[R-G] MEXICO SOLIDARITY NETWORK News and Analysis July 23-29, 2007

[james m nordlund]

MSN News and Analysis July 23-29, 2007
Please do not reply to this email. All correspondence should be addressed
 to msn at mexicosolidarity.org

MEXICO SOLIDARITY NETWORK

WEEKLY NEWS AND ANALYSIS

JULY 23-29, 2007

1. HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS MOUNT UNDER CALDERON

2. SECOND ENCOUNTER OF ZAPATISTAS WITH PEOPLES OF THE WORLD

3. NEW HAVEN ISSUES ID CARDS TO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS

4. FEDERAL JUDGE OVERTURNS LOCAL IMMIGRATION LAW

5. PRD INTERNAL ELECTIONS REVERSE INFLUENCE OF LOPEZ OBRADOR

6. US ARRESTS ZHENLI YE GON

7. PAN SOUR GRAPES

8. MSN PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS (Contact MSN at MexicoSolidarity.org) 



1. HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS MOUNT UNDER CALDERON

Increasing human rights violations that recall the decades of the dirty
 war in the 60s and 70s characterize the first eight months of the
Calderon
 administration. Disappearances, arbitrary arrests, paramilitary
activities,
 increasing coordination between officials and paramilitary groups,
 extra-judicial murders, police violence, official corruption and army
presence
 in urban areas are signs of an increasing turn toward fascism as Calderon
 implements his “iron fist” policies throughout Mexico.  The Secretary
 General of Amnesty International will visit Mexico next week with a long
 list of unresolved human rights violations that, taken together, reveal
an
 illegitimate political class grasping for power and a country in crisis.
  Several notorious incidents from the Fox administration remain
unresolved
 under Calderon, including the rape of at least 26 women, two protestors
 murdered by police and hundreds of arbitrary arrests during the May 3 and
4,
 2006, police actions in Atenco; and police violence, paramilitary
 activities, at least 23 extra-judicial murders by police and
paramilitaries,
 hundreds of arbitrary arrests and disappearances in Oaxaca.  No police or
 officials have been prosecuted in either Atenco or Oaxaca, and neither
Calderon
 nor the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) appears interested
 resolving these emblematic cases.  The CNDH has come under increasing
criticism
 for its silence in the face of army and police repression, particularly
 since the rape/murder of an indigenous grandmother in Veracruz by army
 troops earlier this year in which the CNDH covered for the army.  Members
of
 the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (APPO) protested earlier
this
 week in front of the CNDH offices in Mexico City, demanding removal of
the
 army from Oaxaca and Ulises Ruiz from the governorship.

Cases of blatant human rights violations continue to mount under Calderon.
  In recent police violence in Oaxaca, one protestor, Emeterio Merino Cruz
 Vasquez, was taken into custody and severely beaten in front of
 journalists who photographed the entire sequence.  Cruz Vaquez is now in
the
 hospital in a coma.  Governor Ulises Ruiz refuses to investigate the
case, and
 Calderon has washed his hands calling it a local matter.  In May, two
 activists affiliated with the Popular Revolutionary Army (EPR) were
disappeared
 by officials in Oaxaca.  The EPR responded by blowing up two Pemex
 pipelines, demanding the re-appearance of their comrades.  The Calderon
 administration claims no knowledge of their whereabouts.  In Chiapas, at
least two
 paramilitary groups working closely with state and federal authorities
 and the army are threatening Zapatista communities with forced removal
from
 lands recovered after the 1994 uprising.  At least four indigenous
 campesinos affiliated with the Zapatistas have been killed in recent
months.  In
 Ciudad Juarez, Calderon dismantled the office of the special investigator
 in charge of femicides.  And across the country, dozens of activists
 associated with the Other Campaign are political prisoners.  With the
army in
 the streets of many urban areas, the human rights situation continues to
 decline under Calderon. 

