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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | September 2006 
City Gov’t Says it Can’t Assure Security on Sept. 15
 El Universal
| | Supporters of presidential candidate for the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, try to break through a metal barricade constructed by police surrounding the Mexican Congress in Mexico City, on Friday, Sept. 1, 2006. (AP/Alexandre Meneghini) |
Looking tired and a bit bloated, Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Saturday declined to respond to President Vicente Fox’s televised address on Friday night.
“I don’t even want to talk about that traitor to democracy,” he said.
However, after 35 days camped out in Mexico City’s Zócalo, López Obrador revealed that he and Democratic Revolution Party leaders have received frequent telephone calls proposing dialogue.
“None of these calls have of fered specific proposals and, even worse, some have offered to pay us off to end this protest,” he said without offering further clarification.
“This in itself is a change,” he said. “We are refusing to negoti ate behind the backs of the public or return to the days of political payoffs.”
Meanwhile, the Mexico City government declared on Satur day that it will not take responsi bility for the security of President Fox during Independence Day celebrations in the Zócalo on Sept. 15.
Fox has insisted that he in tends to continue the much-revered tradition of standing on the balcony of the National Palace and emulating Fr. Miguel Hidalgo’s 1810 cry for independence. The annual cere mony has been staged late at night on Sept. 15 since the Porfiriato.
On Saturday, Mexico City Government Secretary Ricardo Ruiz said it is not the local gov ernment’s responsibility to re solve the ongoing protest that has resulted in encampments set up along five miles of downtown Mexico City avenues, as well as in the Zócalo.
“We will not use police forces to remove the protests and we have no idea when the López Obrador supporters might break down the encampments,” he said. “As such, we can offer no guarantees for the president’s security during Independence Day celebrations scheduled for Sept. 15 and 16.”
Ruiz did say the city government was willing to work with federal authorities to address the security issue. |
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