Mexico City, June 4 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Social movements in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero claimed on Wednesday that the town of Tixla is under a “state of siege” by federal police who have “surrounded” the town.

Activists suspect the police are planning an operation to occupy the Ayotzinapa teachers' training college, located just outside the town of Tixla. “The harassment of the federal forces is increasing, they show off their officers (or part of them) as they 'pass' near the Ayotzinapa school, no doubt they are planning something against our school, but we will defend it,” read a post on the social media account run by organizers at the school.

The Ayotzinapa teachers' training college became known worldwide after 43 of its students were forcibly disappeared in September. Federal police also blocked the highway between Tixla and the capital of Guerrero state, Chilpancingo, preventing activists and relatives of the missing students from reaching the city.

The police blockade resulted in clashes between demonstrators and the police. Activists also reported a large military and police presence in the nearby town of Chilapa. Relatives of the disappeared students along with activists from the Ayotzinapa school have declared their support to a widespread boycott of Sunday's midterm elections.

Activists said they were stopped from reaching Chilpancingo to prevent them from joining actions held in the state capital to denounce the holding of elections under the present circumstances. Trade unions, social movements, and activists throughout Mexico are participating in a boycott of the elections, due to allegations that politicians and their parties in the country have ties to organized crime and beholden to their interests.

“Many of those who are seeking public office have ties with organized crime groups,” said Omar Garcia, a student from the Ayotzinapa college who has played a leading role in the struggle to locate the missing students.

These elections are seen as an important test for the government of President Enrique Peña Nieto, whose support has plummeted since his election in 2012 due to scandals, stalled reforms, and his handling of the forcibly disappeared students. A low turn-out for Sunday's elections will further undermine the president's legitimacy.

The head of the Mexican National Electoral Institute, Lorenzo Cordova, admitted that actions in support of the election boycott in the state of Oaxaca have made it impossible for the institute to conduct its work in that state.