Mexican farmers and transporters confirm “an indefinite strike” in 20 states starting Monday
Farmers and transporters return to the streets. The National Front for the Rescue of the Mexican Countryside and the National Association of Transporters in Mexico have confirmed that they are going to start blockades on roads and strategic factors in 20 states of the nation on Monday to protest “the serious situation” confronted by the countryside and meals transportation. The organizations affirm that they face a “crisis that threatens supply and prices”, derived from “insecurity on the roads” and “lack of financing and support”. The strike begins on Monday, however has been referred to as “indefinitely.” The Confederation of Industrial Chambers and the National Chamber of Cargo Transportation have distanced themselves from the blockade to prioritize dialogue with the Government. The Ministry of the Interior has denied that there are “reasons” to exhibit.
It lasted 4 months the truce between the Government of Claudia Sheinbaum and the countryside. After the conflict on the finish of November, farmers and transporters have come collectively once more to demand higher situations. In their assertion this Sunday, the 2 organizations acknowledge that this week that they had conferences with the president’s personal secretary, however that “they did not have precise positive responses”: “Months after starting the dialogue with the Government of Mexico, the issue not only is it not resolved but it deepens”.
The Government has rejected the fact that no progress has been recorded: “From November to this point, 3,412 million pesos had been obtainable to compensate grain costs for greater than 40,910 producers who’ve been immediately supported. No one has been denied help.” The federal agency has stated that they have also reached an agreement with Sinaloa producers for the next harvest and that the points of insecurity on the roads are already being addressed with the National Guard.
However, this is not enough for farmers. The National Front for the Rescue of the Mexican Countryside and the National Association of Transporters in Mexico demand the “deactivation of checkpoints that are points of police extortion (San Roberto, Nuevo León; San Blas, Nayarit; La Venta, Tabasco and San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora)”, the continuous patrol of the National Guard on federal highways, more cameras and alert buttons, the creation of a specialized prosecutor’s office for the reporting of heavy cargo transportation crimes and “immediate support to widows and orphans of colleagues killed by organized crime on highways.”
Regarding economic aid, they seek to “remove basic grains from the USMCA and stop indiscriminate imports”, establish “fair prices” that allow them to recover costs and create a development bank for the countryside. In addition, the organizations demand an “urgent” meeting directly with President Claudia Sheinbaum.
On this occasion, the transporters have not maintained the internal cohesion, which had been common in other protests. Thus, in addition to Concamin (Confederation of Industrial Chambers), four chambers and associations of freight and passenger transportation have disassociated themselves from the megablockade. “We recognize that the sector faces relevant challenges, however, the appropriate way to address it is permanent dialogue, institutional dialogue and coordination with the competent authorities, avoiding actions that affect citizens, supply chains and the economic development of the country,” they released in a statement this Sunday, where they prioritize dialogue tables, because that is “where effective and sustainable solutions can be built.”
This position has been celebrated by the Ministry of the Interior: “The majority of organizations have determined to not mobilize. However, with none motive, there are some that preserve their place regardless that there aren’t any causes affecting third events.” Even so, the federal company has acknowledged that it stays open to dialogue this Monday.
