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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | July 2007 
Mexico Guerrilla Group Says Pemex Bombings 'In Self-Defense'
 Patrick Harrington - Bloomberg
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Mexico City - A Mexican guerrilla group that claimed responsibility for bomb attacks on natural gas pipelines owned by Mexico's state oil company this month said it acted "in self defense" in a new statement.
The group, the Popular Revolutionary Army, or EPR, said it is obligated to act against President Felipe Calderon's government because of its repression of popular movements. The group repeated its demand, made on July 10, that the government release two of its missing members.
"We are not criminals, and much less terrorists," the group said in its statement posted to a Web site yesterday used by guerrilla movements. "But up against the latent death threats against our members and the government's fascist offensive against the entire popular movement, we are obliged to exercise the legitimate right of self defense."
The group's statement suggests it may intend to make good on threats to continue its bombing campaign unless authorities release its members. The office of Mexico's attorney general said in a July 11 press release that no federal prison held the EPR members mentioned in a July 10 statement.
The EPR, which first appeared in the southern states of Oaxaca and Guerrero in 1996, alleged it had a cell in the state of Guanajuato in yesterday's statement.
Blasts
The July 10 blast in the central state of Queretaro damaged a 36-inch pipeline operated by state-owned oil monopoly Petroleos Mexicanos, cutting supplies to the cities of Guadalajara, Queretaro, Aguascalientes and Leon.
More than 100 companies in Mexico including automaker Nissan Motor Co. and cereal maker Kellogg Co. reduced or halted production.
The rebel group also claimed responsibility for two explosions July 5 on the same natural gas pipeline in Guanajuato state, which prompted the evacuation of 4,100 people.
Following the attacks Calderon vowed to step up military patrols of the country's "strategic institutions," according to an e-mailed statement.
Mexico's Interior Ministry promised to step up intelligence gathering related to the group.
To contact the reporter on this story: Patrick Harrington in Mexico City at pharrington8@bloomberg.net |
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