MEXICO CITY — Several thousand protesters poured into the country’s capital late Thursday afternoon, on the 104th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution, to call for the return of 43 Ayotzinapa teachers college students who went missing Sept. 26 and for the government to address Mexico’s epidemic of violence. Students, indigenous tribe members, businessmen, housewives and many others expressed their anger at a government they view as deeply corrupt, with close ties to criminal organizations. “I’m here because we are in a crisis situation here in Mexico,” said Emma Obrador, a member of the Association of Women Embracing Mexico, a nongovernmental organization that works toward gender equality. “It is not just these 43 students who have disappeared. There have been thousands of people who have disappeared in the last decade. This is the issue we are pushing to the forefront today with this demonstration.” Others were even blunter, saying the narcotrafficking ties of the Iguala mayor who is said to have ordered the attack on the Ayotzinapa students is only the latest evidence that the government is heavily infiltrated by organized crime. “This narcogovernment — for that is what it is — approves of the narcotrafficking,” said 64-year-old Alicia Mercado. “This is not a democracy. Being a student here appears to be a much worse crime than being a narcotrafficker.” Marchers repeatedly counted off to 43, then shouted “Justice!” and called for an end to government corruption and immunity from prosecution. “What I’m looking for is an end to the way Mexico has traditionally done business since the 1970s, with its dirty war,” said Daniel Albarran, 37. “It has been a constant in our country, even as politicians come and go. We still end up with these kinds of situations.” bit.ly/1FeTeds
Posted on: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 02:57:43 +0000
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