Calderón Reaffirms His Commitment to Eliminate Crime

President Felipe Calderón gave a rallying cry to the governors of Mexico today to stand behind their nation in the war on crime.

El Universal reported today that Calderón spoke to the governors in the National Public Security council, asking them for their continued support in the war against organized crime. He proposed that a list be made of every life that has been lost to the war on crime. Some speculate that this may be in response to last week's talks with Javier Sicilia and the National Peace Movement, where the families of victims voiced their concerns in a hearing at Chapultepec Castle.


"We need to do more," Calderón said in his speech today. "That's why I want us all to agree to set aside our differences and focus on clear, concrete objectives for the next few months."

The National Peace Movement, which took to the streets of Mexico City in May to protest the escalating violence between law enforcement and organized crime groups, spoke with Calderón to change the direction of the war on crime. They said that attacking the roots of crime, including unemployment and corruption, would do more to eliminate crime that military intervention.

Whether Calderón will change his policy to accommodate the Movement's ideas remains to be seen, but his determination to end organized crime remains strong.

Source: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/776066.html

Mexico City Toughens Land Use Laws

If a tree falls in Mexico City, the lumberjack could face nine years in prison.

El Universal reported today that within a month, Mexico City will enforce new laws regarding land use. According to the new regulations, anyone found violating land use permits will face three to nine years in prison. The penalty will be increased by a third when the violation occurs on natural reserve areas.

The new law also penalizes those who authorize such activities and those who benefit from them. In the past, only the offender was punishable by law. The new law also toughens sanctions against other crimes against nature, such as pollution.

There are 17 natural reserve areas in Mexico City, nine of them federal and eight local. Among them are Guadalupe's mountain, home to Guadalupe's Basiclia, a Catholic cathedral built in honor of the Virgin Mary; several groves surrounding Chapultepec Castle, the home of Emperor Maximilian during the Second Mexican Empire; and Mexico City's Ecological Park.

Mexico City's government has made it clear that it is determined to keep these national symbols alive.

Sources: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/ciudad/106824.html; http://www.sma.df.gob.mx/sma/index.php?opcion=26&id=99

Parties Seek Privacy

Members of the Federal Electoral Institute are trying to secure more protection for registries of party activists and members in an attempt to protect potentially sensitive information.

Benito Nacif, a a councilor of the institute, said that because these registries reveal "the political opinion, philosophical beliefs, and morals of those affiliated," they should be considered "sensitive information," as reported by El Universal.

Other members of the institute say these measures are unnecessary and that any sensitive information is adequately protected under current policies. "There is no obligation to release this kind of information," said Macarita Elizondo. "Article 44 states that information containing personal data will be confidential."

Nacif's concerns are well-grounded. Declaring one's affiliation with a political party can be a dangerous move. Some employers are known to threaten employees into voting a certain way, and if they find out an employee is affiliated with a political party the employer is opposed to, it could result in bullying or termination of employment.

Source: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/primera/37146.html

Ears That Do Not Hear?

Although President Felipe Calderón has agreed to speak with members of the National Peace Movement, some protestors doubt that he is really willing to listen.

The location for the planned hearing was originally scheduled to take place in the Anthropology Museum, but the government announced today that the location had been changed to Chapultepec Castle. The exact reason for the change is unknown, but speculation is already buzzing.

"The government might have decided to change the location for security reasons," said Rocato Bablot, a spokesman for the Peace Movement. "Protestors might show up at the museum, but we believe the Executive is putting one more barrier between himself and the cries of the people."

Bablot said that the change in venue will not deter the Movement from presenting their case.

Source: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/774325.html

Journalist Killed in Veracruz

Journalists around the world sometimes give their lives for their work - literally.

Journalist Miguel Angel Lopez was found dead in his home in Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico this morning along with his wife and son. Governor Javier Durate said this attack is not the first of its kind in Veracruz. "This is not an isolated event, but part of a series of actions that correspond to the presence of organized crime groups," he told reporters from El Universal.

Duarte said that these are not attacks against journalism, but against society as a whole. He made a public appeal to the national government for help in combating crime in his state. He added that the death of Lopez and his family strengthens his resolve to combat organized crime.

I Didn't Know!

When law enforcement officials raided businessman Jorge Hank Rhon's house early June 4, they had no idea who they were dealing with, according to one attourney.

Marisela Morales, who works for the Attorney General's office said that neither she nor the officers who conducted the raid were aware that Hank, a prominent political and business figure, was involved.

