Posted on 05/04/2006 6:02:35 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
SAN SALVADOR ATENCO, Mexico (Reuters) - A protest by flower vendors erupted into a clash between machete-wielding peasants and riot police on Wednesday, leaving one person dead and several held hostage.
Fifty police officers were injured, 11 seriously, state Gov. Enrique Pena Nieto said, and about 100 people were arrested.
Angry demonstrators from the town of San Salvador Atenco, 15 miles north of Mexico City, cornered 11 policemen and were holding them hostage at nightfall, officials said. The demonstrators refused to release the policemen unless protesters who were arrested earlier in the riot were freed.
Mobs of protesters burned tires on a main road and lobbed stones and gasoline bombs at some 400 policemen. Television pictures showed rioters kicking and stamping on two apparently unconscious policemen.
Trouble broke out in the notoriously fractious farming town when police arrested roadside flower traders suspected of illegally selling flowers. Dozens more were arrested later in the day.
As night fell on San Salvador Atenco, protesters armed with gasoline bombs manned roadblocks and said they would not negotiate or release the police hostages until three flower sellers arrested earlier in the day were set free.
"We will keep mobilizing," said protest leader America del Valle. "In order for there to be the right conditions for dialogue they have to release the prisoners first and withdraw the police."
The mob dragged at least one policeman off, seemingly to take him hostage, and local media reported that a number of wounded policemen were hospitalized, some of them with head wounds from having been beaten with sticks.
A 14-year-old boy was killed in the rioting, witnesses said.
Media reports said the protesters took guns from captured policemen and locked the men in a patrol car, as roadblocks caused chaos with local traffic.
It was the latest outbreak of violence to hit Mexico as the country approaches a July 2 presidential election. A surge in drug cartel bloodshed has spread to coastal resorts like Acapulco and two people were killed in April when armed police tried to break up a steelworkers strike.
San Salvador Atenco is known for its machete-armed peasants, who five years ago blocked President Vicente Fox's plan to build a new airport there with a standoff that lasted several days.
Zapatista rebel leader Subcomandante Marcos, who headed a brief but bloody uprising in the Indian dominated southern state of Chiapas in 1994, said his guerrilla army was on red-alert following the clashes.
Leftist Marcos, who is on a tour of Mexico City, has hardened his political stance in recent days, calling for the overthrow of government and vowing to expel foreign capital from the country.
Television images on Wednesday showed some protesters shouting pro-Zapatista slogans.
Duh! What am I saying? It's already happening!!
I'm not making an excuse for illegal immigration here, but if I lived in that country, I'd be looking for any way out.
What next? Rampaging hairdressers?
The war of the Roses.
It’s really Big (BIG!!) Business.
Mother’s Day is coming up and it’s a big flower/flower arrangement selling event.
Second only to Valentine's Day, if I’m not mistaken.
On second thought, I think Mother’s Day is first but Valentine's Day is first WRT roses.
WGAF - I mis-remember a bunch of stuff.
Mother’s Day is a BIG flower day any way you cut it.
Normally, I'm appalled when florists riot.
Sometimes though, it makes feel, well, tingly down there...
I'm bad, but that headline conjured images of riots consisting of slapping, hair-pulling, foot-stomping and bursting into tears.
I pity the fool.
As heard on a local conservative radio talk show today....
Caller: this La Raza / Aztlan crap is really stupid. First off, they have no legal claim to the states in question - TX, CA, NM, NV, AZ. Second...think about it....if a different history line came out that those states were current property of Mexico......then Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska would be the site of the current demonstrations for these illegals - because Mexico is THE PLACE to LEAVE!"
I had not thought of it that way, but great point.
This is just too easy. Do Mexican florist's eat tacos?
I'm sorry. I just can't help myself.
Spraying the police with hair care products.
Why would anyone want to go to Mexico on vacation with all of the much better options in the Carribean?
I've never understood this.
Let's talk.
Well, our response should be: "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here."
now THAT"S what i call a riot... must be the Butch ones
Wow. Queers with machettes. Who woulda thunk it?
DEPORT NOW!
How about if the mayor just says everybody brings flowers home to their loved-ones this week? No mas problemos.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.