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, "ˇya 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.