Pre-election violence in Mexico kills at least 94 people; further violence anticipated ahead of July 1 elections.
Political violence in Mexico has resulted in the murders of at least 94 politicians, including candidates for the upcoming July elections, and their family members between September 2017 and mid-May 2018. The victims come from a variety of political parties, with most running for local offices. Officials believe that warring cartels are behind much of the violence as they attempt to gain influence over city governments nationwide. Federal and state governments have begun increasing security, providing many candidates with bodyguards and, in some cases, bullet-proof vehicles, but the measures have so far proven largely ineffective.
At least 80 candidates have withdrawn from elections in Chihuahua state
because of the high levels of pre-election violence. In early May, the
leader of the Social Encounter Party (PES) in Chihuahua was killed and
in a separate event, an estimated 250 gunmen descended on the community
of Ignacio Zaragoza in Chihuahua killing the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) city council candidate and a campaign coordinator.
The campaign period for the upcoming general elections officially began
on March 30. On July 1, up to 88 million Mexicans will head to the polls
to choose their next president and to fill various federal, state, and
local government positions. With 3400 posts to be filled, it will be the
largest election in Mexico’s history. Four candidates are vying for the
presidential office. The current favorite is Andres Manuel López
Obrador (AMLO) of the leftist National Regeneration Movement (MORENA).
The official campaign period will end on June 27.
Individuals in Mexico are advised to avoid all demonstrations and
political rallies as a precaution, report all suspicious objects and
behavior to the authorities, and keep abreast of the sociopolitical
climate.
Due to extreme levels of violence linked to the presence
of various armed groups, some Western governments advise against travel
to various parts of the country, notably the states of Guerrero,
Michoacán, and Tamaulipas, as well as the northeastern border with the
US.
Pura gente de Manuel Lopez obrador el senor de mexico
ReplyDeleteThis is un believably sickening to me. And I feel terrible for the good people of Mexico . No one should have to live like this in this day and age . How it came to be like this is beyond me as a kid I spent a lot of time in Nuevo Laredo as well as Cancun being in and involved in the Heavy Metal music scene I have nothing but awesome memories of my time there and I think it sucks that things have evolved into what they are today . Im not a religious person but I hope things can change and the politicians get what they deserve and the people who suffer the abuses of these political pigs will somehow find peace and respect because they definitely deserve it . And to the people of Mexico most Americans feel the same way on a personal level away from politics and all the other bs that you see in the media we do care ! And hope the killing stops it's time to leave that shit in the past . Srsly
ReplyDeleteAMEN. It seems like most of the world is run on corruption, Malaysian news latest expamle. Don’t forget AMLO technically won the last election..............
DeleteLook up John Lang and how he was murdered because he exposed police corruption in California. Same thing happens in the U.S. and, just like Mexico, it's brushed under the rug.
Delete@2:25 John Langs' murder is calif doesn't add up to the 94 in this election cycle in Mex. And I wouldn't say Mexico is sweeping it under the rug when all 94 have been reported in the media.
Delete7:19 AMLO has won his two prior elections, this is the 3rd time he runs but the first as MORENA candidate.
DeleteThe other two times he ran as PRD candidate and Noth times he WON just as Cuauhtemoc Cardenas won his two elections against Carlos Salinas de gortari and against Ernesto Zedillo before AMLO ran against fecal and EPN, only fox won his election straigt, but the PRI HELPED him so as to not lose everything.
Any details on the event that occurred in Ignacio Zaragoza?
ReplyDeleteThe govt all ready know who wins anyways, what all the fuss about
ReplyDeleteIts all way been turmoil over politics in mexico . If you don't like the politicians stance , you kill him . There may have been different reason throughout the years but its pretty much the same results . The Mexicans kill like hell down there . There has always been a lot of people down there to whom life is cheap . Wont never change. Speak out and die . Always has and always will be .
