It almost defies belief (no pun intended):
The Bishop of Mexicali, José Isidro Guerrero Macías, in a letter to the highly unchrist-like character Jorge Hank Rhon (who has 19 children and refers to women as "animals,") expressed his support for what he calls his "friend," and the "lamentable situation that you and your family is living through."
And, to be sure, he let Hank knows he is praying for him.
What an extraordinary job the Mexican high clergy does to undermine what little remains of its credibility.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Largest PRD faction favors Marcelo Ebrard´s as 2012 choice
Not exactly a shocker: Nueva Izquierda, (NI), the largest faction in the PRD and the one currently holding the party presidency, in its national conference this weekend, expressed a "predefinition" toward making Marcelo Ebrard PRD´s presidential candidate for 2012. According to the founder of NI, Jesús Ortega, in a clear allusion to AMLO:
I am strongly disinclined to believe they will.
I do believe in a libertarian left, attached to legality, inclusive, not exclusive. I believe in a left that represents the entire country, not just a part of it, and in a tolerant left, not intolerance and authoritarianism... Marcelo´s politics of widening the the rights of the citizens of Mexico City are symptomatic of the vision of modern left"NI still reiterated it will respect the party´s final decision with regards to the final choice of Ebrard or AMLO as PRD´s candidate. One can only hope AMLO´s backers within the PRD as well as its on-off allies of the PT and Convergencia, should Ebrard win the party vote, will do the same.
I am strongly disinclined to believe they will.
Fausto Vallejo Figueroa PRI's candidate for Michoacán governor
Hardly a surprise: Fausto Vallejo Figueroa, three-time mayor of capital Morelia, on Friday became PRI's "unity candidate" for the governorship of Michoacàn, after the other pre-candidates declined in his favor.
Morelia has long been a PRI stronghold in the PRD-led state; Vallejo won the mayorship with almost 47% of the votes in 2007.
Morelia has long been a PRI stronghold in the PRD-led state; Vallejo won the mayorship with almost 47% of the votes in 2007.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Forty years since halconazo, The Corpus Christi Massacre
June 10, 1971: Paramilitary thugs created and financed by the PRI and known as Los Halcones massacred more than 100 students of youth, demonstrating again the true face of the PRI dictatorship. Many young would even take up arms against a regime that, when pushed, would not hesitate to squash dissent.
La Jornada reminds us that of the accused murderers and masterminds, only former president Luis Echeverría Álvarez remains alive.
Some particularly recommended background reading: The National Security Archive´s electronic briefing book "The Corpus Christi Massacre," which include declassified documents on the U.S. role in the cover-up.
La Jornada reminds us that of the accused murderers and masterminds, only former president Luis Echeverría Álvarez remains alive.
Some particularly recommended background reading: The National Security Archive´s electronic briefing book "The Corpus Christi Massacre," which include declassified documents on the U.S. role in the cover-up.
Is Elba Esther Gordillo actually serious about aviadores?
Seeming leader-for-life of the Mexican teachers union SNTE, Elba Esther Gordillo, spoke out against so-called aviadores, or those registered and covering pay as teachers yet never setting their foot in a classroom. She even called on state governments to act against them as it "discredits" the SNTE.
Given that the notorious practice of aviadores has been a long-running trait of the SNTE, it is a bit hard to take Gordillo fully at her word her. Indeed, aviadores have been actively been used by SNTE in marches and demonstrations, as organizational personnel, as part of the PANAL party created by SNTE, and other non-teaching tasks that have nonetheless benefited Gordillo and SNTE.
One can only hope that Gordillo has indeed realized herself how much the practice does discredit SNTE and teachers in general in the eyes of the Mexican population, beyond the practical - and monetary - benefits they may offer. But I wouldn´t hold my breath.
Given that the notorious practice of aviadores has been a long-running trait of the SNTE, it is a bit hard to take Gordillo fully at her word her. Indeed, aviadores have been actively been used by SNTE in marches and demonstrations, as organizational personnel, as part of the PANAL party created by SNTE, and other non-teaching tasks that have nonetheless benefited Gordillo and SNTE.
