Mexico: Could rebels be behind pipeline blasts?

Mexican authorities are investigating the claim made by “a small, leftist rebel group” regarding explosions at several energy pipelines. A statement from the “People’s Revolutionary Army” (EPR) claimed responsibility for several blasts over the past week, including one earlier today which caused the shutdown of an oil pipeline run by government-controlled firm PEMEX.

A 1998 article from France’s Le Monde Diplomatique sheds some light on the EPR:

“Born in the 1960s, this very secretive Maoist-oriented organization "has more than a bad reputation", in the words of Enrique Avila in Mexico City, one of the leaders of the Zapatista National Liberation Front (FZLN) formed in civilian society at the instigation of Subcommandante Marcos.

On 30 August 1996 the EPR went on the offensive in seven of the country’s states…At the end of October, there was a renewed campaign killing about ten members of the security forces. Sporadic actions followed…In early 1998, a guerrilla spokesman, "Manuel", admitted that they were just at a stage of self-defense.”

Sources- Le Monde Diplomatique, Washington Post, Reuters

Image- Periodista Digital