Action aganst Femsa Coca Cola, SCLC (Photo@ Alianza por la Salud Alimentaria)

On April 10th, as part of the commemoration of the 98th anniversary of the assassination of Emiliano Zapata, organizations and neighborhoods of San Cristobal de las Casas made a march to demand the cancellation of the concession to Femsa Coca Cola or at least a cap on the extraction of water from the plant installed in this city.

They denounced that, “this company extracts more than 750,000 liters of water every day in a city that faces a growing shortage of this liquid. In addition to being responsible for the serious health consequences of the high consumption of Coca Cola and other sugary drinks, which have caused a serious epidemic of obesity, diabetes and dental caries suffered by the population of the Chiapas Highlands” (sic).

Due to this they demanded that the authorities stop “giving the transnational company preferential treatment”; “to the Ministry of Health, the withdrawal of Coca Cola vending machines from hospitals and public buildings where health care is promoted and the mayor of San Cristobal de Las Casas is investigated for favoring invasions and the destruction of natural reserves and wooded areas that put the springs and the water supply of the city at risk.”

Demonstrators said that this action was the beginning of a permanent campaign that will include mobilizations and legal actions to recover water in favor of citizens.

For more information in Spanish:

Comunicado de prensa (organizaciones convocantes, 10 de abril de 2017)

Hoja informativa sobre Coca Cola en Chiapas (Alianza por la Salud Alimentaria)

Protestan contra Femsa-Coca Cola por explotar reservas de agua en Chiapas (Proceso, 10 de abril de 2017)

For more information form SIPAZ:

Chiapas: Zinacantán contra la privatización de su agua y el despojo de su manantial (Mayo 24, 2016)

Nacional: Amplio repudio social frena Ley General de Aguas (marzo 12, 2015)