Mexico in Unrest Over Gas Price Hikes, 600+ Arrested
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[quote]Anger over gasoline prices hikes in Mexico fueled more protests and looting Thursday, and officials said the unrest had resulted in the death of a policeman and a bystander, the ransacking of 300 stores and arrests of over 600 people.
The country's business chambers said the combination of highway, port and terminal blockades and looting this week forced many stores and businesses to close and threatened supplies of basic goods and fuel.
Mexicans were enraged by the 20 percent fuel price hike announced over the weekend as part of a government deregulation of the energy sector. Protesters began blocking highways and gas stations and some people have broken into stores to carry off merchandise.
Authorities said one policeman was run over and killed and another was seriously injured when they tried to stop robberies at a gas station in Mexico City. Police in the capital said they had arrested 76 people for looting about 29 stores.
In the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, a pickup truck trying to flee police during a store looting ran over a pedestrian, killing him, officials said.
Veracruz Gov. Miguel Angel Yunes Linares ventured out Thursday and tried to persuade a crowd not to attack a grocery store that had already been looted a day earlier. He offered the crowd coupons for 500 pesos ($23.25) if they would desist from looting.
In Mexico State, which borders Mexico City, 430 people had been detained as suspected looters. Four state police officers were fired and detained after they were caught on video taking some looted items and putting them in their patrol vehicles.
With blockades affecting everything from gas distribution terminals, seaports and highways to shopping centers and gas stations, the Communications and Transport Department announced it would cancel permits for any truckers who block roads.
Truck and taxi drivers have been among the most affected by the fuel price increases, which took effect as the government ends regulated prices for gasoline and diesel, which it says represented subsidies that unduly benefited wealthier Mexicans.
The change boosted the average price for a liter of premium gasoline to 17.79 pesos (about 90 cents). 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 — 80 pesos (about $4).
President Enrique Pena Nieto said Wednesday that he would try to help groups hit hard by the increases.
"I understand the anger and irritation felt by the general public" over the price increases, Pena Nieto said. But, he added, "If this decision had not been taken, the effects and consequences would have been far more painful."
The Mexican Council of Bishops urged the government to reconsider the price increases, which it said especially hurt the poor.
"One has to be sensitive to the daily needs of the people," the bishops said in a statement. "It is not right to impose laws without taking into account peoples' realities and their feelings."
But the bishops also called on protesters to stop looting and "use peaceful and creative means to express their feelings."
The National Association of Self-Service and Department Stores of Mexico said in a statement Wednesday night that more than 79 stores had been looted and 170 were closed or blockaded in central Mexico, including the capital.[/quote]
[url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/1787c5bf84bd4b5ca5beb9be1766b1d3]AP[/url]
Damn. Shows no matter where you are; you don't fuck with gas prices.
With all the stuff going on with oil producing nations in Central and South America, wouldn't be shocked if everything burns down.
I think it's retarded how deputies just had a motherfucking bonus of over $350,000 MXN each and then government pulls of shit like this and expect people not to get mad about it.
[QUOTE=TheNerdPest14;51629362]Damn. Shows no matter where you are; you don't fuck with gas prices.[/QUOTE]
i read somewhere that it would take only $6/gallon in USA for it to cause massive civil unrest, like agencies somehow came to that number. wasn't far off when the average was like 4.20
[QUOTE=sYnced;51629950]i read somewhere that it would take only $6/gallon in USA for it to cause massive civil unrest, like agencies somehow came to that number. wasn't far off when the average was like 4.20[/QUOTE]
Seems pretty much certain to happen if it's that expensive. Imagine the impact that would have on the price of goods. Can't imagine things are going to go smoothly under this new administration.
[QUOTE=Biotoxsin;51630066]Seems pretty much certain to happen if it's that expensive. Imagine the impact that would have on the price of goods. Can't imagine things are going to go smoothly under this new administration.[/QUOTE]
i'll be astonished if the president-elect isn't SOLELY blamed for gas prices hikes (like the previous administration) that are inevitable to come next few years.
Considering that we have what, an Exxon CEO going into a top position? The blame will make it's way around for the whole admin. in educated circles. Hard to know how most people will feel though.
To give some insight in why this is such a big deal.
Mexico has ridiculously low salaries per gas price, the minimum wage being about a dollar per hour, while an U.S. citizen has to work around 5 minutes for a liter of gasoline, a mexican has to work around an hour and a half
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