Morales said that the officers reacted to reports of a weapons cache, and that Hank's presence among the arrested was discovered when he was brought before ministerial authorities.

Upon discovering Hank among the arrested, Morales reported to President Calderón, who told her to simply act according to the law.

Hank's arrest has caused a stir among the political parties in Mexico. Some have called the arrest 'political terrorism' and have criticized the government for the force with which the raid was conducted. Morales said that such force was deemed necessary due to allegations of an arms cache. "With this amount of weapons, you expect to be greeted with gunfire, hence the force," she told reporters, according to El Universal.

Hank's fate is uncertain. Some of the weapons captured in the raid bear his name and may be involved in three homicides currently under investigation.

Surprising Transparency

One attorney was shocked when the Federal Judicial Council shared the reasons Jorge Hank Rhon was given his freedom.

Rhon, who was arrested last week for illegal possession of firearms, was released because the judge, Blanca Evelia Parra Meza, found that the police report failed to accurately document the arrest. Patricia Bugarín, an assistant attorney in the Attorney General's office specializing in organized delinquency, later criticized the decision to reveal the reasons Hank was released.


"I was very surprised to hear this," said Bugarín as reported by El Universal. While she admitted that there was nothing illegal about sharing the details of Parra's decision, she added that it was improper and premature.


Carlos Avilés Allende, a spokesman for the council, responded by saying that society needs to be aware of the decisions made in the courts, and that this kind of transparency is therefore vital. "We're entering a new era of transparency," he said, adding that he was surprised that the Attorney General's office would be outraged when its job is to reveal the decisions of the courts.

Go Directly To Jail

This will be a rough week for criminals if the Mexican government has anything to say about it.

The National Conference of Governors set in motion a plan to attack crime this morning. This plan involves 310,000 members of the police force across the nation and will be in effect until Sunday.

The plan, which was ratified last Friday, aims to reduce and penalize those responsible for crimes such as grand theft auto, selling stolen car parts, kidnapping, and the dismantling of organized crime groups.

"This is the biggest action we've taken in terms of working together as states," said Ebrard Casaubon, president of the conference, as reported by El Universal.

It remains to be seen how great an effect this action will have on crime, but criminals will certainly have their work cut out for them if they hope to get out of this jail free.

Trash Talkers

According to Humberto Moreira, elected officials of the Mexican government are too busy smearing his party to do their jobs.

Moreira, President of Mexico's Institutional Revolution Party said that it will be difficult to come to any policy agreements because members of opposing parties, especially some of President Calderón's cabinet members, are focusing their efforts on discrediting members of the party who hope to run for public office in 2012.

Moreira pointed out that this is especially ironic in light of President Calderón's recent calls for the nation to unite and address its problems.


"I see it as disloyalty towards the President," said Moreira, as reported by El Universal. "It's as if they see their time is running out and say, 'Let's see where we're going from here'.... they're hurting the most important projects of the country."


Unless politicians of every party place more importance on the people they serve and less on their personal aspirations, said Moreira, it will be difficult for the government to do anything until after the 2012 elections.

Plans to Speak With Sicilia Continue

A month has passed since the National Peace Movement staged their protest in Mexico City, and Mexico's federal government is now prepared to discuss their proposals.

Juan Marcos Gutierrez, Subsecretary of Governorship, said that the government is ready to discuss Javier Sicilia's proposals as soon as the National Peace Movement suggests a date.

Sicilia is a leader in the movement that took to the streets of Mexico City a month ago to protest police brutality against innocent citizens.

Hank's Arrest not Political Terrorism, says Poiré

Alejandro Poiré Romero, spokesman of Mexico's National Security, said that the arrest of Jorge Hank Rhon this weekend was not for political reasons. He said that the political use of the justice system "does not correspond to modern times, and much less to the federal government."


Hank, former governor of Tijuana and multimillionaire, was arrested at his home early Saturday morning for illegal possession of firearms. He is the son of Carlos Hank González, a prominent politician of Mexico's Institutional Revolutionary Party.

A 1999 report from the United States Drug Intelligence Center characterized Hank as an accomplice to smugglers, but the report was incomplete and never officially adopted. Hank has said many times that he is so rich, he has no need to be corrupt.

Calderón Seeks to Recruit Youth

Felipe Calderón, President of Mexico, asked college-age youth to consider a career as Federal Police officers in a speech he gave earlier today.

He said that the youth of Mexico can have a big part in changing the image of the Federal Police and help establish peace and combat organized crime in Mexico, calling it a "civil priesthood."

Calderón also called on state governors to raise the bar for their police forces.