Cecilia Romero, head of the National Institute for Migration (Instituto Nacional de Migración, INM), has much in common with other Calderón appointees: She is close personally to the president, yet appears highly ineffectual at her job. Following the recent discovery of the 72 migrants in Tamaulipas murdered by the Zetas, who are the main traffickers in immigrants, attention has again shone on the incompetent head of INM, an institute she has led for four years. Romero felt compelled to publicly reject that she was not leaving the INM - again hardly the first time - though reportedly she has lost the confidence of Interior Minister José Francisco Blake Mora. Given that Blake Mora is also very close to Calderón, things might be different this time.
On the subject of immigration, and particular in light of the gruesome events of the past week, I want to draw attention to a superb investigation by London-based Amnesty International, called "Invisible Victims: Migrants on the Move in Mexico." (direct PDF download here). It offers a tremendous amount of insights into the migrant situation in Mexico, as well as the role of Mexican state institutions. The INM certainly does not come across in too glowing a light, as it appears far more occupied deporting illegal immigrants rather than helping the victims of human trafficking, of rapes, of beatings, of abuse. INM comes across every bit as brutal and abusive as its U.S. counterpart.
Given the venomous poison spewed by the catholic clergy the past weeks (or years), it is worth pointing out, as the Amnesty report does, the tremendously important and good work carried out by local catholic priests in states such as Tabasco, Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Veracruz, where priest-run shelters, as well as those of private individuals, not only give rest and comfort to exhausted migrants, but very often protect their very lives.
While I personally believe most of these people are motivated by the kindness of their heart rather than by their faith, given the disconnect between these valiant individuals and their ultra reactionary high clergy leaders, the saying comes to mind that "christianity is that good, that even the catholic church has not managed to destroy it in two thousand years."
Thursday, September 2, 2010
From the horse's mouth: Bishop Onésimo Cepeda rejects the secular state
Onésimo Cepeda, bishop of Ecatepec in Mexico state and very close to Governor Enrique Peña Nieta, declared that he finds the secular state "a load of crap" (thanks to Gancho for etymological assistance).
In His Own Words:
I believe that the secular state does not exist. I am a lawyer. The State is composed of people, territory and power. The people are secular? No. The cornfields, that is, its territory, is it secular?, No. Is the government secular?, Yes. So, we are a state ruled by a secular government. This is the legal definition. The secular state, God forgive me, is a a load of crap."Can the catholic clergy make it any more clearer how little it respects the Mexican constitution, or the citizens of the Mexican state?
And lest we forget: Bishop Onésimo Cepeda is under investigation for money laundering and procedural fraud.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Se ve, se siente, De la Fuente Presidente
Juan Ramón de la Fuente penned an eloquent defense of the secular state in today's El Universal, in which he moreover used the occasion to throw a jab at Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
De la Fuente wisely bides his time, yet some postulation for a high political office appears increasingly likely in 2011-2012.
De la Fuente wisely bides his time, yet some postulation for a high political office appears increasingly likely in 2011-2012.
The capture of La Barbie a victory for Calderón, but a blow to Enrique Peña Nieto.
The apprehension of drug kingpin Edgar Valdéz Villarreal in Lerma, not far from the state capital Toluca in Mexico State, is not good news for all: Mexico State Governor Enrique Peña Nieto felt compelled to vehemently reject accusations that his state - a "factory of poverty," according to his critics - is a free haven for drug barons, yet the capture of La Barbia, as well as other lesser figures in recent weeks, clearly has made the "Golden Boy" nervous.
Governor Zeferino Torreblanca of Guerrero is a very, very angry man
Days after the PRD made official its expected postulation of Ángel Aguirre as its candidate for governor in Guerrero, outgoing governor Zeferino Torreblanca amply demonstrated that he is very angry with the postulation. Torreblanca has been a very controversial governor of Guerrero, and appointed very few PRD cadres to important government positions, yet now declared, ahead of the very likely declaration that PAN (of little presence in Guerrero) will also line up behind Ángel Aguirre, that a PRD-PAN alliance is "a corporation" formed by "bandits, mercenaries, poisoners and cynics that are leaving with bags full of money," and launches a long tirade against the PRD.
Why so angry? The real reason is that Torreblanca's anointed one, Armando Ríos Piter, failed to make the cut in the poll that the PRD arranged to measure support for its precandidates, and the party thus chose Ángel Aguirre Rivero, until now a PRI senataor, as its gubernatorial candidate. In Mexican politics, there is little that angers outgoing governors more than failing to install their chosen successor. Expect Torreblanca to back Manuel Añorve Baños, the PRI candidate, in retaliation.
Torreblanca is not the only one to criticize the PAN-PRD alliances. Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas yet again noted his opposition, as he declared this and other possible alliances in 2011 a "failure" and "a step backward." This is a position he shares with Andrés Manuel López Obrador, his one-time political godson, and former president Vicente Fox.
