The governor of Coahuila, Miguel Riquelme, and the director of the Federal Electricity Commission, Manuel Bartlett, exchanged accusations and blame for irregularities in the coal mines, following the accident in Múzquiz that killed seven workers.
Bartlett, who blamed the accident on the state president, said the Coahuila government should have avoided the collapse by imposing safety measures through its Labor Secretariat.
He even told Riquelme to “cynically protect those who want to monopolize the purchase of coal, against small producers.”
Governor @mrikelme attributes moral responsibility to me for having lowered the price of coal, which he said caused mining entrepreneurs to neglect the maintenance of their mines.
— Manuel Bartlett (@ManuelBartlett) June 14, 2021
Meanwhile, the Coahuila governor said that mining and electricity are “the exclusive competence of the federation” and that his administration can only intervene at the request of federal authorities.
In addition, he recalled that on October 23, the organization Familia Pasta de Conchos asked him for an appointment to explain to him the safety conditions in which the coal miners work.
“You have not taken care of them and you did not go to the families of the trapped miners. Before apportioning blame, I invite you to assume your responsibilities, which by law correspond to you,” Riquelme said on his official Twitter account.
Mr. @ManuelBartlett you have not been secretary of the interior for a long time, but director of the @CFEmx and I would remind you that on October 23 of last year, the pasta de conchos family organization asked you for an appointment to explain the terrible working conditions (5/10)
— Miguel Riquelme (@mrikelme) June 14, 2021
The state president blamed Bartlett for having caused “a serious crisis in the coal region of Coahuila” by favoring “a few companies,” and gave as an example Antonio Flores, brother of the mayor-elect of Morena in the municipality of Muzquiz, whom he said has benefited from the purchase of more than two million tons without bidding.
In this regard, the cfe head said that the accusations are “desperate acts to defend his interests and those of the large mining companies he represents.”
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