They’ve been after this guy for a long time. But if similar busts in the past are any indicator, his demise will merely set off a violent succession struggle—and do absolutely nothing to to reduce the flow of drugs into… Read moreUS nabs Tijuana cartel kingpin
We noted one year ago a heart-rending case of indigenous peasants in Mexico’s southern state of Chiapas dying after eating a stew of apparently poisonous mushrooms. The peasants were driven by hunger and failed harvests to gather wild mushrooms (which… Read moreChiapas mushroom poisonings point to ecological crisis
From La Jornada, Aug. 10 via Chiapas95 (our translation, links added): Iguala, Guerrero — During the term of Vicente Fox, the Mexican government has not complied with recommendations of the UN to instate consitutional reforms on the rights of indigenous… Read moreUN: Mexico does not comply on indigenous rights
Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the left-populist Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) raised the stakes in Mexico’s electoral standoff July 26 by declaring himself “the president of Mexico.” Cesar Nava, a spokesman for candidate Felipe Calderón of the ruling National Action… Read moreMexico awaits ruling on vote; dissidents threatened
From Mexico’s La Jornada, July 24, via Chiapas95, our translation: The Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) and the narco-traffic in Chiapas “are factors that affect the national security,” says an internal document of Superior Center of Naval Studies (CESNAV) of… Read moreMexico: Naval intelligence calls EZLN “national security threat”
From La Jornada, July 15, translation via Chiapas95: In a large and violent operation – according to witnesses – the police of Yucatan arrested last Thursday in the community of Caucel more than 40 Maya ejidatarios [communal farmers], who were protesting… Read moreYucatan: police attack peasant protesters
Marking their completion of 10 ten years in prison, the two accused Zapatista collaborators being held at the state prison in Tacotalpa, Tabasco, began an indefinite hunger strike July 10 to demand their liberation. The prisoners, Angel Concepcion Perez Vazquez… Read moreZapatista political prisoners launch hunger strike
From the New York Times, links and annotation added: MEXICO CITY, July 6 — Felipe Calderón, a conservative former energy minister, won a narrow victory in the race for president today after election officials finished their official tally, but his… Read moreMexico: Calderón declared victor; López Obrador pledges challenge
From the Mexican news agency APRO, June 27, via Chiapas95 (our translation): Toluca- The first penal judge based in Tenang del Valle formally brought charges against 13 of the 21 police detained by the Mexican [state] prosecutor in the Atenco… Read moreMexico: more police arrested in Atenco case; protests continue
This Reuters story that ran in the Washington Post June 19 (online at Chiapas95) is typical of the hegemonic mainstream media line (north of the border, at least) that the Zapatistas have shot their wad and are forgotten. (Amazing that… Read moreReuters: Zapatista demands “forgotten”?
In a pre-dawn raid yesterday, Oaxaca state police with helicopters, tear gas and firearms evicted several thousand striking school teachers from the plantón, or ongoing protest encampment, they had been maintaining for two weeks in Oaxaca City’s central plaza. Witnesses… Read moreOaxaca: police attack striking teachers
The Indigenous Rights Center (CEDIAC) in San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, is demanding an investigation into the assassination of Tzeltal Maya campesino Sebastian Cruz Lopez, accused by state police of belonging to a gang which held up cars on… Read morePolitical violence in Chiapas, risk of famine seen
