EFE
Peña Nieto acknowledges that the rise of gasoline has been an “unpopular” but “necessary” decision.
the largest protest was in Monterrey, capital of Nuevo Leon State, where between Thursday night and Friday morning there were 27 shops looted.
protesters have come to throw stones and other objects at State buildings and have been wounded policemen.
disturbances linked to protests by higher gasoline, that have left at least six dead and more than 1,500 detainees, continued Saturday in Mexico, but with lower intensity while President Enrique Peña Nieto appealed to the understanding citizen to the decision “the lesser evil”.
so far largest protest has been recorded in Monterrey capital of the Northern State of Nuevo Leon, where riots and looting stores reported Thursday night and the early hours of Friday left 182 detainees, injured 15 and 27 looted shops, officials said Saturday.
“the increase in gasoline has impacted and caused a great discontent ,” said Governor Jaime Rodríguez Calderón at a press conference to present a balance of riots arising from the protests.
but said it will not allow more vandalism or more looting stores. “And all those who participated in looting will be pursued,” said.
the Thursday afternoon were convened at least six marches in the metropolitan area of Monterrey to protest against rising prices of between 14% and 20% gasoline and diesel decreed by the federal Government and entered into force on 1 January.
marches converged to the evening opposite the Government Palace, bringing together more than 10,000 citizens. A group of young people tried to enter the headquarters of the State power and the police officers prevented it.
this caused that protesters threw stones and other objects to the building, breaking six large stained-glass windows with figures of national heroes, dating from the beginning of the 20TH century. shock subsequently arose among police and protesters.
while the arrival of federal forces in the Eastern State of Veracruz and the citizen organization managed to contain this Saturday looting at the main tourist resort, where in recent days had raged the protests by what is now known as the “gasolinazo”.
the 250 members of the Federal Police and the national gendarmerie, and hundreds of citizens and owners of business premises of the port of Veracruz and Boca del Rio area, who beat the pavement with sticks and machetes, prevented to continue acts of prey.
the Governor Miguel Angel Yunes visited the Las Brisas commercial center of Veracruz and delivered hundreds of pantry of 500 pesos (23.6 dollars) vouchers to mothers of families, as he had promised on Friday when he confronted looters and offered pantries to try and appease discontent.
although in the early hours of Friday, most shops opened their doors in an attempt to normalize the daily life, later on more than 10,000 establishments fell their curtains faced with the threat that the looting will continue.
so far authorities have found three people dead in Veracruz. On Thursday two suspected looters were killed because of the violence, as well as another person who died and one more that she was injured from gravity to be run over by a truck in which alleged looters fleeing the police, according to police sources.
in the central State of Hidalgo, the Attorney General of Justice (Prosecutor’s office) reported that two protesters blocking the highway Mexico-Laredo died during clashes with police in Ixmiquilpan. The agents failed to evict the protesters and the blockade persists.
and in the acts of vandalism on Wednesday in the city of Mexico a police died and five others were injured, reported the Ministry of public security of the capital.
in the framework of the commemoration of the day of the nurse and the nurse, the President Peña Nieto reiterated that the increase in the price of gasoline was “a difficult decision unpopular, but necessary “.
pointed out that “sometimes have to choose lesser evil and what the Government has decided to give priority to expenditure carried out and especially the actions and policies aimed at the most vulnerable”.
the President emphasized that “it is not through theft or vandalism as there will be change the reality”, because with that attitude “without realizing more dividing it”.
called on the society to invoke the reason and to “understand, or at least listen to the reasons that have led to this decision, for that unit, our country can face this challenge and others will be present throughout the year”.
Moreover, Undersecretary of Government of the Ministry of Interior, René Juárez, said in a message to the media that “more than 1,500 people, many of whom have been consigned (accused and placed at the disposal of a judge)” have been arrested for acts of vandalism.
Juarez said that “the sum of efforts between orders of Government (federal, State and municipal) is enabling contain acts on the fringes of the law”.