Background - Report from the "Mexmode meeting" Conducted by Antorcha Campesina. Wednesday, May 21 At approximately 1:30 pm a variety of vehicles, including two buses with Antorcha Campesina logos and an ominous hearse, finished unloading several hundred people in the soccer field in front of Mexmode. The crowd was composed of between one and two hundred Mexmode workers (some no longer employed by Mexmode) , including about a one hundred Antorcha members of all ages (who could not explain why they were there except "to support"), Antorcha leaders and perhaps fifty to one hundred unknown men armed with sticks. These men drove around the neighborhood in cars, standing at the entrances and acting menacingly. Some produced sheets of paper and handed them to Antorcha leaders. The papers appeared to be copies of voting IDs and signature sheets with blank headings. After taking the signatures of the workers, Antorcha Campesina leaders proceeded to hold a meeting in which the participation of Mexmode workers was minimal. After "unanimously" ousting Josefina Hernández Ponce, an Antorcha leader presented to workers the names of an "executive committee" and then had the committee "unanimously" approved. Special care was taken to have the assembly name Antorcha Campesina leaders Francisco Rodríguez and Sergio Jiménez as legal representatives. Previously, Mexmode leadership had the prerogative of choosing legal counsel, as this has often been a means to control unions by outsiders. No effort was made to entertain other motions, slates or to tally votes at any point during the meeting. At approximately 2:30 pm, Antorcha members declared the meeting closed, presented a "folk dance spectacle" and then marched to downtown Atlixco. The meeting can in no way be considered an exercise of freedom of association and cannot be considered to express the will of Mexmode workers, due to the following facts: 1) Mexmode workers were only marginally involved in the meeting process. 2) The presence of Antorcha members matched, if not surpassed, the presence of Mexmode workers. 3) Even if all those involved in the meeting were in fact Mexmode workers it is unlikely that the statutory quorum to hold a meeting, let alone elect leaders, was met. 4) The heavy presence of outsiders, especially the unknown men at the fringes, which points to an atmosphere of intimidation. 5) The fact that no dissent was expressed, and that no space was ever provided for this, creates the impression of the meeting being a fait accompli. While there is reason to believe that many of the workers present have disagreements with the current SITEMEX leadership, there is no reason to believe that this was an exercise to address these issues. While 200 out of 750 members is a considerable and important number, it is not a majority. The event yesterday, contrary to Antorcha's apparent intentions, demonstrates that in fact the majority of Mexmode workers are unwilling to have Antorcha Campesina represent them.