In related news, tourism is declining in Mexico.  Tourism is the third
 most important source of foreign exchange after oil sales and immigrant
 remittances.  The number of foreign tourists entering Mexico declined by
about
 three million during the first five months of 2007 in comparison to the
 same period last year.  And the Latin American Economic Commission
(CEPAL)
 predicted this week that Mexico would have the lowest economic growth
rate
 in Latin America next year.  CEPAL predicted 3.2% growth for Mexico, well
 below the regional average of 5%.  According to CEPAL, Cuba will lead the
 region with a 10% increase in gross domestic product, followed by Panama
 with 8.5%, Argentina with 7.5%, Peru with 7.3% and Venezuela with 6.8%.
  Even Haiti and Ecuador, both expected to grow by 3.5%, will exceed
 Mexico’s tepid growth.

2. SECOND ENCOUNTER OF ZAPATISTAS WITH PEOPLES OF THE WORLD

The Second Encounter of Zapatistas with the Peoples of the World ended
 this Saturday in La Realidad, one of the five principle centers of
Zapatista
 culture and resistance.  Thousands of Zapatistas and hundreds of
 supporters participated in the ten day series of events that included
detailed
 reports on health care, education, self-government and economic
development in
 autonomous Zapatista communities.  Events concluded with a call for a
 third Encounter scheduled for the end of December that will include only
 women.  Subcomandante Marcos, Lieutenant Colonel Moises, Comandante Tacho
and
 “compañera Everilda, candidate for membership in the Clandestine
 Revolutionary Indigenous Committee” (CCRI) announced the next
Encounter, which
 will be dedicated to the now deceased Comandantes Ramona and Pedro.
  “We are going to ask our male compañeros to help us with logistical
 questions and to listen to us, but silently,” said Everilda.  “Tell
your
 spouses to stay and watch the house, the children and the animals”
while the
 women “organize the struggle against capitalism and neoliberalism.”

3. NEW HAVEN ISSUES ID CARDS TO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS

New Haven, Connecticut, on Tuesday became the first US city to issue ID
 cards to undocumented immigrants.  The ID cards, which are offered to all
of
 New Haven’s 124,000 residents, will allow access to libraries and
 parks.  Two local banks have agreed to accept the cards for opening
accounts.
  New Haven has an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 undocumented workers.
  Officials approved the measure, claiming it would improve public safety.
 Mayor
 John DeStefano said, “If we’re going to be the safest place we can
be,
 we need to acknowledge who lives here.”

4. FEDERAL JUDGE OVERTURNS LOCAL IMMIGRATION LAW

On Thursday, US District Judge James Munley ruled unconstitutional an
 ordinance passed by the city of Hazelton, Pennsylvania, that would have
 imposed fines on landlords who rent to undocumented immigrants, forced
tenants
 to register with City Hall and pay for a rental permit, and denied
business
 permits to companies that hire undocumented workers.  The law was passed
 in July 2006 but was never implemented because of a restraining order won
 by opponents.  More than ninety towns and cities across the US emulated
 the Hazelton law in recent months.  The American Civil Liberties Union
and
 immigrant rights groups challenged the law on the grounds that it usurped
 the federal government’s exclusive power to regulate immigration,
 deprived residents of their constitutional rights, and violated state and
federal
 housing laws.  Munley’s 206-page decision upheld the arguments of
 complainants: “Whatever frustrations … the city of Hazelton may feel
about
 the current state of federal immigration enforcement, the nature of the
 political system in the United States prohibits the city from enacting
 ordinances that disrupt a carefully drawn federal statutory scheme… 
Federal
 law prohibits Hazleton from enforcing any of the provisions of its
 ordinances… Even if federal law did not conflict with Hazelton’s
measures,
 the city could not enact an ordinance that violates the rights the
 Constitution guarantees to every person in the United States, whether
legal
 resident or not.”

