The Costco controversy in Cuernavaca, Mexico goes on, and the government is cracking down harder on protestors who want to prevent Costco from destroying the historic Casino De La Selva. (See 9/7/02 Newsflash). One of the leaders of the anti-Costco movement in Cuernavaca, Dr. Jaime Laguna-Otero, sent the following chilling report to sprawl-busters: “Several days ago, our vehicle was sorrounded by several patrol cars.?? In order to speak to the police we lowered the windows only to find that they would try to get into the car by force without indicating what our fault was.?? They then proceeded to spray tear gas and forced us out.?? Two of us, the men, were handcuffed while the woman that was with us screamed of terror.?? We were thrown into the back of a pick-up with our faces pressed to the floor while they crushed our handcuffed wrists.?? A doctor received us but was unwilling to wash my out eye affected directly by the gas. A friend of ours complained at the local “procuraduria de justicia” asking for information, but was taken away to prison as well.?? We were with 18 other men in the same cell, so that that there was no place to lie down in order to sleep.?? Those that were being held were not allowed to drink water, eat or place a single phone call.?? Some were hurt badly by the police but were not attended by an ambulance.?? As there was no running water, the stench was unbearable during 10 hours.?? Finally we were let out without bail without ever being informed of anything.?? Our protests are against the establishment of a Costco warehouse on a piece of land where an ecological and cultural reserve should be kept.”
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For more background leading up to this government repression of citizern protests against American big box stores, search this database by the word “Cuernavaca.” For local contacts in Mexico, go to www.procasino.org. The smiling face of President Vincente Fox appears to conceal the repressive side of government activity to aid American corporations who are destroying the history and culture of local residents.
