Mexico on the brink
November 17, 2014 1:46 PM Subscribe
Protests over the disappearance of 43 missing students raged across Mexico and the United States over the weekend. 'Activists blamed a government they say has ties to organized crime and called for people in Mexico and the U.S. to support a Mexico-wide strike on Thursday.
Coinciding with the Nov. 20 strike, protest marches will be held in Mexico City, as well as dozens of cities across the U.S. including New York City and Los Angeles.'
'Mexico is in crisis. In recent weeks, tens of thousands of furious protestors have taken to the streets of cities across the country.
The furor stems from the disappearance and all-but-certain killing of 43 male students of the Raul Isidro Burgos College in Ayotzinapa, at the hands of corrupt police allegedly working with a local drug cartel. The vicious crime and alleged grisly disposal of the students' bodies has touched a nerve across a country sick of violence and corruption in daily life. And it has exposed the government of President Enrique Peña Nieto -- eager to turn the country away from the drug war he inherited and towards ambitious economic reform agenda that depends on foreign investment -- to an uncomfortable spotlight.'
'Whoever you talk to, poor and rich, agree that the Sept. 26-27 killings in the town of Iguala — alongside new scandals involving possible government corruption in a murky $3.7 billion high-speed train construction bid awarded to a Chinese consortium, and the purchase of a $7 million mansion by first lady Angelica Rivero — have led to Pena Nieto’s worst political crisis since he took office two years ago.'
But there is little official reaction from the United States. 'It has become something of a truism to point to how deeply the United States is implicated in the drug war. American demand, Mexican supply. American guns, Mexican bloodbath. And yet the merciless violence south of the border — which Mexicans now see as the state mutilating its own people — makes it easy to think of the drug war as Mexico acting out its dark obsessions. What Americans can't face is precisely that we've broken bad together with Mexico: that corruption is a binational affair, extending to rotten apples among our Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and to an American political class that cynically keeps in place the amoral machinery of the drug war.'
'Mexico is in crisis. In recent weeks, tens of thousands of furious protestors have taken to the streets of cities across the country.
The furor stems from the disappearance and all-but-certain killing of 43 male students of the Raul Isidro Burgos College in Ayotzinapa, at the hands of corrupt police allegedly working with a local drug cartel. The vicious crime and alleged grisly disposal of the students' bodies has touched a nerve across a country sick of violence and corruption in daily life. And it has exposed the government of President Enrique Peña Nieto -- eager to turn the country away from the drug war he inherited and towards ambitious economic reform agenda that depends on foreign investment -- to an uncomfortable spotlight.'
'Whoever you talk to, poor and rich, agree that the Sept. 26-27 killings in the town of Iguala — alongside new scandals involving possible government corruption in a murky $3.7 billion high-speed train construction bid awarded to a Chinese consortium, and the purchase of a $7 million mansion by first lady Angelica Rivero — have led to Pena Nieto’s worst political crisis since he took office two years ago.'
But there is little official reaction from the United States. 'It has become something of a truism to point to how deeply the United States is implicated in the drug war. American demand, Mexican supply. American guns, Mexican bloodbath. And yet the merciless violence south of the border — which Mexicans now see as the state mutilating its own people — makes it easy to think of the drug war as Mexico acting out its dark obsessions. What Americans can't face is precisely that we've broken bad together with Mexico: that corruption is a binational affair, extending to rotten apples among our Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and to an American political class that cynically keeps in place the amoral machinery of the drug war.'
It's not just corruption - if the problem were just that Americans were buying Mexican drugs, it would be a much smaller problem. It is the active support of the US government for the Mexican state as long as the Mexican state goes along with NAFTA and lets the US do as it pleases to migrant workers. It's a more hands-off but ideologically similar thing to US support for Central American military regimes in the 80s. The US wants a right-wing Mexican government (and it is known, IIRC, that the funds the US government gives Mexico to buy weapons to fight the cartels are basically used to arm the police and the paramilitaries which then turn on students, union members and indigenous organizers) and the way you get a right wing government is to turn a blind eye to its violence and corruption.
There's so much going on in Mexico - the Zapatistas, other indigenous movements, teachers' movements, student organizers - and people get put down with extreme violence all over the place, particularly if there's any suggestion that different movements might join up nationwide.
I certainly wish some good might come out of all this, and I hope I just know too little to understand how that might happen.
posted by Frowner at 2:24 PM on November 17, 2014 [4 favorites]
There's so much going on in Mexico - the Zapatistas, other indigenous movements, teachers' movements, student organizers - and people get put down with extreme violence all over the place, particularly if there's any suggestion that different movements might join up nationwide.
