A group of citizens from Tehuacán, who have previously protested to demand the repeal of the 2026 Revenue Law—which includes an increase in the water service rate—blocked the Cuacnopalan-Oaxaca highway this Friday after authorities failed to show up for a previously scheduled meeting.
Since the morning, the protesters had gathered in front of the Metropolitan Regional Center for Public Security (C5), intending to take action if no agreement was reached at a dialogue table agreed upon last Tuesday, following a demonstration at a public event.
The meeting was scheduled for 10:00 a.m. at the Municipal Palace, and a delegation went to the location; however, no council members, Mayor Alejandro Barroso Chávez, or the delegate of the Ministry of the Interior, Marco Antonio Balseca, who had signed a document committing to attend, were present.
After leaving the municipal building, the citizens met with the rest of the group and agreed to protest at tollbooth number 76 on the Cuacnopalan-Oaxaca highway. There, they allowed vehicles to pass freely without paying a toll, remaining at the site from noon onwards.
The protesters expressed their discontent with what they considered a lack of interest from municipal and state authorities, calling the situation an insult to the population. They stated that there had been a commitment to dialogue and find a solution to the up to 400 percent increase in the cost of water service, which—they asserted—is unaffordable for many families.
They warned that they would wait a little longer to be heard, either by the presence of the delegate from the Ministry of the Interior or by phone. Otherwise, they would proceed to completely block the highway and the Mexico-Veracruz federal road.
As the hours passed and with no response, the protesters decided to block all lanes at the tollbooth, as well as the federal highway, demanding immediate attention from the authorities. By 6:00 p.m., the line of vehicles was already considerable, and the protesters asserted that they would not leave until they were heard.
Source: oem
