Mexico Drug War News Week's Top Articles: Dec. 9-15, 2011 The Americas Program seeks to expand understanding of the destructiveness of the U.S.-supported war on drugs in Mexico, and promote peaceful alternatives. To keep current with what is happening in Mexico's drug war, including U.S. involvement, we offer this free weekly news digest, selected from the many daily posts published on our Americas MexicoBlog. This week includes translations of summaries from a number of Mexican press articles. Human Rights Violations dominated the news from Mexico this week. A major national drama unfolded after two students in a normal school (teacher training college) were shot and killed by police while participating in a demonstration seeking changes in the school in the southern state of Guererro. At first, state authorities claimed that some of the students were armed and shot first. Students immediately denied this. Blame is now being exchanged between local, state and federal police, all of whom had forces present at the time. The state governor has fired his chief of police and attorney general. National politcians have called for a thorough investigation. The federal Human Rights Commission and the UN Office on Human Rights in Mexico announced investigations and the federal attorney general has taken over the judicial investigation. Eleven local and state police are being interviewed for possible responsibility in the deaths. This tragedy is the latest in a two-weeklong series of attacks, kidnappings and/or murders of eight activists across Mexico. These violent events starkly reveal the fragility of Mexican democracy, the continuing penchant for resorting to government supported as well as clandestine violence, the failure of a public security and justice system that fosters impunity and the resulting destruction of human life and liberties. Reflecting this, at the beginning of the week, the president of Mexico's National Commission of Human Rights, announced his belief that President Calderon does not have enough time, in the one year left in his administration, to reverse the high levels of violence, insecurity and human rights abuses that have pervaded the country. Drug War news included a denial by the Mexican president's office that it knew of the DEA money laundering operation. The U.S. Dept. of Justice defended itself, saying that money laundering "stings" had been authorized by Congress during the Reagan administration. And Time Magazine recognized and interviewd Javier Sicilia, leader of the Moverment for Peace with Justice and Dignity, as one of leading protesters of the year. He talks movingly of his motives in speaking out and his experiences as the Movement has grown since April. The Articles: Human Rights Violations Two students dead in clash with Mexico police Read more: Los Angeles Times.com Mexican police claim weapons found at scene of protest clash that killed 2 students Read more: AP/Washington Post Guerrero students say they were unarmed and blame the governor Read more: MexicoBlog, Spanish original CNN Mexico The governor of Guerrero fires the Attorney General and the Chief of Police Read more: MexicoBlog, Spanish original CNN Mexico Federal and state governments differ on what happened in Guerrero Read more: MexicoBlog, Spanish original CNN Mexico Political leaders of Mexico unanimously condemn double murder of students Read more: MexicoBlog, Spanish original La Jornada Eleven police officers involved in the death of teachers college students are referred to the federal Attorney General Read more: MexicoBlog, Spanish original Milenio No Protection for Activists in Mexico: Attacks on Eight Activists Read more: InterPressService: Mexico's Commissioner of Human Rights Says Calderon Has Run Out of Time to Reduce the Violence and Abuses of the Drug War Read more: MexicoBlog, Spanish original Drug War Mexico President's Office Says Mexico Didn't Know of DEA Money Laundering Read More: MexicoBlog. From Reforma, which only allows subscribers access to its website. Justice Department says DEA drug-laundering “stings” date back to Reagan presidency Read more: Houston Chroincle Why I Protest: Javier Sicilia of Mexico Read more: Time Cross posted from the Americas MexicoBlog |  |
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