Why so angry? The real reason is that Torreblanca's anointed one, Armando Ríos Piter, failed to make the cut in the poll that the PRD arranged to measure support for its precandidates, and the party thus chose Ángel Aguirre Rivero, until now a PRI senataor, as its gubernatorial candidate. In Mexican politics, there is little that angers outgoing governors more than failing to install their chosen successor. Expect Torreblanca to back Manuel Añorve Baños, the PRI candidate, in retaliation.
Torreblanca is not the only one to criticize the PAN-PRD alliances. Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas yet again noted his opposition, as he declared this and other possible alliances in 2011 a "failure" and "a step backward." This is a position he shares with Andrés Manuel López Obrador, his one-time political godson, and former president Vicente Fox.
Imprisoned women to be set free, yet Guanajuato scandal not over for Juan Manuel Oliva Ramírez
The state congress in Guanajuato, following a visit by a UN delegation that sharply criticized the state government for its treatment and criminalization of women, voted 36 to one to reduce the penalties for "infanticide" of one's own children, from 36 to 3-8 years of prison.
Only one deputy, Elvira Paniagua (PAN) from Celaya district, voted against the reduction of the maximum penalty.
This, of course, has nothing to do with vicious child killers, but refers to the drastic penalties given to women - most of them poor, illiterate, and of indigenous origin - accused of having had an abortion, whether they were to blame or not.
One likely consequence is that María Araceli Camargo Juárez, Ofelia Segura Frías, Yolanda Martínez Montoya, Liliana Morales Moreno, Ana Rosa Padrón Alarcón and Susana Dueñas Roch will be set free. They are all poor campesinas who were given draconian prison sentences, simply locked up for having aborted, including for miscarriages.
The state administration signaled the women would be set free soon, possibly through a decree by the governor, but was quick to emphasize this was not the same as exonerating them. This reflects not only stubbornness, but mere stupidity: The government under Juan Manuel Oliva was eager to get this case over with, as Oliva harbors presidential ambitions, yet now, rather than to admit its mistake, it will now likely be faced with an appeal by the women to the Mexican Supreme Court to have their names cleared. The case has the potential to bring even more spotlight on the governor as a radical reactionary, and damage his chances of becoming the PAN's nominee for the presidency.
At, times, one truly reaps what one sows.
Only one deputy, Elvira Paniagua (PAN) from Celaya district, voted against the reduction of the maximum penalty.
This, of course, has nothing to do with vicious child killers, but refers to the drastic penalties given to women - most of them poor, illiterate, and of indigenous origin - accused of having had an abortion, whether they were to blame or not.
One likely consequence is that María Araceli Camargo Juárez, Ofelia Segura Frías, Yolanda Martínez Montoya, Liliana Morales Moreno, Ana Rosa Padrón Alarcón and Susana Dueñas Roch will be set free. They are all poor campesinas who were given draconian prison sentences, simply locked up for having aborted, including for miscarriages.
The state administration signaled the women would be set free soon, possibly through a decree by the governor, but was quick to emphasize this was not the same as exonerating them. This reflects not only stubbornness, but mere stupidity: The government under Juan Manuel Oliva was eager to get this case over with, as Oliva harbors presidential ambitions, yet now, rather than to admit its mistake, it will now likely be faced with an appeal by the women to the Mexican Supreme Court to have their names cleared. The case has the potential to bring even more spotlight on the governor as a radical reactionary, and damage his chances of becoming the PAN's nominee for the presidency.
At, times, one truly reaps what one sows.
Hugo Valdemar barks loudly, but quickly whimpers
Just days after accusing Marcelo Ebrard of "the criminal offense of embezzlement, Hugo Valdemar, spokesperson for the Catholic Church, backtracked on these serious allegations, after Ebrard urged him to present the evidence and press charges.
Valdemar meekly responded to Ebrard's challenge by declaring,
Valdemar moreover noted he did not fear a possible trial - he himself has been denounced legally - for his earlier statements; should he receive a fine, "this is no problem; there are are many Catholics that are ready to pay this [fine] and others that may come." If the catholic high clergy continues to act as if they are still living in the 15th century, I am not that convinced they can rely on the loyalty of the faithful to forever bail them out for the stupidities they commit. As the case of the United States has shown, paying the victims of the church's pederasts can on its own threaten to ruin them.
Valdemar meekly responded to Ebrard's challenge by declaring,
"I said that the actions he took utilizing public resources could be falling under the supposed offense of embezzlement, but I am not going to make it easy for him; they want me to make a (legal) denouncement, but I am not going to do it."And why not? It seems it is far easier to hurl incendiary accusations and then backtrack quickly, rather than to stand by one's words.
Valdemar moreover noted he did not fear a possible trial - he himself has been denounced legally - for his earlier statements; should he receive a fine, "this is no problem; there are are many Catholics that are ready to pay this [fine] and others that may come." If the catholic high clergy continues to act as if they are still living in the 15th century, I am not that convinced they can rely on the loyalty of the faithful to forever bail them out for the stupidities they commit. As the case of the United States has shown, paying the victims of the church's pederasts can on its own threaten to ruin them.
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