Mexico: Wal-Mart's Plans for Indigenous Areas Under Fire

Construction workers lay tin roofing on a new Wal-Mart store under construction near major Mexican archaeological ruins at Teotihuacan, with the Pyramid of the Sun visible in the background, on September 2, 2004.

From Inter Press Service News Agency

MEXICO:
Wal-Mart's Plans for Indigenous Areas Under Fire

Diego Cevallos

MEXICO CITY, Aug 25 (IPS) - The U.S.-based retail giant Wal-Mart, which last year opened a store near the ancient Teotihuacan pyramids of Mexico despite loud protests from local activists and small businesses, is now seeking a repeat of its earlier victory, this time in two heavily indigenous areas. But local opponents are set for a pitched battle.

This time we will definitely keep Wal-Mart from continuing its attack on Mexico's culture and its people,

said Lorenzo Trujillo, head of the Civic Front for the Defence of Teotihuacan Valley, a coalition made up of local residents and shopkeepers from the internationally renowned archaeological zone.

We will occupy public offices and will do everything necessary to impede Wal-Mart's cultural plunder,

the activist told IPS.

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(Photo courtesy REUTERS/Henry Romero)