Mexico: Students rise up against the attacks of the porros
Shock attack bands struggle college students. A major student conflict within the National Autonomous University of Mexico (ONE) It led to an attack by allied gangs clash managers University students in struggle against, injuring several of them. The university response was swift and extraordinary process of struggle opened with demonstrations over 20.000 Students in the city of Mexico and actions throughout the country.
Since Anticapitalist Network (AenR) interviewed Comrade Ricardo Vega (RV), un fighter trotskista, Professor UACM (Autonomous University of Mexico City)... and UNAM student, actively involved in this process.
AenR: What were the complaints that gave rise to the process of struggle?
RV: Demand sprouted two weeks ago in a study center midlevel superior having incorporated the UNAM, which they are the centers of sciences and humanities (CCH). There are several in the city, depending on the area, for example CCH is Vallejos, CCH Oriente. CCH Azcapotzalco this demand came two weeks after the student sector calling for the resignation of the director ago, among other things mishandling budget, but also because they were charging fees, because there is no good conditions on campus to take classes. In those demands he was also the order of Justice cases of femicide, both the companion Miranda, but also for other cases of violence.
That caught in the community to the extent that Azcapotzalco was taken CCH since Thursday before last. And once that was taken, fellow students kept making. But from day colleagues they received the attack of the porriles organizations, which it is a widespread phenomenon in the city and has a long history.
Since the birth of the autonomous universities in the one-party regime of the PRI these organizations were created, as an attempt to counterbalance the democratic demands of the student movement and continue to survive until today. Although it has been a "progressive" government for the city and has more than 20 years in government, these organizations still have a strong presence in universities and in institutes of secondary and higher education.
AenR: How were the events?
RV: Thursday 30 August began the demands on the CCH Azcapotzalco and 3 September came the attack porros. It was when there was a rally in front of the rectory. There mobilization and develops when the attack came porros. Actually the mobilization process is a week earlier this campus of CCH.
The day 4 There is a stepped-making powers, both at the UNAM, and outside and also in other universities. The day Thursday 5 the first mobilization occurs over 20.000 companions. The next Thursday there is another move in 20.000.
AenR: Who respond porros?
RV: That's one of the things that became clear. The day of the attack porril, he 3 September, when the attack occurs in Rectoría to daylight. There were two or three injured companions, including a colleague who was stabbed in the stomach that almost caused him to lose a kidney. UNAM has a security force that works supposed to provide security to the university community called "Security UNAM", and the charge of the security of the rectory, Licona, who I was present that day, there are pictures and videos that show having telephone communications with joints in the middle attack. The sea, what there was was a direct coordination with the rectory to attack mobilization.
As it is traditionally known the porriles bodies function as a political body, as an armed organization, from government sectors demobilize university student organizations. That's what happened.
They have always done so, at times of high mobilization. They use violence as happened in the 68. That was how the movement began 68, which he ended in the slaughter of Tratelolco, as a confrontation in a college group was attacked by a group porril. At 71, a fact known as the "halconazo", it was a brutal repression by the porriles groups against the student movement, and it is not something different what happened 3/09 of this year.
It's the same type of operation, in which the authorities, as they can not penetrate the assemblies by the democratic character that these have, the only recourse left is to appeal to violence through these organizations.
AenR: How is the direction of the student mobilization?
RV: The organ that is bringing together and giving direction to the student movement is the Interuniversity Assembly that brings together all universities with their representatives. So far there have been two meetings. The first was held on Friday 6/09 and the second on Friday 14. Interior universities send delegates.
In the last Assembly, which brings together more than 80 universities nationwide, the last Friday began to register 7 and he ended on Saturday. Join inside the Assembly an assembly Interuniversity Interuniversity Women.
At the last meeting of the Inter were fellow San Luis Potosi, fellow Oxaca, fellow Morelos. Gathers all universities, at least they have the capacity to organize a protest and send representatives. The sea, the protest is centered on the city of Mexico but also spread to the countryside
Lawsuits against attempts to privatize education and levels of violence to which the student sector faces, both within university campuses and transportation to their homes, They are demands that are spread throughout the country.
AenR: Who can speak in the assembly?
RV: That was a discussion that lasted hours at the last meeting Interuniversity. The final resolution was to give voice to fellow observers, although not representing any assembly, which only go as members of the university community, belonging to a university, They have the opportunity to speak in the assembly. But the vote was restricted to bring spokespersons representing each assembly at each university and each of its campuses.
There was also a discussion, Now talking about the feminist groups, and the assembly Interuniversity Women, It is representing the collective set of feminists, most at least, You should have a vote. Even if you have voice, There was discussion about whether to give feedback or not. Or for example, assemblies also teachers ... because it is assumed that what gathers the Interuniversity assembly are not spokesmen for organizations, or assemblies by industry spokesmen, but what brings together the Interuniversity assembly are assemblies of all sectors and all organizations belonging to a university campus.
