[mgj-discuss] Campesinos Attack the Mexican Congress

[Hendrik Voss]

Campesinos Attack the Mexican Congress

by Hector Carreon

La Voz de Aztlan

Tenochtitlan - December 11, 2002 - (ACN) Rivaling the crisis in Venezuela
and Argentina, thousands of well organized campesinos (agricultural
workers) stormed and broke into the Mexican Congress yesterday forcing
many of the congressmen to run for their lives and attempt to climb over
the security fence surrounding the Palacio Legislativo de San Lazaro. The
campesinos are in extreme desperation because of the worsening conditions
in the agricultural sectors of Mexico and the lack of forthcoming
solutions by the legislature.

Hundreds of the campesinos were able to penetrate into the congressional
building after first parking 6 tractors in the front entrance to the
building, spreading smelly manure and throwing rotten vegetables against
the walls. The group was accompanied by 4 pigs, two that had the names of

President Vicente Fox and of Secretary of Foreign Relations Jorge C.
Gutman. The campesinos were led by 14 "jinetes" (horseriders) carrying
Mexican flags.

Four of the horseriders along with scores of the campesinos broke the
glass facade, entered the building and headed towards the auditorium where
congress was in session. Despite promptings by the President of the
Mexican Congress, Beatriz Paredes Rangel, to the legislators to remain
calm, many panicked and ran to the back of the building where they
desperately tried to climb over the fence.

A spokesperson of the campesinos said "Esto fue sólo una probadita" which
translates into "This was just a little taste." A leader of the campesinos
said that the problems in the farms are now more profound than an ordinary
crisis. One yelled loudly, "¡ya estamos cansados de esperar soluciones que
no llegan!" ("we are tired of waiting for solutions that never come!")

After the storming of the Mexican Congress, the campesinos, last night,
divided themselves into groups and headed to form encampments in front of
the headquarters of the Bancomer, Banamex, Banorte and Fovi banks.

Mexico could be headed for another full blown armed revolution. If it was
not for immigration to the U.S. of many Mexican workers, the pressure on
the economic and political system of Mexico, would have long ago caused a
national explosion. Mexican workers in the US are now sending over 12
billion dollars a year of their wages to their families in Mexico.

Many Mexican analysts blame this situation on the economic globalization
policies of the USA and its support by the Fox Administration. Also, many
analysts point to the immense external debt that Mexico owes to the
international money lenders.

Argentina is now totally bankrupt because of its 30 billion external debt.
The country can not even pay the yearly interest payments and the death of
children of hunger is becoming more common. There are rumors in Mexico of
an impending mass devaluation of the peso. This could be the spark for
another Mexican revolution that would make the one in 1917 look like a
Sunday picnic. Mexicans are not like the Argentines.

The storming and temporary taker over of the Mexican Congress yesterday by
"los campesinos" is proof of this.


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This article along with a picture of a campesino on horseback inside the
Mexican Congress  and another of the congressmen panicking and attempting
to climb a fence are published at:

http://www.aztlan.net/campesinos.htm