Mexico Opposition Barricades Congress

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MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Leftist lawmakers erected makeshift barricades Monday around the podium in Mexico's lower house of Congress, where they have been camped out for more than five days to protest the president's oil reform proposal.

(...)

Oil production in Mexico, one of the top suppliers to the United States, is declining, and reform advocates say state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, needs outside resources to explore for reserves. The bill would allow Pemex to partner with private companies for exploration and refining.

Opponents claim the bill would lead toward selling off parts of Pemex and threaten national sovereignty.

Sen. Carlos Navarrete, leader of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party bloc, vowed disruptions would continue.

"We have made a gigantic effort - at enormous political and physical costs - to push for a wider debate," he told W Radio on Monday.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MEXICO_OIL_REFORM?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-04-14-12-34-38

[eppur_se_muova]

1. DAYYUM!! Wish my Congressman were a Mexican!

:patriot:

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2. They're certainly engaged, aren't they.

Sadly, they're engaged in fighting over dwindling oil, which is a sort of microcosm of everybody's future.