ReplyDeleteThis was not a surprise to anyone. Predictions of such were expected. Moreover, due to the continuous practices of government corruption. A continuous trend with more and more are killed every year. All government institutions are at interest for their criminal activities. Where family, friends and associates are elected by those influential political powers to further acquire control by all means necessary. Figures will continue to climb year after year until policies change!
DeleteE42
Sheyet, there are at least 5 000 Mexican politicians that needed to get killed yesterday, just for starters.
DeleteOne or two a month is justcoal politics.
--For carlos salinas de gortari "El Asquel" to steal his election it took the assassinations of 500 to 1 000 of Cardenas PRD campaign volunteers, and they still had to crash the system and steal the ballots and burn them...
Did anyone follow the stats before the last election?In other words has it gotten worse or better since the last election?Those criminals really want to take over.They have got way too much power because it's been handed to them on a silver platter ie.impunity really does work,it's a really strong message but I suspect a lot of politicians are behind a lot of killings,they just hire the riffraft to get rid of the competition.And why do they kill other politicians like crazy compared to most other countries?$64 question?There has to be something extremely valuable.Status isn't worth killing over so it must be other extremely good reasons that would justify that.Hey better than any kidnapping.$ billion just for the taking.Maybe 2 or 3 and forty ranches!God where does it stop?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, majority of political killings are often related by political oppositions. Added with the involvement of criminal elements.
DeleteThe statistics are astronomical as to how many politicians are killed. Curious to know how many candidates in office and pre- candidates running for office were forced to leave / withdraw?
Your comment stated the rigorous criminal efforts to take over? Which I find it odd and misappropriating. Criminals do not take over government establishments without the collusion of those political powers!
Bad governance is what led to what’s wrong in Mexico!
When impunity is removed from those individuals, then things can change.
E42
@Canadiana and E42. These are some statistics from my files. They don't answer all you questions but maybe some of them. Also since those numbers change daily or weekly as more are killed or attacked the numbers may not correlate with the numbers in the article.
Deletethere were 305 cases of aggression against Mexican politicians and their families since the election campaign began on Sept. 8, 2017.
This statistic includes 84 homicides, notable among which were 36 candidates, as well as office-holders, a party leader and 44 relatives of people active in politics.
70 attacks and 20 assassinations registered during the 2015 federal elections, such aggression has increased by some 400 percent,
Violence has been a central issue in the 2018 presidential elections as there were an estimated 29,168 homicides nationwide in 2017, a 27 percent increase from 2016, and Mexico’s deadliest year in the past two decades.
Thanks dd.
DeleteE42
It’s a shame that there are so many good hearted individuals who have the means to change the political landscape in Mexico. Unfortunately, many of these people choose not to for fear / safety of family.
DeleteA priority which superseded as a devoted father / mother.
E42
10:52 the government knows AMLO wins, but if the traditional political oportunists have their way, they will manacle AMLO's presidency on all 4 feet, and if needed there will be hell to pay with economic blockades and a slow state coup, encuentrk social is all MAO osorio chon and the PRD is the chapulin grasshoppers that betrayed the party and went to support EPN against all comers...
ReplyDeleteWhat becomes of EPN now, does he ride in to the sunset??
ReplyDeleteRecently a priest had gotten cartel bosses together, and made s pact, not to kill anyone running for office. Talk about broken promises.
ReplyDeleteCOUNTERPUNCH/ "The Militarization of US Police Departments"
ReplyDeleteBy Heather Gray.
Recommended for all BB reporters, readers and commenters, with plenty of links and data for the Intelligent reader that is not blinded by conspiracy theories and factless based arguments...
7:34 I suspect not many people will follow that link but I hope a reporter or two will comment on it.
ReplyDelete@9:05AM I read Ms. Gray's article. It is well written and thought provoking. But is so far beyond the scope of what we do on BB I cannot comment on it. I hope other people read it but we just can't into it on BB. (for the record I am concerned about the trend toward militarization of US police).
Delete