On 7 February there were carried out protests and blockades in the capital and in several states of Mexico to protest high-electricity prices. The mobilization had been organized by the National Network of Civil Resistance against High-Electricity Prices, the National Alliance of Electricity Users (ANUEE), and the Mexican Union of Electricians (SME). The marches and actions were held in Chiapas, Campeche, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Guerrero, Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Chihuahua, and Mexico City. The principal demand of these protests was a change in energy policy that would include just prices, access to electricity as a human right, and the generation of sustainable energy from the people. Furthermore, there was demanded the cancellation of wind-energy, mining, and hydroelectrical projects, as well as end to the criminalization of social protest.
It should be mentioned that during these protests in Chiapas, Nataniel Hernandez, director of the Digna Ochoa Center for Human Rights, was arrested while he was in a meeting with the regional sub-delegate for the government. He was released during the evening, without any sort of explanation regarding the grounds for his arrest.
For more information (in Spanish):
La Jornada: Tarifas justas de luz y fin a la presión, exigen miles en marcha (08/02/2013)
La Jornada: O comemos o pagamos, grito en jornada nacional contra altos cobros (08/02/2013)
La Jornada: Padecen usuarios de la CFE indefensión y maltrato al quejarse por altos cobros (08/02/2013)
Proceso: Policías retienen siete horas al director del centro Digna Ochoa en Chiapas (07/02/2013)
Proceso: Protestan en Oaxaca por altas tarifas de luz (07/02/2013)
Koman Ilel: PRIMER REPORTE MOVILIZACIÓN NACIONAL CONTRA ABUSOS DE CFE (07/02/2013)
For more information from SIPAZ (in English):
Mexico: National day of protests against high electricity prices (4 April 2012)
Chiapas: PUDEE denounces harassment and electricity cut-off by CFE (24 March 2012)
Chiapas: PUDEE denounces harassment by the CFE (25 February 2011)
Campeche: Arrest of activist campaigning against high electricity prices (26 May 2010)
Mexico: AI Declares Activists against High Electricity Tariffs Prisoners of Conscience (10 March 2010)
Oaxaca: Detención y liberación posterior de la defensora Bettina Cruz Velázquez (23/02/2012)
Chiapas: Manifestaciones contra las altas tarifas de la luz (13/09/2011)
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