2003 WTO Protests in Cancun
26 images Created 21 Aug 2011
In September 2003, the World Trade Organization held its ministerial meetings in Cancun, Mexico.
Mexican law enforcement officials were expecting a repeat of the riots that marked the 1999 WTO meeting in Seattle and picked Cancun because it was easy to defend. The meetings were held in the tourist district, which is accessible by only two roads - one from the north and one from the south. Police barricaded the roads and only let credentialed participants past the barricades.
The protestors congregated at the road on the north side of the strip and battled police there for three days. It was nothing like Seattle though. There was some rock throwing and police used tear gas a couple of times but it was much more peaceful than anyone expected. The only death was a Korean protestor who committed ritual suicide on the first day.
Mexican law enforcement officials were expecting a repeat of the riots that marked the 1999 WTO meeting in Seattle and picked Cancun because it was easy to defend. The meetings were held in the tourist district, which is accessible by only two roads - one from the north and one from the south. Police barricaded the roads and only let credentialed participants past the barricades.
The protestors congregated at the road on the north side of the strip and battled police there for three days. It was nothing like Seattle though. There was some rock throwing and police used tear gas a couple of times but it was much more peaceful than anyone expected. The only death was a Korean protestor who committed ritual suicide on the first day.