I certainly wish some good might come out of all this, and I hope I just know too little to understand how that might happen.
posted by Frowner at 2:24 PM on November 17, 2014 [4 favorites]
I heard about this on Latino USA (general page, no link to the story -yet?-). This is still a major movement, but it's not getting much of any coverage in the US, but I found a good overview from The Guardian about what Latino USA covered:
But that Guardian article misses a key element that is covered in the NYT article: narco-politics, the level of association between politicians and cartels. The Latino USA piece said that to succeed as a local politician, you need to coordinate with the local cartels, but didn't make it clear if the cartels made the politicians, or the politicians just had to give in to the cartels to simply survive.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:34 PM on November 17, 2014 [3 favorites]
During the televised appearance on Friday, attorney general Jesus Murillo announced that two suspects had led authorities to trash bags believed to contain the incinerated remains of the students missing since being led away by police in the southwestern town of Iguala on 26 September. After an hour of speaking, Murillo abruptly signalled for an end to questions by turning away from reporters and saying, “Ya me cansé” a phrase meaning “Enough, I’m tired.” Within in minutes, the phrase was taken up online by protesters as a rallying cry against Mexico’s corruption and drug trade-fueled violence.YaMeCanse.mx has a round-up of some of the comments, in Spanish of course, how a PR flub turned into the rallying cry against corruption and violence in Mexico.
But that Guardian article misses a key element that is covered in the NYT article: narco-politics, the level of association between politicians and cartels. The Latino USA piece said that to succeed as a local politician, you need to coordinate with the local cartels, but didn't make it clear if the cartels made the politicians, or the politicians just had to give in to the cartels to simply survive.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:34 PM on November 17, 2014 [3 favorites]
An international tribunal has recently concluded that the San Fernando Massacre of August 2010 is a crucial example underlining the convergent responsibilities of the governments of Mexico, the United States and countries of origin.
posted by adamvasco at 4:07 PM on November 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by adamvasco at 4:07 PM on November 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
Considering the dearth of coverage on this in the American press, I'm playing catch-up. This seems like a much more important thing for the network news to cover in detail than their current blanket coverage of ISIL.
I'm sure my elected representatives will wind up taking a position that makes me embarrassed, but, for what it's worth, I wish my brothers and sisters in Mexico good luck this week.
posted by ob1quixote at 6:17 PM on November 17, 2014 [4 favorites]
I'm sure my elected representatives will wind up taking a position that makes me embarrassed, but, for what it's worth, I wish my brothers and sisters in Mexico good luck this week.
posted by ob1quixote at 6:17 PM on November 17, 2014 [4 favorites]
It is incredible that what is happening in Mexico right now isn't getting more coverage. The country is sort of fed up with all the organized crime and corruption. Like most countries in the world, the population is mostly people like you and me, who want to live their lives, raise their kids, work and spend and play in a place that feels safe.
My parents are from a small town in Michoacan. Like in Iguala, the mayor was in the hands of both the local cartels and corrupt officials. The police in town were his cronies. Just a few months ago, the people in town, tired of being intimidated, rose up. Thousands gathered in the town square and relatively peaceably (one shot was fired by a frightened policeman) ejected the mayor and the police. A town council was quickly formed, consisting of people who are well known and respected in the town. Because of what they saw as civil unrest, the federal government rolled in and met with the council. An agreement was made to form a new police force consisting of local well-known citizens who agreed to go and get trained and deputized by the federal government.
The town seems to have returned to normal. Recent news from the town is about a new cultural center being built, about a local videographer who won a national short film competition, about the towns festivals in sports and dance and crafts. In short, about an active little town, now going about its life.
It is heartening to see Mexicans take back their land and their lives. I'm sure there are stories like this all over the country right now.
posted by vacapinta at 2:36 AM on November 18, 2014 [6 favorites]
My parents are from a small town in Michoacan. Like in Iguala, the mayor was in the hands of both the local cartels and corrupt officials. The police in town were his cronies. Just a few months ago, the people in town, tired of being intimidated, rose up. Thousands gathered in the town square and relatively peaceably (one shot was fired by a frightened policeman) ejected the mayor and the police. A town council was quickly formed, consisting of people who are well known and respected in the town. Because of what they saw as civil unrest, the federal government rolled in and met with the council. An agreement was made to form a new police force consisting of local well-known citizens who agreed to go and get trained and deputized by the federal government.
The town seems to have returned to normal. Recent news from the town is about a new cultural center being built, about a local videographer who won a national short film competition, about the towns festivals in sports and dance and crafts. In short, about an active little town, now going about its life.
It is heartening to see Mexicans take back their land and their lives. I'm sure there are stories like this all over the country right now.
posted by vacapinta at 2:36 AM on November 18, 2014 [6 favorites]
I sometimes think a broken Mexico works to the USAs advantage because of the opportunity of exploiting the cheap labor that surges northward.
