Social Organizations Slam Anti-Protest Bill in Mexico

Eldonita de Ivan Martínez
2014-12-04 14:42:25

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Mexico City, December 4 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Less than 24 hours after the Mexican Chamber of Deputies approved the “Universal Mobility” bill, social organizations criticized on Wednesday the legislative draft and warned that it only aims to ban mass demonstrations.

“We are concerned that amid the human rights crisis the country is going through, the response of the Mexican state is send a message to inhibit social protests… Congress is debating a law that is most likely regulating demonstrations,” said Carlos Ventura, a human rights defender, during a press conference in Mexico City.

Ventura was referring to the mass protests in support of the missing 43 Ayotzianapa students, who were disappeared September 26th.

The bill, which was proposed by the National Action Party (PAN) and supported by the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico, was sent to the Senate, although it is not clear when it will be voted on at the upper house.

If the new law is finally approved, the State will have the ability to “repress” or prohibit demonstrations if these are determined to inhibit the “universal right to mobility,” according to leftist lawmakers who voted against it.

“Our protests are peaceful, energetic and with demands, both always pacific and legal. This bill is a limitation and a warning to tell us not to take to the streets,” said Ignacio del Valle, member of the People’s Land Defense Front.

Meanwhile, as the Mexican lawmakers appear to be trying to ban demonstrations, the dean of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the most important university of Mexico, Jose Narro, urged students and Mexican youth to develop new methods to pressure government for major changes.

“Mexico needs to stop and debate collectively to face major challenges like violence, corruption, inequity and poverty,” said Narro at the Science and Arts awards, in Mexico City.



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