Mr Leo Gerard international president of United Steelworkers and Mr Ken Neumann USW National Director for Canada charge that a recent series of terrorist actions conducted by the government of Mexico has undermined international efforts to bring an end to the more than four year conflict between the Mexican government and the National Union of Mining, Metallurgical, Steel and Allied Workers of Mexico.

Responding to June 6th 2010 invasion of the Grupo Mexico copper mine and facilities in Cananea, Sonora by over 2,000 federal and state police officers, backed by armed helicopters, the grave injuries of Los Mineros members Mr Filiberto Salazar Anselmo and Mr Rafael Angel Covarrubias Garcia, and the forceful eviction of Los Mineros Section 65 members who have been on legal strike since July 2007, Mr Gerard says that the government of Mexican president Mr Felipe Calderon has launched a reign of terror against working people.

In addition to the seriously injured individuals, there were at least three people (including one youth) hit by bullets or projectiles. Others were beaten and suffered the effects of tear gas. Police arrested five union members and have search warrants out for various union leaders.