Ring of Steel Security Costs $6 million

Ring of steel security costs $6m

David Munk in Cancun

Wednesday September 10, 2003

The Guardian

The Mexican authorities have thrown up a ring of steel around vast swaths of what is one of the world's largest tourist playgrounds to protect the 8,000 delegates, journalists and accredited pressure groups arriving for the five-day World Trade Organisation meeting.

Up to 5,000 police have been deployed along the 15-mile stretch, which is home to dozens of luxury hotels, multinational restaurant chains and gawdy discos, as well as the convention centre where the WTO's meeting will take place.

Roadblocks have been set in place, with up to six miles of steel fencing and barricades erected at strategic points, and sniffer dogs have been deployed in key buildings. Two ships from the Mexican navy can be clearly seen in the clear blue waters off the main beachfront and smaller motor launches are patrolling inland lagoons.

Officers from Scotland Yard and CIA personnel are present in Cancun, according to local papers, to ensure the safety of dignitaries.

So far the bill for security is reported to be around $6m (£3.7m).

The gathering of hundreds of protest groups and activist organisations has been kept outside this secure perimeter - in Cancun town itself.

Yesterday a coalition of these groups, and a number of NGOs, voiced fears over a reported statement from the local police commissioner in which he vowed to match protesters "blow for blow".

In a joint statement the coalition said: "We call on President [Vicente] Fox to publicly guarantee the safety and human rights of all who come to speak out for global justice."

The coalition said the last time protesters took to the streets in Cancun to demonstrate, at the 2001 World Economic Forum, dozens needed medical treatment after clashes with police.

Antonia Juhasz, from the International Forum on Globalisation, said the show of force this week was no less than intimidation.

"The intention of all this security is to frighten people," she said.

Jen Ahnam, 26, from Humboldt County, north of San Francisco, was among a group of more than 100 fellow activists from northern California.

"People are a little apprehensive. They are concerned the police have demonstrated that they can be very oppressive. We are going into this with a feeling that we all have to be prepared. We want to protest but not antagonise."

The interior minister, Santiago Creel, said: "We will respect, of course, freedom of expression and freedom to protest, but we will also ensure the law is strictly obeyed."

That strictness did not extend to any attempt to arrest protesters who exposed themselves in front of the warships on Cancun's beachfront on Monday.

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