Uber drivers demand stop to attacks by taxi driver unions

Mérida – After an Uber driver was stopped by two tax drivers who proceeded to attack him and light his vehicle on fire, the Yucatán state government warned citizens that it will not tolerate violence of any kind or anyone who breaks the law, and instructed the State's Attorney General's Office (PGE) to investigate the matter.

Dozens of Uber drivers blocked the streets of the city's historical downtown in front of the Governor's Palace, where they demanded a stop to the hostilities by members of several different taxi driver unions.

The victim of the attack, who's been identified as Carlos Rolando Ramírez Cabrera, said that two men pretended to be customers; he picked them up at their home, and they proceeded to attack him and force him out of his vehicle.

“After being forced out of my car, I just saw one of the two light the car on fire,” the Uber driver said.

Neighbors, who heard the commotion and came out of their homes to find the car being lit on fire, saw the two men get leave the scene in a green and white tax. Unfortunately, none of them was able to take note of the taxi's license plate number.

Paramedics arrived at the scene to treat Ramírez Cabrera's wounds, who received several blows to his body and face.

Uber launched its services in Mérida in February of this year, which has resulted in several confronations with several tax driver unions that operate in the city.