1996-10-17 Local Press - Hunger Strike
Article Index
Hunger Strike to Protest Conasupo Cover-zip
PRD Congressional Representative Victor Quintana began a hunger strike on Tuesday, October 8 to protest the PRI'S decision to close the Congressional Commission investigating corruption in the state staples company, CONASUPO. He was later joined by Manuel Ortega, from El Barzon. Quintana, a member of Equipo Pueblo and of the Democratic Peasant Front (Frente Dernocratico Campesino) in Chihuahua said he had little hope that his hunger strike would result in the re-establishment of the Commission, but said the purpose of the strike was to get Mexican society to stand up and oppose corruption. He announced that he would stay on strike until he had collected 10,000 signatures against corruption in Mexico. One week later, the strike was ended after collecting around 50,000 signatures from Mexican citizens calling for the Commission to be reestablished and calling for an end to corruption. Quintana and Ortega also received a letter of support from US Representative Bernie Sanders (I-VT). (La Jornada, 10-15 October).
Final Results in Guerrero
The final count in the October 6 elections in Guerrero resulted in 53 municipalities controlled by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), 19 controlled by the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), two for the Revolutionary' Workers Patty (PRT) and one for the National Action Party (PAN). The state congress will continue to be controlled by the PRI (30 seats), while the PRD holds 12 seats, the PAN 2, PT 1, and the Cardenista party 1. Irregularities in the elections have led to PRD protests in at least three municipalities. however. Electoral officials and party leaders agreed that in at least four municipalities with very close votes, each urn will be recounted. (La 3ornada, E4 October).