover continues. “Helicopters were circling low over our houses. It was obvious we needed to leave quickly. We really didn’t expect this type of rapid escalation.
“I’m having a hard time processing all of this right now, but please pray for peace and safety for those who couldn’t leave,” Hoover asks. “But most important, pray that there will be a voice for reconciliation and peace.”