5. PRD INTERNAL ELECTIONS REVERSE INFLUENCE OF LOPEZ OBRADOR

The PRD announced official results of an internal party election this
 week.  Groups affiliated with former presidential candidate Andres Manuel
 Lopez Obrador won only 20% of the positions in the party’s National
 Congress, while groups affiliated with the so-called “New Left” took
80%.  The
 National Congress will choose the next party president, and the election
 results make it unlikely that former Mexico City Mayor Alejandro Encinas,
 closely aligned with Lopez Obrador, will win the post.  New Left
candidate
 Jesus Ortega will likely be the next party president.  The New Left, also
 known as “los chuchos,” is led by a faction of long-time party hacks,
 including many sitting Deputies, Senators and Governors who want to
 develop close working relationships with President Felipe Calderon in
hopes of
 gaining access to government funds.  Lopez Obrador rejected formal
 contacts with the Calderon administration after the PAN engineered a
fraudulent
 presidential election last year.  The National Democratic Left, one of
the
 losing factions, challenged the results, claiming widespread fraud,
 including elimination of party members from voter lists, removal of
voting
 booths in some areas, and inexplicable results at other booths.  They
claimed
 anomalies in at least 18 states, including several where PAN governors
hold
 power.  For example, in the State of Mexico 243 voting sites showed 100%
 of the votes cast for the New Left or other partner groups, and at
several
 voting sites more votes were reported than ballots.   The results make it
 more likely that Lopez Obrador will form a separate party based on the
 Frente Amplio Progresista (FAP), which includes the Workers Party and
 Convergencia.  Lopez Obrador created the FAP after he lost the fraudulent
 presidential election last year.

6. US ARRESTS ZHENLI YE GON

US authorities arrested Mexican-Chinese businessman Zhenli Ye Gon on drug
 and money-laundering charges this week.  Ye Gon was arrested near
 Washington, DC, for importing enough chemicals into Mexico to produce
US$724
 million worth of methamphetamine destined mainly for the US market.  Ye
Gon is
 wanted in Mexico after officials discovered US$205 million in cash
stashed
 in his Mexico City home.  In recent interviews and press conferences, Ye
 Gon claimed he held the majority of the money for PAN officials who
wanted
 to use the cash for election campaigns.  To date, Ye Gon has offered
 little proof, but the revelations shook the Calderon administration.  

At the very least, Ye Gon’s methamphetamine empire in Mexico had to
 include the active participation of Customs officials in the Fox and
Calderon
 administrations who apparently permitted the importation of tons of
 precursor chemicals in amounts that drew the attention of international
agencies
 including the United Nations and the US Drug Enforcement Administration
 (DEA).  The DEA claims Ye Gon imported 86.9 metric tons of precursor
 chemicals between December 2005 and March 2007, and his drug company has
been
 importing chemicals into Mexico since the early 1990s.  Ye Gon claims the
 confiscated money is legal, and despite the fact that he is currently in
a
 US jail, he plans to fight extradition to Mexico.  Extradition would mean
 “immediate death because too-powerful people want to see his
silence,”
 according to his attorney.  PAN officials may be content if Ye Gon is
 prosecuted in the US, avoiding a messy extradition process and trial that
 could implicate party officials in a scandal.

7. PAN SOUR GRAPES

This week, ten children and 80 senior citizens were unable to participate
 in Operation Miracle, a program funded by the Venezuelan government that
 provides free medical treatment for poor people, when Mexican officials
 refused to allow a Venezuelan plane to land at the Mexico City airport. 
Jose
 Gutierrez, the municipal president of Ecatepec, home of most of the
 prospective patients, criticized, “the fucking ultra-right” for
frustrating
 the planned trip to Venezuela for free medical care.  “Those that are
 dedicated to politicizing this don’t have a conscience.”  At the
behest
 of the Bush administration, the Calderon administration has entered into
 a war of words with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in a largely
 unsuccessful effort to isolate the dynamic leader from the rest of Latin
America.

