Will an already fractured protest movement fizzle and fade after July 1 elections?
Mérida, Yucatán --
A little more than a month after its unheralded birth, some are asking whether the national, largely student-driven protest movement known as YoSoy 132 will survive its greatest challenge to date -- Mexico's presidential election, which is now just 14 days away. Some suggest that the loose-knit organization's raison d'etre will automatically cease once the nation has decided who's going to be at the helm for the next six years.
In Mérida, which remains geographically and arguably a bit philosophically distant from the rest of the country, there have been three YoSoy demonstrations to date, with dwindling attendance. An initial gathering on May 23 might have drawn 500 people to the city's main plaza, although probably fewer. The June 3 meeting attracted perhaps half that number. By the time YoSoyers gathered on June 10 for the "First General Assembly" of the Yucatán chapter, it was downright embarrassing. An 11:00 a.m. starting time was moved back to noon, for lack of attendance. Eventually the program got under way, but less than 100 people showed up. The disappointment on the faces of organizers was plain. There were more reporters than participants present when the assembly started. All of this, in a metropolitan community of a million people with colleges, trade schools and universities on every street corner.
This week YoSoy 132 fractured on a national level. The reason was quite predictable, and his name is Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
It was abundantly obvious to me by the second, June 3 meeting that YoSoy may be non-partisan, but it's sure not a Welcome Wagon for PRI or supporters of Enrique Peña Nieto. I reported so the same date (YoSoy 132 returns to Mérida streets, this time showing its true colors). Of course, YoSoy has every right to wave its own political flag, but it should tell the world where it really stands. Perhaps the organizers don't understand the "non" in "non-partisan."
"Vote for PRI? I'd die first"
Just as clear as Yo-Soy's anti-PRI, anti-EPN orientation is its love affair with the leftist PRD candidate. That's what led to this week's internal rupture. Some YoSoyers want the group to remain true to its original intent: exposing and putting an end to media manipulation of the political process, especially the bought kind (U.K.'s Guardian reveals Televisa-EPN deal; U.S. diplomats troubled by Televisa-Peña Nieto links in 2009, charges The Guardian).
That splinter group (or some of its members) are now calling themselves Generación México. "We're never going to come out in favor of or against one candidate or political party," said a spokesperson this week. "That's what separates us from the others."
On the right: "As a young person I do a lot of stupid things, but I'll never vote for PRI"
"Our purpose isn't to help the left. We're young people, and we can't be the ones lying to society. We can't be saying on television that we're non-partisan, and at the same time do things which obviously favor one candidate over the others." Generación México, which considers itself the real voice of YoSoy 132, supports the "democratization of information," which it defines as equal access to unvarnished facts for all, thus enabling informed and intelligent voting.
A few critics of Generación have suggested that it's a Trojan Horse sent into the ranks of YoSoy 132 by PRI and forces loyal to Enrique Peña Nieto. The group denies so. "If this movement begins to be co-opted by a political party, we're going to lose all our credibility, and the reason for our existence." said the spokesperson. "We're not going to do anything which would benefit a party or a candidate. We're not financed by anybody. We're looking way beyond the election."
"Out!"
It's the last statement which has many people wondering. Mexicans vote two weeks from tomorrow, and daily polls continue to show the tricolor candidate with a commanding 15% lead. To be sure, self-reported undecided voters are about the same number, and the polls have a 3% margin of error. A López Obrador victory is statistically and historically possible; he almost scaled the mountain in 2006. A PAN victory would require both a miracle and a massive, last-minute realignment of votes, with many defections from one camp or another. It's still EPN's race to lose (Mexico's presidential campaign begins; López Obrador necesita subir 15 puntos en 12 días).
However one feels about YoSoy 132, or Generación México, the question is obvious. If Mexico's Institutional Revolutionary Party wins a new 72 month lease on July 1 and moves back into Los Pinos on the first day of December, from whence it was ousted in 2000, will either have the staying power to remain a significant voice of political dissent in this very divided nation of 112 million people? There's every reason to believe they won't.
Generación México "non-revisionists" have a simple message
July 17 - El futuro de YoSoy132 en México
June 18: A national YoSoy activist resigns after admitting that he was simultaneously working for a pro-López Obrador organization.
June 12: YoSoy 132 rejects Generación México claims of political partisanship.
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Mérida YoSoy 132 promises to turn up the heat
YoSoy 132 protest arrives in Mérida
The Winter of Our Discontent, John Steinbeck's last novel (1961). The title is a reference to the first two lines of William Shakespeare's Richard III (1594): "Now is the winter of our discontent / Made glorious summer by this sun (son) of York."
Note to readers:
ReplyDeleteThe local (Mérida) chapter of YoSoy 132, to which I have been Tweeting all of my recent articles about the movement, is upset. They say I’m treating them unfairly. They insist they ARE totally non-partisan, and are neither for or against any presidential candidate.
So I’ve added some previously published images to this article, all of which were taken in the past three weeks. As the saying goes, one picture is worth a thousand words. The photographic evidence would tend to refute their contentions. We’re known by those with whom we walk, and YS 132 is openly strolling with anti-PRIstas, at least in this city. Similar reports come from all over Mexico.
I’ve offered to interview local representatives, anytime, any place. No response so far.
OK thank you Mr. Byrme, I read it. You know so many people are upset with AMLO, and now he is calling for the demonstration on 09/06. The question is, will Yo Soy be no-shows?
ReplyDeleteThxs again for your perspective. Of course, we are hoping Yo Soy does not fall apart.
(asked the 1st question last night)