Farmers denounce government threats and warn of possible extension of the mega-blockade. Eraclio Rodríguez, leader of the National Front for the Rescue of the Mexican Field (FNRCM), denounced alleged threats from the federal government against David Estévez, president of the National Association of Transporters (ANTAC). During an interview with Aristegui en Vivo, he stated that a morning this Monday, a official from the Secretariat of the Interior, whom he identified as Tonatiuh, called Estévez “to threaten him”. Rodríguez held the government responsible for any legal or intimidating actions against him. Rosa Icela Rodríguez, head of the Secretariat of the Interior (Segob), assured that the mega-blockade by transporters and farmers has no motive and emphasized that the current administration has held “316 meetings with transporter leaders and more than 200 in the last three weeks with farmers to provide solutions to their demands”. “They belong to political parties, the PRI, PAN, PRD,” accused Rodríguez at a press conference about the supposed political motivations some peasant leaders might have for carrying out the blockade. Likewise, Segob convened a new dialogue table at 1:00 PM this Monday to “avoid repercussions on mobility, health, supply, as well as labor and educational activities in communities and entities”. For his part, the Secretary of Agriculture, Julio Berdegué, said during the same press conference that more than 200 local meetings have been held across the country to listen to and address demands. “In addition, thanks to the agreements reached, more than 28 thousand producers are registered to participate in the complementary support program for white corn in Guanajuato, Jalisco, and Michoacán,” the official stressed. The road blockades occur despite the fact that ‘there is dialogue’: Sheinbaum. Although the mega-blockade was expected in more than 20 states, Berdegué assured that they have not counted more than a thousand agricultural producers participating in the blockade. According to his account, an official identified as Tonatiuh would have warned of the opening of investigation folders and other measures aimed at stopping the participation of transporters in the movement.