The day Mexico becomes a fully functional nation that her citizens do not want to flee en masse is the day you can no longer get a 30$/day laborer at the Home Depot to put up drywall.
posted by Renoroc at 4:54 AM on November 18, 2014
The day Mexico becomes a fully functional nation that her citizens do not want to flee en masse is the day you can no longer get a 30$/day laborer at the Home Depot to put up drywall.
posted by Renoroc at 4:54 AM on November 18, 2014
Renoroc, no argument about a bunch of cheap labor coming from Mexico to the US, but the direction of the net flow of immigration has actually reversed.
posted by Noisy Pink Bubbles at 8:13 AM on November 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Noisy Pink Bubbles at 8:13 AM on November 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
This Mass Grave Isn’t the Mass Grave You Have Been Looking For
posted by Noisy Pink Bubbles at 8:29 AM on November 18, 2014
posted by Noisy Pink Bubbles at 8:29 AM on November 18, 2014
Renoroc, no argument about a bunch of cheap labor coming from Mexico to the US, but the direction of the net flow of immigration has actually reversed.
As of 2011, sure, but the economy has picked up since then so it's likely the trend has reverse-reversed. Whether its back to net immigration we'll have to wait for the numbers to see.
posted by Justinian at 9:06 AM on November 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
As of 2011, sure, but the economy has picked up since then so it's likely the trend has reverse-reversed. Whether its back to net immigration we'll have to wait for the numbers to see.
posted by Justinian at 9:06 AM on November 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
The reason why the US media isn't covering this story is that American racism, even in the mild form of the soft bigotry of low expectations, means that violence and corruption in Mexico isn't unusual to the minds of the people who set our news agenda. If that's the expected norm, the threshold for violence and corruption to become news is extraordinarily high. I hear more about what's going on in Mexico from Tumblr than I do from my usual news sources.
posted by immlass at 11:56 AM on November 18, 2014
posted by immlass at 11:56 AM on November 18, 2014
Mexico has an extraordinarily violent history, but we're not doing them any good with our bullshit war on drugs that makes all the smuggling & drug- related violence such a profitable option.
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:03 PM on November 18, 2014
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:03 PM on November 18, 2014
The reason why the US media isn't covering this story is that American racism, even in the mild form of the soft bigotry of low expectations, means that violence and corruption in Mexico isn't unusual to the minds of the people who set our news agenda. If that's the expected norm, the threshold for violence and corruption to become news is extraordinarily high. I hear more about what's going on in Mexico from Tumblr than I do from my usual news sources.
You're right, which makes me wonder what would have to happen in Mexico for mainstream American journalism to really pursue the story. When the authorities went looking for the bodies of the 43 disappeared, they found multiple incorrect mass graves. Protestors have set the presidential palace's door on fire. Things have been really, really bad in Mexico for a long time now - and I'm sorry for the PDF - but it feels like Mexico would have to nuke Juarez for the American media to give a damn.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 7:07 PM on November 18, 2014 [3 favorites]
You're right, which makes me wonder what would have to happen in Mexico for mainstream American journalism to really pursue the story. When the authorities went looking for the bodies of the 43 disappeared, they found multiple incorrect mass graves. Protestors have set the presidential palace's door on fire. Things have been really, really bad in Mexico for a long time now - and I'm sorry for the PDF - but it feels like Mexico would have to nuke Juarez for the American media to give a damn.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 7:07 PM on November 18, 2014 [3 favorites]
Mexico drug cartel launches rare publicity push
posted by Golden Eternity at 5:52 PM on November 21, 2014
posted by Golden Eternity at 5:52 PM on November 21, 2014
VICE News: The Missing 43: Mexico's Disappeared Students (Part 1)
posted by Golden Eternity at 10:45 PM on November 23, 2014
posted by Golden Eternity at 10:45 PM on November 23, 2014
Mexico drug cartel launches rare publicity push
Not that there's good or bad cartels but that article is about the Knights Templar which is a different cartel than the one that is the subject of this post.
posted by vacapinta at 11:45 AM on November 24, 2014
Not that there's good or bad cartels but that article is about the Knights Templar which is a different cartel than the one that is the subject of this post.
posted by vacapinta at 11:45 AM on November 24, 2014
Cocaine & Crude
Mexico’s notoriously violent drug cartels are diversifying. Besides trafficking narcotics, extorting businesses, and brutally murdering their rivals, cartels are now at work exploiting their country’s precious number one export: oil.posted by Golden Eternity at 4:36 PM on November 30, 2014
Parents of missing student teachers need protection says UN.
posted by adamvasco at 3:45 AM on December 6, 2014
posted by adamvasco at 3:45 AM on December 6, 2014
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Hey, now! It's not corruption when we do it!
posted by scaryblackdeath at 2:12 PM on November 17, 2014 [2 favorites]