Class hatred in Mexico gets international attention

Thanks to Tim Johnson who first brought this disturbing case to my attention:

The beating of a valet parking attendant by a wealthy resident of the Lomas neighborhood is now getting international attention, from The Guardian:

A video of a businessman assaulting a car park employee has added to mounting pressure within Mexico to confront pervasive class-based and racist abuse.The footage shows Miguel Sacal in the lobby of his apartment building in Mexico City repeatedly punching and kicking an employee, Hugo Vega, who does not defend himself. Subtitles, added to the soundless video, claim the attack was triggered by Vega's refusal to leave his duties at the counter to attend to a flat tyre on Sacal's Porsche.At one point Vega's colleagues halt the violence. Sacal is seen standing over his crouching victim and, according to the subtitles, says "fucking Indians" before kicking him again.

There is nothing new in the class hatred and racism many members of Mexico's upper class feel for their countrymen; what is different now is that thanks to Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, such disturbing acts have recently gone viral for the general public to behold.

A great read on Michoacán from UpsideDownWorld

I recommend UpsideDownWorlds's article  The Michoacán Debacle: Fault Lines Ahead of the Mexican Presidential Election by Paul Imison.

I don't necessarily agree with the implied assumption that Cherán's ditching of democratic elections in favor of the usus y costumbres mechanism may be a viable example to follow, but it is in any case a highly informed read on this beautiful, harrowed state.

Peña Nieto appears with a protector of child rapists: The new PRI?

This is thoroughly disturbing: PRI's presidential candidate Enrique Peña Nieto recently met with Mario Marín and his team; the disgraced  former Puebla governor even appeared in public in a rally yesterday in Puebla where Peña Nieto was speaking, although they carefully avoided a photo of the two together.

To refresh the memory of those who may have forgotten Mario Marín: This is a a man who was caught on tape plotting with now-imprisoned child rapist Jean Succar Kuri to harass and sexually assault Lydia Cacho, an intrepid journalist investigating child abuse scandals.

To Peña Nieto's disgrace, this is hardly the first time he meets with Marin, representative of the absolute worst of the PRI. Marin should the thrown in jail, not coveted by a man likely to be Mexico's new president.

A couple of few earlier posts:
Pederast Jean Succar Kuri finally sentenced. When will his friend Mario Marín be arrested?
"Goodbye, precious pederast": Puebla sends off Mario Marín

Guess what Gaddafi and AMLO had in common?

The answer is: Female bodyguards.

I've been on 5-6 AMLO meetings the past years and I've always noted now little security apparently surrounded him. For instance, one evening I was outside the PRD's national headquarters waiting for a ride and all of a sudden AMLO just walked up, alone. In my surprise I didn't get a chance to say or ask much beyond a a few pleasantries. No body guards in sights.

Here's a fascinating story from today's Milenio that addressed exactly the issue of AMLO's security. Turns out that Polimnia Romana Sierra, a personal assistant of sorts, has also been much in charge of protecting him wherever he has gone the past years (which are many places - he has toured every single municipality in Mexico at least twice now, unlike any other human being in Mexican history).

Polimnia offers quite a few interesting anecdotes. Did you know that he never sleeps in the hotel room assigned to him? Read more here.