One can only hope that Gordillo has indeed realized herself how much the practice does discredit SNTE and teachers in general in the eyes of the Mexican population, beyond the practical - and monetary - benefits they may offer. But I wouldn´t hold my breath.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Pablo Salazar, a Mexican Mandela?
With virtually no one leaping to his defense, former governor (2000-2006) Pablo Salazar Mendiguchí declared he would launch a hunger strike, and leave prison either dead or freed of charges, in response to his arrest on corruption and embezzlement charges.
Not only that: His choice of reading material in prison, according to his attorney, was Nelson Mandela's autobiography.
Now that's a bit rich, señor gobernador.
Worth reading is also Carlos Loret de Mola´s column, which suggests that Los Pinos was well informed of the alleged "danger" of Salazar to current Governor Juan Sabines, in a letter attributed to Sabines himself, who, to recall, was Salazar´s one-time protégé.
Not only that: His choice of reading material in prison, according to his attorney, was Nelson Mandela's autobiography.
Now that's a bit rich, señor gobernador.
Worth reading is also Carlos Loret de Mola´s column, which suggests that Los Pinos was well informed of the alleged "danger" of Salazar to current Governor Juan Sabines, in a letter attributed to Sabines himself, who, to recall, was Salazar´s one-time protégé.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Ex Governor Pablo Salazar of Chiapas arrested
Ex governors are not arrested everyday in Mexico - though quite a few are prime candidates for being thrown behind bars - so the arrest of former Chiapas governor Pablo Salazar Mendiguchí (2000-2006) is quite a big deal.
A comparison with the recent arrest of Jorge Hank Rhon is inevitable, though it must be noted that Salazar was arrested in the Cancún airport on orders of the Chiapas government, not the federal authorities. He is accused, among other things, of embezzlement and the abuse of authority, and several civil lawsuits are apparently also pending.
His attorney general, Mariano Herrán, was arrested in January 2009, and Salazar has now joined him in the El Amate prison, where both are now held.
Just like in the case of Hank Rhon one may ask, why now? Clearly the arrest of Salazar marks the definitive break with the current governor, Juan Sabines. Like Sabines, Salazar was a PRI member until he ditched the party to become an alliance candidate for a very wide coalition of parties - every single one, in fact, except from the PRI - that managed to kick out the PRI in 2000 in Chiapas
(the very same thing happened with Sabines; after losing the PRI nomination he was recruited by the PRD, though quickly broke with the party).
What is certainly clear the timing was right, with attention focused on Hank; likely there is as well much more here the eye, as last Friday, Salazar denounced in an interview a break in in his office where armed men apparently stole 50,000 flyers he had planned to hand out to defend himself.
Much dirty laundry remains to be aired.
A comparison with the recent arrest of Jorge Hank Rhon is inevitable, though it must be noted that Salazar was arrested in the Cancún airport on orders of the Chiapas government, not the federal authorities. He is accused, among other things, of embezzlement and the abuse of authority, and several civil lawsuits are apparently also pending.
His attorney general, Mariano Herrán, was arrested in January 2009, and Salazar has now joined him in the El Amate prison, where both are now held.
Just like in the case of Hank Rhon one may ask, why now? Clearly the arrest of Salazar marks the definitive break with the current governor, Juan Sabines. Like Sabines, Salazar was a PRI member until he ditched the party to become an alliance candidate for a very wide coalition of parties - every single one, in fact, except from the PRI - that managed to kick out the PRI in 2000 in Chiapas
(the very same thing happened with Sabines; after losing the PRI nomination he was recruited by the PRD, though quickly broke with the party).
What is certainly clear the timing was right, with attention focused on Hank; likely there is as well much more here the eye, as last Friday, Salazar denounced in an interview a break in in his office where armed men apparently stole 50,000 flyers he had planned to hand out to defend himself.
Much dirty laundry remains to be aired.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)