Mexican farmers seize dams to stop water payments to US

QUERETARO, Mexico

A conflict over water deepened Wednesday in northern Mexico after farmers seized another dam near the border with the U.S. state of Texas.

They are attempting to cut off the water to stop water payments to the U.S. The payments are part of a longtime treaty between the two countries. But in recent years, Mexico has fallen behind on them.

Local government officials in the region say they want to make sure local farmers have enough water before fulfilling their payments to the U.S.

In the northern state of Chihuahua, the governor said there was not enough water for both.

But Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the country needed to comply with its treaty with the U.S., enraging many Mexicans in the border region.

“We need to comply with the water agreement that was signed,” he said.

“Mexico has always paid its part. Always. And we will not stop doing it because we don’t want an international conflict.”

The farmers took over the La Boquilla dam from National Guard troops Tuesday. They had seized another dam near the border town of Ojinaga earlier this week.