The trade unions and the National Regeneration Movement (Morena) are being mobilized to strangle the growing movement against cuts in gas subsidies.

More... (http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/01/06/mexi-j06.html)

At Least 4 Killed, 700 Arrested in Mexico Gas Protests

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Demonstrators hold up placards during a protest against the rising prices of gasoline enforced by the Mexican government at the Macroplaza in Monterrey, Mexico, Jan. 5, 2017. | Photo: Reuters

Published 6 January 2017 (2 hours 1 minutes ago)

Mexicans continue to rage against the president's neoliberal reforms and high gas prices.

Protests over a double-digit hike in gasoline prices in Mexico continue in at least 22 states of the country, officials said on Friday, as they confirmed that the wave of violent lootings and blockades has left three people dead and at least 700 arrested.

Business leaders estimate that some 1,000 shops and companies have been looted or vandalized this week as others closed over fears of being robbed.

Protesters argue that the government’s decision to raise fuel prices by up to 20 percent has no justification in an oil-rich country, but the government insists that the move responds to international prices and not a result of the government’s neoliberal reforms.

On Thursday night President Enrique Peña Nieto used a nationally televised New Year's address to defend the increase, again.

"It is a difficult change but as president it is precisely my responsibility to take difficult decisions in the present to avoid major problems in the future," said Peña Nieto, whose approval rating has fallen below 23 percent.

The unpopular leader said that keeping the same prices would have cost the government US$9.3 billion, forcing the suspension of health care and welfare programs.

"I ask you, what would you have done?" he said.

While acknowledging the widespread anger, Peña Nieto said he would forge ahead with the liberalized or deregulated price scheme, which removes fuel subsidies and allow gasoline prices to be determined by prevailing international prices.

Meanwhile the state-run oil company PEMEX has denounced blockades on roads that give access to fuel storage terminals and has warned that if the situation continues it could trigger a crisis of shortages and aggravate the problem.

Some have speculated that the looting and vandalism has been led by allegedly "infiltrated" groups, in a move that staunch critics of Peña Nieto's administration claim is intended to create chaos in the country and undermine social protests, setting the basis for the targeting of activists as criminals.

The increases, which applied to both gasoline and diesel, will subsequently raise food, transportation and other costs, analysts warn.

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/At-Least-4-Killed-700-Arrested-in-Mexico-Gas-Protests-20170106-0010.html

Video at link.

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Gasoline Hikes Lead to Food Shortages in Mexico

http://www.telesurtv.net/__export/1483544026227/sites/telesur/img/news/2017/01/04/protest_pemex.jpg_1718483346.jpg
Protesters block the entrance to a Pemex gas station as they burn tires during a protest against the rising prices of gasoline, January 3, 2017. | Photo: Reuters

Published 4 January 2017

This has interrupted the shipping of vegetables, grains, meat and fruits to supermarkets, sparking outrage among Mexicans.

Shortages of food and basic products are being reported throughout Mexico as thousands of people have blocked fuel stations and roads across the country to protest sharp increases in gasoline prices, local press outlets reported Wednesday.

Trade and transportation leaders warned that since there are no official fares in freight transport it is impossible for them to increase fares in the same proportion as the government has increased the price of gasoline and diesel.

Both sectors have had to negotiate new prices and this has interrupted the shipping of vegetables, grains, meat and fruits to power stations and supermarkets, La Jornada reports.

Mexican officials argue that the hike on fuel prices conforms to a policy of the gradual liberalization of fuel prices that took effect at the start of January. The price of oil rose Sunday by as high as 20.1 percent to 88 cents per liter, with diesel at 83 cents.

The price hikes have caused widespread public backlash, with multiple protests against President Peña Nieto. The crisis has deepened due to gasoline hoarding, which has caused supply shortages in many states.

Still, Peña Nieto has promised that fuel prices would eventually decrease due to his 2014 neoliberal energy reform that ended nearly seven decades of sovereign rule over energy resources by state-run oil company Pemex.

Hundreds of gas terminals have reportedly decided to stop operating, fearing possible risks to the stations due to protests. The president will address his country on Wednesday when he returns from his Christmas vacation.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands continue to protest the across of the country over gas price hikes, but also over the government's failure to address the critical living conditions of millions of poor across Mexico.

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Gasoline-Hikes-Lead-to-Food-Shortages-in-Mexico-20170104-0011.html

Mexico Gas Protests, Looting, Leave 6 Dead, 1,500 Arrested

http://www.telesurtv.net/__export/1483799526238/sites/telesur/img/news/2017/01/07/mex_macro.jpg_1718483346.jpg
A man urges fellow demonstrators to calm down during a protest against the rising gas prices enforced by the Mexican government, at the Macroplaza in Monterrey, Mexico. | Photo: Reuters

Published 7 January 2017

Some have speculated that the looting and vandalism has been led by "infiltrated" groups, in a move that seeks to undermine social protest and criminalize activists.
Authorities have arrested more than 1,500 people in Mexico in the wake of a wave of lootings and protests across the country in response to a double-digit hike in gasoline prices, the Interior Ministry reported on Saturday.

So far six people have been killed and business leaders estimate that more than 1,000 shops and companies have been looted or vandalized this week as others closed over fears of being robbed.

Officials said they’re conducting a “cyber investigation” to detect accounts on social networks that spread rumors and calls to act outside the law.

However, some have speculated that the looting and vandalism has been led by "infiltrated" groups, in a move that staunch critics of President Enrique Peña Nieto's administration claim is intended to create chaos in the country and undermine social protest, setting the basis for the targeting of activists as criminals.

Peña Nieto’s government hiked gasoline prices by 20 percent on the first day of 2017 and all hell broke loose, he insists that the move responds to international prices and not a result of his neoliberal reforms.

