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Conflicting accounts emerge over Canal Once eviction
🇲🇽 Mexico /Conflict & Security

Conflicting accounts emerge over Canal Once eviction

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Mexico's government claims Canal Once was peacefully retaken by staff, while students allege a violent eviction by civilians.
  • Students occupied the state television station since May, demanding institutional improvements.
  • The government reported damage to the station's archives, while students accused workers of using force.

Mexico's state television station, Canal Once, was vacated on Sunday after being occupied by students since May 21, but conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the circumstances of its recovery. The government asserts a peaceful retaking by station staff, while students from the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) allege a violent eviction by individuals dressed in civilian clothes.

According to the Secretary of Public Education (SEP), Mario Delgado, station personnel, led by Director General Renata Turrent, entered the facilities peacefully. He stated that only six students remained and were invited to leave without incident. Following the staff's entry, authorities notified the Public Ministry and a notary public to document the property's condition. Delgado reported potential damage to the station's video library and audiovisual archives, with investigations underway to assess the full impact.

The demands of the polytechnic community belong to the academic and institutional sphere of the IPN and not to the public television station.

— Secretariat of Public Education (SEP)Questioning the students' occupation of Canal Once.

The SEP also questioned the prolonged two-month occupation, suggesting the students' demands were academic and institutional matters for the IPN, not the television broadcaster. They claimed to have found broken materials and disarray in the archives.

The incursion began when they observed the arrival of several transit vehicles and buses with approximately 100 people dressed in civilian clothes who headed towards the entrances of Canal Once.

— BrendaDescribing the arrival of individuals who allegedly evicted the students.

However, student representatives vehemently denied the government's account of a peaceful recovery. Brenda, a spokesperson for the student protest and a student at the IPN's Superior School of Medicine, described the events around 6:00 PM. She stated that around 100 individuals in civilian attire, arriving in transit vehicles and buses, approached the Canal Once entrances.

According to Brenda, a group of approximately 15 students performing maintenance duties were present when the contingent entered. She reported that initial attempts by the students to dialogue and prevent confrontation were met with violence. The students claim the individuals forcibly removed them from the premises.

The response of the people was violent.

— BrendaDetailing the students' experience during the eviction.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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