 

8. MSN PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS (Contact MSN at MexicoSolidarity.org) 

STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM:

September 9 – December 14, 2007: Study in Chiapas, Tlaxcala, Mexico City
 and Ciudad Juarez, with a focus on the theory and practice of Mexican
 social movements, 16 credits.

January 27 – May 2, 2008: Study in Chiapas, Tlaxcala and Mexico City,
 with a focus on indigenous movements, campesino organizations, and urban
 movements. 16 credits.

February 3 – May 9, 2008: Study in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua City, Mexico
 City and Chiapas, with a focus on border dynamics, urban movements and
 indigenous movements. 16 credits.

CHICAGO AUTONOMOUS CENTER (3460 W. LAWRENCE AVE.) English classes -
 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, 6:30-8:30pm:  English classes
utilize
 popular education strategies to increase conversational English capacity.

Literacy classes in Spanish – Literacy classes begin June 10 and utilize
 popular education strategies to teach basic reading and writing skills.

Cultural events and political workshops – For a full schedule of
 cultural events and political workshops, contact the Mexico Solidarity
Network at
 773-583-7728 or by visiting:
 http://www.mexicosolidarity.org/site/communityforum


SPEAKING TOURS:

October 14-27, 2007: Speaking tour - Immigrant rights, featuring a speaker
 from the National Assembly of Ex-Braceros who will the current debate on
 immigration reform, international immigration dynamics and previous
 experiences with guest worker programs. 

California

October 21 – November 3, 2007: Speaking tour - Immigrant rights,
 featuring a speaker from Centro Sin Fronteras who will discuss
community-based
 struggles for immigrant rights and the recent rash of anti-immigrant
 roundups throughout the US.

North and South Dakota, MN, WI, MI, IN

October 21 - November 4, 2007: Speaking tour - Zapatista solidarity and
 the Otra Campaña, featuring Zapatista artisanry. An activist from
Chiapas
 will discuss the politics of the Other Campaign. The tour will feature
 Zapatista artisanry produced by women’s cooperatives in Chiapas.

Southwest

November 4-17, 2007: Speaking tour – Immigrant rights and the Otra
 Campaña, featuring a speaker from the Consejo Nacional Urbano
 Campesino(National Urban-Rural Council) who will discuss immigration
dynamics and
 community-based organizing in the Other Campaign.

Mid Atlantic Coast

November 4 - 17, 2007: Speaking tour – Zapatista solidarity, the Otra
 Campaña, Zapatista artisanry. A speaker from the Community Human Rights
 Defenders Network (Red de Defensores Comunitarias) from Chiapas will
speak
 about international solidarity and the Other Campaign. The tour will
feature
 Zapatista artisanry produced by women’s cooperatives in Chiapas.


DELEGATIONS:

October 27 – November 3: Ciudad Juarez – Investigate the dynamics of
 the US-Mexico border region, focusing on the impact of neoliberalism,
 including the femicides, maquiladoras, narco-trafficking and immigration
 dynamics. 


ALTERNATIVE ECONOMY INTERNSHIPS:

Develop markets for artisanry produced by women's cooperatives in Chiapas
 and make public presentations on the struggle for justice and dignity in
 Zapatista communities. 

Interns are currently active in Washington, D.C.; Lancaster, PA; Rutland,
 MA; Brooklyn, NY; Poughkeepsie, NY; Stonington, ME; Grand Rapids, MI; St
 Paul, MN; Chicago, IL; Guelph, Canada; Ontario, Canada; Spokane, WA;
 Turner, OR; Chico, CA; Davis, CA; Sacramento, CA; Redlands, CA; Provo,
UT;
 Albuquerque, NM; El Paso, TX; Austin, TX; and Lilburn, GA.

Mexico Solidarity Network http://www.mexicosolidarity.org


       
____________________________________________________________________________________
Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell. 
http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/