Hundreds of truck drivers and private motorists are being affected by the blockade by residents of the Agua Cerrada community, belonging to the municipality of Maltrata, Veracruz, on the Puebla-Orizaba highway, heading towards the toll booth in the municipality of Esperanza.
In an interview with Fernando García Santos, a truck driver, he mentioned that the line of private vehicles and heavy units waiting to cross the toll booth is several kilometers long.
He noted that the blockade is by protesters from the Agua Cercada community, at kilometer 228 heading from Ciudad Mendoza to Acatzingo, on the Puebla-Orizaba highway.
The driver mentioned that elements of the National Guard’s Roads Division closed the circulation at the height of Balastrera, in the municipality of Nogales, Veracruz, due to the blockade.
It is important to mention that this road connects southeastern Mexico with the north of the country, as well as the center with the states of Puebla, Mexico, Hidalgo, and Tlaxcala.
In an interview with Martin Pérez, another truck driver, he mentioned that the authorities recommended continuing their journey to the state of Puebla via the alternate route of the Acultzingo summits and then joining the Esperanza toll booth to continue on the Puebla-Orizaba highway.
Blockade Started After a Trailer Overturned
Around 8:45 this morning, the highway had a long line of vehicles and heavy units due to an accident involving a truck that occurred during the early hours.
After the incident, protesters from Agua Cercada arrived to take over the road due to the alleged disappearance of a man, which happened last Monday.
Veracruz Authorities Engage in Dialogue with Agua Cerrada Protesters
Representatives from the Veracruz State Security Secretariat and elements of the National Guard’s Roads Division attended the blockade site and engaged in dialogue with the protesters from Agua Cerrada.
This was to avoid affecting the road that connects the states of Puebla and Veracruz, as well as to try to free the road and not affect third parties.
After several minutes of dialogue between the authorities and the protesters, an agreement was reached.
The protesters agreed to open the road every 20 minutes intermittently to avoid vehicle accumulation.
Truck drivers mentioned that the road is intermittently opened. However, the blockade on the Puebla-Orizaba highway towards the toll booth continues.
For this reason, the long traffic line is approximately 12 kilometers long.
Most truck drivers mentioned that they have no other option but to take the alternate routes of the Acultzingo summits.
Maltrata Summits Taken Over by Crime
On the other hand, truck drivers point out that this area is extremely dangerous. The crime rate has increased in the Maltrata Summits, with assaults on heavy cargo transport and private vehicles.
Maltrata remains a red zone for heavy cargo truck drivers and the corresponding authorities due to high risks of violent robberies, such as the one experienced by activist Aracely Salcedo last weekend.
The incident was evidenced on social media, where it can be seen how the representative of the Collective of Families of Disappeared Persons and her son were intercepted by armed men wearing tactical gear and high-caliber firearms.
This incident adds to the previous one, where heavily armed individuals threatened and shot a young man from Coatzacoalcos in his truck to rob him.
As a direct result the victim was shot in the forehead and the companion had a wound to his buttocks. The young Veracruzan lost his life two days later.
Source: Diario Cambio
