Will arrest of UBISORT leader quell Oaxaca violence?

Amnesty International praised the recent arrest of UBISORT leader Rufino Juárez Hernández in Oaxaca. UBISORT, or the Unión de Bienestar Social de la Región Triqui, is a paramilitary organization reportedly set up by the PRI in 1994 and protected by the state government, and has been involved in much violence and assassinations, including the high-profile murder of the Finnish activist Jyri Jaakkola.

UBISORT has also faced resistance from Movimiento de Unificación y Lucha Triqui Independiente (MULTI-I), of the Triqui indigenous people, many of which have been victim of UBISORT and of MULT, or Movimiento de Unificación y Lucha Triqui, also affiliated with the PRI.

What the US really thinks of Enrique Peña Nieto

For critics of Mexico State's governor and likely 2012 PRI presidential candidate, the most recent Wikileaks revelations from La Jornada on the subject of Enrique Peña Nieto are pure gold. This is what the U.S. embassy thinks of him [from Spanish, not from the orginal]:

"Godson of ex president Carlos Salinas"

"Cut from the same cloth as the old PRI"

"Made in the same mold of the stale Mexico State PRI, he is not exactly recognized for his transparency when it comes to friends and allies"

And also,

"pays pollster companies to make them give results favorable  to him"

One cable, in an absolutely marvelous reference, calls Mexico State a "Potemkin Village."

Now if only Mexico's voters will reach the same damning conclusions as the U.S. embassy.

First Mexico State gubernatorial debate, available here on youtube

First Mexico State gubernatorial debate, led by Denise Maerker, available in complete form here on youtube

Phrase of the day, following Edomex debate

Attention has earlier been raised toward the ridiculous practice, in Mexcio State now taking to the very extreme, of notarized "promises" made by a candidate ahead of an election.

In the first debate held by the three Mexico State candidates, where reportedly PRD candidate Alejandro Encinas came out on top,  PAN candidate Luis Felipe Bravo Mena had the best characterization of the 6,000 compromisos practice:  "A diarrhea of promises."

Indeed.

See the debate for yourself here.

Why Ley Peña was implemented in Mexico State: One obvious reason "revealed"

With the Mexico State gubernatorial campaign well underway, we can now see clearly exactly why Govenror Enrique Peña Nieto was so eager to change the state's electoral code (what was dubbed Ley Peña) including shortening the campaign to 45 days. Mexico State has 125 municipalities, and visiting all during the campaign is virtuall impossible.

Unless...
Unless you have your own helicopter! 

Eruviel Ávila, PRI's candidate (and, lest we forget, in coalition with the misnomed "Green Party" (PVEM), insists that his use of a private helicopter does not entail going over campaign spending limits.

Yet how much does it costs to have a private helicopter? That information, however, Ávila declined to say.

AMLO on Zedillo as possible new IMF head

AMLO opposes the idea of Ernesto Zedillo as possible new IMF head, arguing he lacks the sufficient moral standing to do so:

"Zedillo, who now wants to be new chairman, is someone without shame; he sold off the National Railways of Mexico, and when he left the presidency, he went to work for them."

Back to the future in PAN: Ernesto Ruffo to head Vázquez Mota campaign

A bit of interesting news for students of the Partido Acción Nacional (PAN): Ernesto Ruffo returns to politics in order to coordinate the campaign of Josefina Vázquez Mota to be the party's presidential candidate.

As you may recall, Ernesto Ruffo Appel was the first-ever governor of a state not belonging to the PRI: In 1989, he won the governorship of Baja California for PAN, but has in recent years been somewhat alienated from the party.

Fun fact 1: He was born in San Diego
Fun fact 2: He supports the legalization of drugs.