A) Yes, If a fellow feminist, although it has its group in the Faculty of Political Science, She wants to participate as spokeswoman, you have to do to participate in the assembly of his squad to have a vote, but you can not have a vote for belonging to a feminist collective, because otherwise the Trotskyists should have one vote, the Stalinists would have to have a vote ... That's a discussion that occurred and the resolution was to give voice, but no vote.
AenR: What are the intercollegiate volume assemblies?
RV: The auditorium was for approximately 250 people sitting and was fully booked. In fact only they passed because few observers for fellow security was very difficult to let more people. Those 250 were representatives. He left many people out. For example, in the assembly of post degree we are more than 100 and we sent members only 7 representatives, and did not fit ... Only if we fit representatives at that meeting Interuniversity, which means it's a pretty broad movement.
AenR: Will the student addresses involved?
RV: At this time the student government is formed by Groupings University, Trotskyism in a situation of marginalization and feminist groups.
AenR: What influence current political?
RV: In addition to smaller groups, by faculty, What has pulled organizations are closest to MORENA. We have a recomposition of the most reformist organizations. As in the case of University Groupings which is what is taking conservative positions with the regime. Especially with the protrusion and the entry of the new. For example, Groupings University's position in the latter Interuniversity assembly was thinking about demobilization, because the mobilization of the student sector strikes, to ask for a much more radical list of demands to the university administration was, supposedly for them, a problem. Supposedly because we were playing with the right to destabilize the transition is coming. Transition that is already made between the government of Peña Nieto and Lopez Obrador.
AMLO has not taken yet. Assumes December 1. Although it seems a functioning government, since the level of decomposition of the outgoing government is so strong, AMLO although it is not yet president, already he met with US Vice President. It has taken practically in command of the country, although not yet unofficially, until 1 December not give takeover.
Organizations that have greater influence on the student movement have played that role bet to call the tranquility thinking that the new regime will solve all problems.
AenR: What story do these groups?
RV: University groupings is the largest and has a presence in all universities in Mexico City, where the largest universities are, born makes a 15 years. It originated in the PRD, in its progressive currents and left with brown when broke with the PRD in 2012.
In the background is a long-standing history of more, because the PRD is a party that believes in 1988, with the merger of leftist parties. For example PSUM (the Unified Socialist Party of Mexico), which it is a party that was not completely Stalinist but they were not critical of the Soviet Union. At 88 They are joined by the National Democratic Front to present the candidacy of Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, the son of famous former president Lazaro Cardenas. Hence the PSUM and other leftist parties adds a lot of history in the country, but when added to the front positions are fully diluted. They remain and some lines of continuity, among which are these University Groups, which they are the most progressive wing of MORENA. Have pictures coming from PSUM, the Mexican Communist Party, it was not completely Stalinist (unlike the other Marxist Leninist Communist Party that if it was Stalinist).
Given that Maoism is very small in the student movement, with some small grouping of Philosophy as "Fight and class", the two streams with more weight in the student movement Trotskyism now be weakened and that flirt with Stalinism, who are these other. University groupings adds to a set of groups from different universities UAM, the UACM, UNAM, that integrate and through it have its connection with MORENA.
AenR: What feature has the feminist movement?
RV: It is very strong presence of the university women's movement. Here already it approved abortion in several states, so the slogan of legalized abortion nationwide is not curdle in the feminist movement in general. The central theme is gender violence.
It explained by the level of violence in the country. Here are cases of very tremendous decomposition. We do not speak only of harassment, that a female student in the classroom companion has been toqueteada by a teacher or this constantly besieged by messages or comments in the classroom ... Here we discuss cases, such as one of the demands of the latter student mobilization, He is a fellow student 18 years named Miranda Mendoza, CCH campus that left the East and when he went to his home in the State of Mexico and had to go 20 km was lifted, it is not known by whom and did not reach home. His parents made the complaint and the next day his body appeared charred still giving off smoke.
Then there is lesvy Osorio, it's a case last year. A companion who was found dead in the premises of the highest seat of learning, the largest university campus is in town. He found murdered, but authorities said it was suicide, when there was enough evidence to know that his case was a murder. Although it was later revealed that he had had many quarrels with her boyfriend and was a femicide. But that was learned by organizations as the authorities claimed it was suicide.
These are among many other cases of this type. Gender violence is so strong, which encourages prevailing in the most feminist groups ultras positions. The anti capitalist positions are minority. These positions are dominant in the women's assembly Interuniversity, They are seeking separatism movement around, with men.
This makes it different positions arise in student assemblies or academia, as there are companions who prefer not to participate in the inter university assembly. There is also very strong feminist lesbo industry. This in a movement that has weight in discussions on the cutting edge, but at the level of mobilization in Mexico City still does not exceed 10.000 protesters last 8 of March.
