Shifting security zones

The WTO organizing committee cannot tell us where people can go without risk of arrest. They say they can't tell us this information for "security reasons"

Bridge into the Convention Centre where the WTO meeting will be held. These bridges will be the only access points to the meeting.

The Cancun area will be divided into colour-coded security zones; Green are open to all, Yellow require proof that the person has been cleared to enter and Red zones are closed to all peole without accreditation to the WTO meeting.

Most in our delegation have accreditation, which is a good thing because our office is in the shadow of the Convention Centre, and will most likely be in the Red zone. (This still doesn't mean we can go anywhere: we are restricted to areas in the Convention Centre open to non-governmental organizations - NGOs - and journalists)

The problem is that the security organizers cannot tell us the boundaries of the areas, and say they will change day-to-day. All our questions about access to our office and other areas of Cancun are answered with a "We can't tell you for security reasons".

This amounts to an arbitrary declaration of martial law in a constantly shifting area of Cancun.

Posted by EricS at September 7, 2003 03:23 PM