NEWS FROM MEXICO (Sept 95) Last year, young anarchists members of a group called JAR (Anti-authoritarian Revolutionary Youth) demonstrated in front of a McDonalds, protesting against the anti-immigration campaign and in support of hispanic workers in the USA. The demo ended with the McDonalds grafittied and its windows and machines broken. Some days later, some members of JAR were arrested by police. Last April anaction by transport union Sindicato Unico de Autotransportes R-100 (SUTAUR) was declared illegal by the courts. The union, which has links with various popular organisations amongst which would be included the Movimiento Proletario Independiente and which is listed by the government as 'radical', gives legal support to its members and contested the action. Many workers have been threatened, beaten up and imprisoned. Of the 12,000 unionised workers, less than 1,000 have accepted an out of court settlements, the rest are holding out for more. In support of the workers at SUTAUR members of the 'radical' group within the student union, Consejo Estudiantil Universitario, siezed a number of lorries and kept them under guard on university campus. However, under pressure from the rector, police and other student groupings they were forced to return the vehicles a few days later. This years May day independent unions march, fronted by members of SUTAUR, saw dozens of workers and students throwing rocks and sticks at the police, who came to defend some of their undercover agents. 19 people, some were minors, were imprisoned while trying to burn the Govenment Building front door. Many of them were beaten up and some are still in jail. Many anarchist organisations and colectives participated in the march. Anarchists painted the walls and broke the windows of the organization called Pro-vida (Pro-life), which openly speaks out against abortion and the use of condoms. Pro-vida in known for being formed by many right-wing and conservative groups. During June 17 campesinos were assasinated in Guerrero - they were members of OCSS, an organisation which was organising a peaceful protest in a nearby area. According to the official version at first it was claimed that the victims had been armed and had attacked the police but this was refuted by eye witnesses. The state govenor, Ruben Figueroa, held talks both before and after the massacre with a member of the opposition within the council. These conversations, according to the councilor, revealed that the govenor was fully aware of the plans of the police. The govenor told her: 'Some campesinos are going to demonstrate and will have to be stopped... they want war and they are going to get it' The government in Mexico City has implemented a social security plan in which it states openly that 'people who appear suspicious' are to be detained and there will be stop checks on cars and random raids. Popular human rights organisations, political opposition parties and civil groups have demonstrated against the plans. On July 1st plain clothes policemen beat up and detained a number of young people and on July 6th people were searched in the red light area and arrested if in possession of a condom on a charge of 'soliciting'. Throughout the month of July there were numerous complaints against the police for violence, threts, robbery etc. Finally on the 28th the police got an 80% pay rise. Friday 14th July saw the release of Gloria Benavides who had been acused of membership of the EZLN under the codename 'subcomandante Elisa'. Benavides was arrested on February 8th and thretened so that she might denounce various people and link them to the Zapatistas. On being released she called for the release of those other prisoners who were being held accused of membership of the EZLN. On July 28 the fifth stage of the peace talks between the EZLN and the mexican government ended. There was no agreement. The government rejected a zapatista proposal dealing with militar withdrawal and threatened to withdraw their own proposal if the zapatistas didn't accept it. The EZLN complains about the strongarm tactics and the threats of the government. Meanwhile, hundreds of people are gathering to organize the National Poll called for by the EZLN, it's supposed to happen on August 27. The International Poll is taking place right now and many organizations from all around the world have voted already. Facts about the government of Zedillo: In the first seven months of Zedillos' administration, 97 oposition members have been killed; 1,663 citizens have been imprisoned for their incomformity; 75 people have been kidnapped; 254 social leaders have detention orders against them; there has been 932 people injured in many represive actions; 36 journalists have suffered attacks and 138 members of democratic organizations have been threatened. Taken from: "Proceso" magazine, "La Jornada" newspaper, or seen with my own eyes.