AenR: What weight does Trotskyism?
RV: El MTS (the group belonging to the related current to the PTS of Argentina) She has work at two universities, but the main job they have at UNAM. a year and a half ago they would have about 80 militants and a 200 supporters. Since the feminist movement began last year fell. They are accused of having contrary positions to the feminist movement. One of his very young leaders, Professor Moissen, He is accused of harassing a student. Management faculty opportunistically took advantage of this complaint and threw the other day (There are many defendants, They do not treat them well and nothing is done).
From there the organization lost much rooted in the student movement. To the extent that they have almost disappeared. You go to the marches ... and see them on the defensive. Colleagues who were once protagonists in university assemblies have a very low profile, before giving a greeting from your organization, Now do not mention ...
This fact seems to have affected the rest of the trotskos groups, because while living outside the university pulling the mother ... but inside the university assemblies act as a bloc. El MTS, el PRT (Mandelite), RAG (It is the same current as the PO in Argentina), Internationalist action.
When it was pointed out by Comrade Moissen sexual harassment case, by one of his former girlfriends ... something strange ... organizations had to fall back ... to the point that in the last Interuniversity past the feminist group called Trotskyists were not part of the table driving, arguing that they felt assaulted in the last inter-university and had a sort of co-optation by the table and no Trotskyist organization finally managed to integrate. Which it is something different from what was happening before, before there were one or two Trotskyist on the table.
AenR: What volume with the other groups?
RV: The PRT long ago did not approach me. A while ago I went to a meeting and tested in Mexico City did not exceed militants 20. The Internationalist Group do not pass 15 militants. The group Po is the RAG, will have 25 O 30 members and supporters 50 O 60. They are the second strongest group.
AenR: How is the process dynamics?
RV: It is now declining. Especially by a political move with the transitional government. The demand came to demand the resignation of the rector for some assemblies. But the move made by the government about to enter, the government of Andres Manuel, It meeting was to call the rector Enrique Graue, especially to placate and to facilitate the demands of the student movement, with intent to demobilize.
The day 10 September Graue meets Andrés Manuel. Surely the instruction was to sign the list of demands of fellow CCH Azcapotzalco immediately, not assume the list of demands of inter-university assembly, but just go with the first assembly that was detonated movement, and whose demands they are more local in nature.
That was the instruction AMLO, because the next day the rector is present on campus at the student assembly of CCH Azcapotzalco and a conciliatory attitude tries to sign only the local specifications to demobilize.
What happened was that and now what we have as discussion within the Interuniversity Assembly is that the rector has given the local complaint that led to the mobilization, but now the statement has overflowed these claims, Now what is required is for example the democratization of university governments. The rector Graue firm to study conditions of fellow CCH Azcapotzalco improve, but says nothing about how the porriles organizations operate throughout the university. Why not going to do anything because the statement of the grounds does not ask.
What we have open is how to deal with this maneuver, both rectory and the transitional government, that what they want is to deflate the mobilization to liquidate this organizational process. So, That's what was left in the last Interuniversity open, the list of demands has to move forward, support mobilization CCH Azcapotzalco, all their demands are met, but now it can not be demobilized whole process only by the signature of that local specifications.
AenR: What are the prospects of public education with the new government?
RV: It's been quite serious things with the transitional government representing Andrés Manuel. For example, among political operators, The current Secretary of Education AMLO, that will cover that position when the new government takes office, It called Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma, It was one of the operators that late 90 He drew up an operating the PRI government to capture the EZLN. That among other things, Romo as the entrepreneur who benefited from the privatizations of the years 90, it will be the Secretary of the Interior of Andrés Manuel.
It's pretty clear that Andres Manuel has agreed a smooth transition. If he had a progressive character his future government, It is already clear that now will be completely tied by the set of alliances, even with ultra ultraconservative and reactionary sectors of the business community and Mexican politics, which it has made for a transition without major problems.
AenR: How to continue the fight against violence against students?
RV: The most important thing should have as perspective the student movement is to amplify the demand for the cessation of violence. Not only against the university sectors. The level of violence in the country is at a level that is widespread. In that sense it might be a demand that I managed to bring together many sectors, not only the university sector. It has to be a demand by industry, but if it is restricted only to university level, what can happen is that this new boom student sector is to be chopped, because it will not have more support against a society that lives the same levels of violence they have university. The main perspective is not to be movement in the quagmire, is going out, stir demand for better living conditions, including a life in peace and dignity, in a country with levels of violence rather high.
AenR: What are the next actions of protest?
RV: The first action will be the 26 September to a new anniversary of the murder of fellow Ayotzinapa in 2014 and the 2 October has not only thought about doing a mobilization, but a general strike in all universities, for him 50 Slaughter anniversary of the Tlatelolco, but also for this event 3 September and the list of demands of inter-university assembly.
He interviewed Gustavo Giménez
