- Title: Mexico gas price hike spurs looting, blockades as unrest spreads
- Date: 5th January 2017
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (JANUARY 5, 2017) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF DEMONSTRATORS AGAINST GASOLINE PRICE RISE MARCHING TOWARD PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE "LOS PINOS" VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS WITH MARCHING WITH POSTERS AND MEXICAN FLAGS GENERAL VIEW OF MARCH RIOT POLICE BLOCKING STREET THAT LEADS TO PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE "LOS PINOS" (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DEMONSTRATOR, FARINA CANO, SAYING: "Violence, vandalism, robbery - all of this is generated by the government. That is why we, the citizens, are holding all these marches, all these demonstrations." DEMONSTRATORS SHOUTING (IN SPANISH): "WE ARE PEACEFUL" DEMONSTRATOR TRYING TO TALK TO POLICE (NOT A SOUNDBITE) SLOGAN WRITTEN ON BACK OF T-SHIRT READING (IN SPANISH): "NO TO GAS PRICE HIKE" RIOT POLICE GUARDING ACCESS ROAD TO PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DEMONSTRATOR, MIGUEL ANGEL SANDOVAL, SAYING: "It would be better for the government to get to work and know that we are not going to fall [into protests] because if we, as demonstrators, if we see vandals doing things that we are not fighting for, we will leave our demonstrations because we are working people, not thieves."
- Embargoed: 20th January 2017 22:52
- Keywords: gasoline prices looting blockades protests economy
- Location: MEXICO CITY AND STATE OF MEXICO, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY AND STATE OF MEXICO, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0015XT2MO3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Mexicans angry over a double-digit hike in gasoline prices protested on Thursday (January 5) on the heels of Wednesday's (January 4) looting, which prompted over 250 arrests.
Demonstrators carrying signs against the price rise marched to the presidential residence of Los Pinos where riot police held firm.
No violence was reported during the protest.
"Violence, vandalism, robbery - all of this is generated by the government. That is why we, the citizens, are holding all these marches, all these demonstrations," said demonstrator Farina Cano.
Another demonstrator, Miguel Angel Sandoval, said the protests were meant to be peaceful.
"It would be better for the government to get to work and know that we are not going to fall [into protests] because if we, as demonstrators, if we see vandals doing things that we are not fighting for, we will leave our demonstrations because we are working people, not thieves," he said.
The protest came one day after twenty-three stores were sacked and 27 blockades put up in Mexico City after the government raised gasoline costs by 14 to 20 percent.
Deputy interior Minister Rene Juarez said over 250 people had been arrested for vandalism and that federal authorities were working with security officials in Mexico City and the nearby states of Mexico and Hidalgo to address the unrest.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said earlier on Wednesday that the price spike that took effect on Jan. 1 was a "responsible" measure that the government took in line with international oil prices.
The hike is part of a gradual, year-long price liberalisation the Pena Nieto administration has promised to implement this year.
State oil company Pemex said on Tuesday that blockades of fuel storage terminals by protesters had led to a "critical situation" in at least three Mexican states. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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