Mexico's UNAM Strike


Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit


By The Associated Press
Tuesday, April 20, 1999; 6:43 p.m. EDT

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Tens of thousands of students shut down Mexico's main
university -- one of the largest in the world -- with an indefinite strike
Tuesday to protest a tuition hike that has ended the state-run school's
virtually free status.

The students walked out on most campuses of the National Autonomous
University, effectively blocking classes and research activities. They
vowed to strike until college officials revoke last month's hike, which
raised annual fees from 2 cents to about $145. 

University President Francisco Barnes de Castro said Monday that his
administration would not back down over the hike, which officials say is
necessary due to steadily decreasing government funding. He called for
further negotiations with student leaders.

The university, known as UNAM, has some 268,000 students at 42 campuses
throughout the Mexico City metropolitan area. Students have long fought
against any increase in fees, which have been frozen since 1948 due to
constitutional guarantees of free education in state-run schools.

UNAM officials have promised students whose families make less than four
times the national minimum wage, about $3.50 a day, would be exempt.


(c) Copyright 1999 The Associated Press



 
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