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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | August 2006 
Calderon Calls for Peace, Obrador Vows More Street Blockades
 Ioan Grillo - Associated Press
| | Supporters of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, presidential candidate for the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), protest outside the stock exchange building in Mexico City August 3, 2006. Hundreds of leftists protesting alleged fraud in a tight presidential election shut down Mexico's stock market building, although the demonstration had no impact on trading. The sign reads 'Vote for Vote and Poll for Poll'. (Reuters/Daniel Aguilar) |
Mexico City – Several hundred supporters of leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador blocked the entrance to Mexico's stock market early Thursday, as others were forced to temporarily relocate portions of a sprawling protest camp following heavy rains and hail that flooded several parts of the city.
Traders said the protests would not affect transactions, which are conducted electronically from brokerage offices. The market, which opened about 9 a.m. local time (1400 GMT), was operating at normal levels Thursday morning, with 6.4 million shares worth about 170 million pesos, (US$15.5 million; euro12.13 million).
Holding placards and yellow balloons representing the color of Lopez Obrador's leftist political party, the protesters pledged to continue disrupting everyday life in the capital until the country's Federal Electoral Tribunal rules on the candidate's request for a vote-by-vote recount that he says will expose fraud that tilted the race in favor of conservative rival Felipe Calderon.
“Through this pressure, we want leaders to understand that we want a different government,” said one of the supporters, 78-year-old housewife Carmen Arias, who sported a bumper sticker reading “I am also a danger,” a reference to Calderon's campaign ads that labeled Lopez Obrador as a threat to the country's stability. “Many governments don't understand the poor. They make the poor poorer and the rich, richer.”
Others banged drums and chanted “Vote by vote!”
Lopez Obrador ran his campaign on the theme of a government for everyone, “but first the poor.”
The official results from the July 2 election – which awaits the court's certification – gave Calderon, Mexico's former energy secretary, an advantage of less than 0.6 percent, or about 240,000 votes.
In a nationally televised address late Wednesday, Calderon called on “all Mexicans to safeguard peace and work together for a Mexico that's more prosperous and fair.”
“I have acted responsibly and not let myself be provoked because I firmly believe in the power of peace and because we won cleanly,” he said.
His comments came shortly after Lopez Obrador told supporters to continue blocking Mexico City's stylish Reforma Avenue and other streets and maintain a sprawling tent city in the capital's central plaza until the electoral court issues a ruling.
Some of the protesters were forced to temporarily relocate several tents after they were flooded out by heavy rains and hail storms that also caused flooding in other parts of the city late Wednesday.
Lopez Obrador, who stepped down as Mexico City's mayor to run for president, said that street blockades aside, no further civil resistance was planned until the court decides on the full recount. The Federal Electoral Tribunal has until Sept. 6 to declare a president-elect or annul the election, after weighing challenges filed by both sides.
President Vicente Fox and a congressional committee has urged city officials to intervene to stop the disruptive protests. |
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