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A12 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 7 January 2017

Looting, protests in Mexico over gas price hikes turn deadly

MARK STEVENSON fired and detained after
Associated Press they were caught on video
MEXICO CITY (AP) — The taking some looted items
death toll in protests and and putting them in their
looting fueled by anger patrol vehicles. The state
over gasoline price hikes government said the loot-
in Mexico rose to six Fri- ing had quieted Thursday.
day when authorities con- But video of the Wednes-
firmed that two men died day disturbances showed
in a confrontation between riot-like scenes of people
protesters and police in the streaming out of stores car-
central state of Hidalgo. rying flat-screen TVs and
There were four previous other items.
deaths in looting-related Officials claimed many of
incidents and over the the lootings incidents were
course of the week, at least promoted through social
300 stores were looted and media.
more 1,000 people were With blockades affecting
detained, officials said. everything from gas distri-
The protesters in Hidalgo bution terminals, seaports
were blocking a highway and highways to shopping
on Thursday and confront- Suspects are detained by state police after they were caught looting in Veracruz, Mexico, early centers and gas stations,
ed police who were trying Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017. the Communications and
to keep order, when gun- Associated Press Transport Department an-
fire broke out. Two people port and terminal block- anger, President Enrique the most.” nounced it would cancel
also were found dead near ades and looting this Pena Nieto said Thursday Pena Nieto said the other permits for any truckers
looting in the eastern port week forced many stores he would forge ahead any- big challenge for Mexico in who block roads.
city of Veracruz. Earlier, of- and businesses to close way with the deregulated 2017 was to “build a posi- The change boosted the
ficials said a bystander was and threatened supplies price scheme, which would tive relationship with the average price for a liter of
run over and killed by a driv- of basic goods and fuel. do away with fuel subsidies new U.S. administration,” premium gasoline to 17.79
er fleeing police in another The scenes of mass lootings and allow gasoline prices something he said would pesos (about 90 cents).
part of Veracruz state, and came as parents were try- to be determined by pre- be done with Mexico’s “un- That makes 4 liters, or about
a police officer was killed ing to buy presents for the vailing international prices. breakable dignity.” a gallon, equal to nearly
trying to stop robberies at a Jan. 6 Three Kings Day holi- “I know that allowing gaso- Veracruz Gov. Miguel An- as much as Mexico’s just
gas station in Mexico City. day. line to rise to its international gel Yunes Linares ventured raised minimum wage for
In the northern city of Mon- The looting and protests price is a difficult change, out Thursday and tried to a day’s work — 80 pesos
terrey, officials said a crowd quieted somewhat Friday, but as president, my job is persuade a crowd not to (about $4).
of protesters had smashed but protesters continued to to precisely make difficult attack a grocery store that The National Association
some of the stained glass post themselves at highway decisions now, in order to had already been looted of Self-Service and Depart-
windows of the Nuevo toll booths with banners. avoid worse consequenc- a day earlier. About 300 ment Stores of Mexico has
Leon state capital building. Mexicans were enraged by es in the future,” Pena Ni- people were detained in said in a statement that
Several reporters were hurt, the 20 percent fuel price eto said in a televised ad- Veracruz. more than 79 stores had
and 182 people were de- hike announced over the dress. “Keeping gas prices In Mexico State, which bor- been looted and 170 were
tained. weekend as part of a gov- artificially low would mean ders Mexico City, 529 peo- closed or blockaded in
The country’s busi- ernment deregulation of taking money away from ple had been detained central Mexico, including
ness chambers said the the energy sector. the poorest Mexicans, and as suspected looters. Four the capital.
combination of highway, While acknowledging the giving it to those who have state police officers were