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Nahuatzen . Mexican voters will go to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president, but many indigenous peoples are threatening to block voting in their communities to protest a political system they claim to have forgotten
. While the country is about to be ruled by its first anti-establishment leftist president of modern history, Andres Manuel López Obrador, the prospect of change has not resonated with locals small communities nestled in the wooded landscape of Michoacán. 19659002] Local residents destroyed electoral propaganda in the region and set up roadblocks to prevent the arrival of ballots. The authorities described the vote as "unsustainable" in 16 neighboring cities and would not risk a confrontation to try to force the elections.
Among the areas of conflict is the impoverished community of Nahuatzen, where the indigenous Purépecha cultivate avocado and make their living on small plots. This Thursday, dozens of men have blocked the entrance to the city with a trunk in the middle of the road.
"Politicians have done nothing but enrich themselves and leave the community in oblivion or marginalization," commented Antonio Arriola, who is part of the group. 39, a newly created indigenous council that has asked the Mexican government for autonomy.
After this Friday, local party leaders tried to deliver the ballots their personal cars, the Indians threatened to use mechanical shovels to dig a trench and reinforce their blockade.
After this Friday, rumor has spread that local party leaders might try to deliver the ballots in their personal cars, Indians have threatened to use mechanical shovels to dig a trench and strengthen their blockade.
Arriola and other local leaders acknowledge the reprimand you have something in common with presidential candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who began his career in politics decades ago advocating indigenous communities.
But Arriola said that the Purépechas learned the worst things. politicians, even those who seem to have good intentions.
"Our infrastructure in terms of streets, in terms of education, health, is over 40 years late," he said.
Nahuatzen is part of a growing movement among indigenous communities in Mexico that seek autonomy and turn their backs on general elections.
The dissent was lit six years ago during the last presidential election, when only one jurisdiction, the municipality of Cherán, in Nahuatzen, he chose not to vote. This year, the boycott extended to six other municipalities
. The turmoil also extends to the south of the country, in several indigenous communities of the states of Chiapas and Guerrero, where their leaders also threatened to prevent elections in that state. Sunday
The growing complaints of indigenous peoples seem to reflect a more general concern in the country, where widespread political corruption, drug cartel violence and deep poverty have fueled discontent.
Democracy in Mexico rose from just over 70% in 2004 to just under half last year, according to the Latin American Public Opinion Project. .
Never conquered . Resistance to the authorities from the outside goes back centuries, to the old Purépecha de Michoacán.
Renowned for their courageous independence and their ability to melt metals in times prior to the Spanish conquest of 1521, they were one of the few cultures in central Mexico that the Aztec armies never had submitted, despite repeated attempts.
On a federal highway near the city of Zirahuén, several hundred local residents established another blockade with a large yellow truck, cutting off traffic in both directions
they were determined to prevent any attempt to deliver ballots or to set up polling stations. Until Friday night, the electoral authorities had not made such an effort.
Aboriginal youth in baseball caps walked between long lines of stopped vehicles, warning drivers that they wanted to pass, they should remove any visible election advertising. its cars
But the cradle of the movement is Cherán, home to some 18,000 inhabitants, mostly Purépechas. The municipality proudly displays its pre-Columbian heritage in its police vehicles, where the name of the city is written in the native language, not in Spanish.
Anger against illegal exploitation, which would be controlled by the drug gangs, caused the riots in Cherán. The indignant residents expelled their mayor and local police, whom they accused of being accomplices. In 2012, a new government council based on indigenous customs began to be created
In the mid-term elections of 2015, 11 electoral councils in four other municipalities joined Cherán to boycott the elections.
Pedro Chávez, The chairman of the indigenous government council of Cherán said that he was pleased that the movement has further expanded during this year's presidential elections.
"Yes, this can be an inspiration and a step further in this path towards self-determination, recognition and experience of the rights of indigenous peoples," said Chávez, in front of his wooden house almost completed.
The issue of the rights of indigenous peoples was revealed in Mexico after the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into force in 1994 and the National Liberation Army Zapatista (EZLN) has "declared war" on the government.
There was a 12-day battle "Self-determination is discussed at least since the Zapatista uprising," said Erika Bárcenas, a lawyer based in Morelia, capital of Michoacán, who advises communities who wish .
Some election officials say that a solution to the growing resistance of indigenous communities lies in more local control of public finances.
"We perceived that the result of their struggle is that direct budgets" David Delgado, delegate of the National Electoral Institute of Michoacán
Marco Baños, adviser of the National Electoral Institute, has stated that Mexico must find ways to merge the old indigenous customs with the laws of the country in communities where resistance to voting is developing.
Thus, he argued that resistance to voting does not occur. is not as broad as the militants claim.
But, in Arantepacua, another Michoacan community that is boycotting the elections, Dionisio López said that they are not interested in going to the polls here. 19659002] " Everything is a big mafia. There is pure corruption here in Mexico and it is proven, "he said." Why deceive us? ", He added.
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