Posted on 08/05/2006 8:22:57 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
MATAMOROS, Mexico — Presidential runner-up Andrés Manuel López Obrador's call for civil disobedience reached the border Friday in a string of protests at international bridges in Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa and here.
In Matamoros, a group of about 100 blocked a city street that leads to the Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates and into Brownsville.
"We're here because we are sure that López Obrador won," Rommel Delgado, a 23-year-old teacher, said over the horns of miffed truckers and drivers.
Civil unrest here and in other parts of the country, most notably Mexico City, is rooted in the historically close results of the July 2 presidential election.
López Obrador, of the Democratic Revolution Party, or PRD, once was the odds-on favorite to inherit the Los Pinos presidential palace. But Felipe Calderón of the National Action Party, or PAN, had a late surge that gave him a victory of less than 1 percent.
López Obrador, who hasn't conceded defeat, and the PRD initially reacted calmly at the close loss, but in the following weeks have upped the rhetoric alleging election fraud.
The small group of protesters pulled a vinyl party streamer across the street as transit police watched.
It was 5:05 p.m. when they brought traffic to a halt.
"Unfortunately, this is the only way to get the government to pay attention to us," Delgado said.
Unlike most PRD demonstrations, the protesters didn't wear the party's trademark yellow shirts. They waved López Obrador campaign signs and simple black-and-white poster boards with slogans like "Stop Electoral Fraud."
The bridge protests were the latest manifestation of López Obrador's recent call for civil disobedience to pressure the federal electoral tribunal to do a ballot-by-ballot recount.
From his perch inside an 18-wheeler, Everando Guajardo appeared exasperated by the roadblock.
"Why don't they go in front of Congress?" he asked. "Why do they come mess with those of us who are just trying to make it through a work day?"
Guajardo was upset that his trailer of cotton would not reach the Port of Brownsville on time.
"The only thing we demand is transparency," said Francisco Chavira, a Nuevo Laredo councilman who helped organize the protest there.
The idea for the protests was hatched by state-level PRD officials and executed by local party leaders, Chavira said.
Matamoros was the only place where an international bridge was blocked. In Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo, the events were limited to the foot of the bridges.
Two federal police officers stood between the protesters and the bridge in Matamoros, watching.
"They have the right to protest," said officer Francisco Hernandez Rocha. The group technically was blocking a city street, so the feds couldn't do anything.
Some of the blocked drivers shouted expletives at the group, while others gave a thumbs up and turned their vehicles around.
Inside a white van, Jose Luis Gonzalez was afraid of missing the chance to visit his dad at a Brownsville hospital and decided to drive right through the protesters, even as they massed in front of this car, yelling: "Break his window! Break his window!"
Other daring drivers followed his example and the blockade was broken by 5:20 p.m.
"This is just a taste of what's coming," Jorge de la Rosa, the protest organizer said. "Next time we will block it for 24-48 hours."
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mcastillo@express-news.net
interesting strategy.
Runner up? There is a better word for someone who finishes second in a two-man race. LOSER!
Reminds of the Code Pink strategy I read about on FR where they blocked a gas station. Won them a lot of converts, I'm sure.
Hillary, Soros, CAP, ACORN, La Raza taking notes for 2008
Blocking the way into the US from Mexico? I suddenly like these guys!
Old Mexico Ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
Hah!!! Who says you can't close the border. A bunch of losers in mexico can do it why can't we?
This loon is an Al Gore protege'.
He has been nicknamed obragore, Quite fitting I would say.
How'dya say ''Sore Loserman'' in Spanish?
Runner up? There is a better word for someone who finishes second in a two-man race. LOSER!
There were five registered candidates for the 2006 Mexican presidential election.
Thanks for the clarification. Still, I have never heard Bob Dole or George H.W. Bush referred to as the runner-up to Bill Clinton, despite the presence of Ross Perot.
Wonder if we can get 'em to do the same thing in the deserts of the Southwest?
I have friends who retired and moved to Mexico as well as friends who consider doing so. I tell them that "come the revolution you are going to be the very first ones they go for."
They came up with Hombre dolorido del perdedor!
I tried a quick google images search for his campaign sing but didn't spot anything. With a little effort, someone should be able to replace the Obrador in his sign with Perdedor.
OMG!! WHY would anyone move to Mexico....especially at retirement age when they will need medical help??? Lunacy.
The Spanish slang equivalent of 'putz' might come in handy, too.
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