DATE=10/15/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=MEXICO POLICE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-255101
BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT=
INTRO: Mexico City's first female mayor, Rosario
Robles, is confronting her first major challenge after
assuming office at the end of last month. As VOA's
Greg Flakus reports from Mexico City, the issue is the
conduct of police who confronted rampaging student
militants on Thursday.
TEXT: In a statement to reporters on Friday, Mexico
City Mayor Rosario Robles said two policemen who took
part in the clash with rioting students late Thursday
have been detained and will be investigated for
disobeying orders.
/// Robles act (Spanish) ///
The mayor said the police officers will be taken
before the city's Police Honor and Justice Commission
to face the charges brought against them.
Ms. Robles said the police were ordered to unblock the
highway, known as the Periferico, in a peaceful
manner, but, as she described it, a small group of
police became aggressive and attacked the students.
But her version of events was at odds with what many
eye witnesses described. They said the police,
wearing riot gear and carrying heavy plastic shields,
came under attack the moment they arrived on the
scene. Televised images also show student rioters
throwing rocks, bottles and large metal objects at the
police. Mexico City's police chief, Alejandro Gertz
Manero defended the anti-riot squad.
/// Gertz Manero act (Spanish) ///
Mr. Gertz Manero told reporters that the police were
only doing their job when the rioters attacked them
with rocks. While he said he does not condone police
misbehavior, he indicated that the circumstances
should be considered.
The incident occurred late Thursday when several
hundred students involved in a strike at the National
Autonomous University of Mexico, known by its Spanish
initials as UNAM, blocked traffic in front of the
Televisa Television network studios. Thousands of
vehicles were left stranded on the Periferico while
the student militants committed acts of vandalism at
the Televisa buildings and placed rocks and concrete
blocks in the road. The police then moved in to
unblock the highway.
Mayor Robles blamed the incident on UNAM Rector
Francisco Barnes, who she says has allowed the strike,
which began in April, to continue by refusing to give
in to the demands of strikers. Mr Barnes and his
supporters, however, say the strike is under the
control of a small group of hardcore Marxists who are
depriving more than 250 thousand other students from
the chance to continue their studies. In a telephone
poll conducted by TV Azteca earlier this month, 81
percent of respondents voiced opposition to the
strikers. The percentage of Mexicans expressing
sympathy with the strike has fallen from 41 percent in
April to only seven percent in October. (signed)
ENEB/PT
15-Oct-1999 18:59 PM EDT (15-Oct-1999 2259 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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