The change boosted the average price for a liter of premium gasoline to almost a dollar. That makes 4 liters, or about a gallon, equal to nearly as much as Mexico's just raised minimum wage for a day's work, about US$4.

For a week tens of thousands of protesters have poured into the streets of several cities, including Mexico City and second most important city Monterrey, arguing that the government’s decision to raise fuel prices by up to has no justification in an oil-rich country.

"It is a difficult change but as president it is precisely my responsibility to take difficult decisions in the present to avoid major problems in the future," said Peña Nieto, whose approval rating has fallen below 23 percent.

The infamous leader said that keeping the same prices would have forced the suspension of health care and welfare programs.

"I ask you, what would you have done?" he said.


While acknowledging the widespread public anger, Peña Nieto said he would forge ahead with the liberalized or deregulated price scheme, which removes fuel subsidies and allow gasoline prices to be determined by the market.

The increases, which applied to both gasoline and diesel, will raise food, transportation and other costs, analysts have warned.

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Mexico-Gas-Protests-Looting-Leave-6-Dead-1500-Arrested-20170107-0007.html

Video at link.

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Gasoline Hikes Lead to Food Shortages in Mexico

http://www.telesurtv.net/__export/1483544026227/sites/telesur/img/news/2017/01/04/protest_pemex.jpg_1718483346.jpg
Protesters block the entrance to a Pemex gas station as they burn tires during a protest against the rising prices of gasoline, January 3, 2017. | Photo: Reuters

Published 4 January 2017

This has interrupted the shipping of vegetables, grains, meat and fruits to supermarkets, sparking outrage among Mexicans.
Shortages of food and basic products are being reported throughout Mexico as thousands of people have blocked fuel stations and roads across the country to protest sharp increases in gasoline prices, local press outlets reported Wednesday.

Trade and transportation leaders warned that since there are no official fares in freight transport it is impossible for them to increase fares in the same proportion as the government has increased the price of gasoline and diesel.

Both sectors have had to negotiate new prices and this has interrupted the shipping of vegetables, grains, meat and fruits to power stations and supermarkets, La Jornada reports.

Mexican officials argue that the hike on fuel prices conforms to a policy of the gradual liberalization of fuel prices that took effect at the start of January. The price of oil rose Sunday by as high as 20.1 percent to 88 cents per liter, with diesel at 83 cents.

The price hikes have caused widespread public backlash, with multiple protests against President Peña Nieto. The crisis has deepened due to gasoline hoarding, which has caused supply shortages in many states.

Still, Peña Nieto has promised that fuel prices would eventually decrease due to his 2014 neoliberal energy reform that ended nearly seven decades of sovereign rule over energy resources by state-run oil company Pemex.

Hundreds of gas terminals have reportedly decided to stop operating, fearing possible risks to the stations due to protests. The president will address his country on Wednesday when he returns from his Christmas vacation.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands continue to protest the across of the country over gas price hikes, but also over the government's failure to address the critical living conditions of millions of poor across Mexico.

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Gasoline-Hikes-Lead-to-Food-Shortages-in-Mexico-20170104-0011.html

Video at link.

Parents of the 43 of Ayotzinapa join the protests against the "gasolinazo"

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More and more social organizations are joining the demonstrations against the increase in the price of gasoline. | Photo: Reuters.

Published 16 January 2017 (9 hours 4 minutes ago)

The parents also called to march next January 26 in Mexico City, to demand the presentation with life of the 43 normalists.

Parents of 43 of Ayotzinapa decided to join the protests taking place for weeks in Mexico, against the rise in fuel prices, so called to appear to also demand the live presentation of the normalistas.

"It is an injustice to raise prices for gasoline, the basic food basket, fuel, gas and electricity," said the representative of the parents, Melitón Ortega.

Ortega and the other representatives summoned the social organizations to also join the protests, to request that they not increase the costs of basic products for the Mexicans.

"The increase harms all Mexicans , " said Ortega, who reported that the National People 's Congress (NPC) that identifies parents and 16 state and national organizations, agreed to take action against the so - called " gasolinazo ".

In addition, the ANP called the people to march next January 26 in Mexico City, where there will be a rally at the Office of the Attorney General (PGR) to demand the presentation with the lives of the 43 students.

http://www.telesurtv.net/export/sites/telesur/img/multimedia/2017/01/16/636200439630268732.jpg_1447114325.jpg
Dozens of people demonstrated on Saturday at the border customs of Garita de San Ysidro, in the city of Tijuana. Photo: Efe.

Mexicans have been protesting the increases for more than 14 days, despite announcements by the government of Enrique Peña Nieto this week of a family economy agreement and a package of social support actions to mitigate the impact of the crisis. measure.

This Sunday the teachers also made a call to stay organized to bring down the structural reforms promoted by the Mexican president, among which are energy and educational.

In addition, teachers blocked the Oaxaca-Cuacnopalan highway and another organization took one of the gas stations in downtown Oaxaca, capital of the homonymous state.


Peña Nieto has described the increases, preceding the liberalization of prices in the sector, as a "painful but responsible" measure, because Mexico was over , "the goose that lays golden eggs" and no longer produces as much oil as it does some years.

http://www.telesurtv.net/news/Padres-de-los-43-de-Ayotzinapa-se-unen-a-las-protestas-contra-el-gasolinazo-20170116-0003.html

Google Translator

For all of the gringo arrogance the Mexican people are more politically aware and active than USAians. While this is largely a matter of the economic environment which they suffer I think there a cultural component too and maybe that is the reduced influence of Calvin and Locke. Could it be that the massive push of Evangelical Protestantism in Latin America got something to do with this?