July 14, 2007:
Now get this. The source of this
report is a Dallas Morning News story. The newspaper wrote that Luis Paredes
Moctezuma, the former mayor of the city of Puebla, claims that the government
of President Felipe Calderon and the PAN party have been "infiltrated" by a
conspiratorial "radical group." The infiltration has taken "decades" to
accomplish. Paredes belongs to the PAN. He also said he is a member of a secret
group named El Yunque (The Anvil). El Yunque is committed "to restore the
rule of God." Local commentators say that even if El Yunque doesn't exist,
divisions do exist between moderates like Calderon and more conservative
Panistas. Those who claim El Yunque exists say it was established in 1953 as a
student movement "to fight communism." It is also "anti-liberal" and wants to
create "a Roman Catholic state." El Yunque expanded onto college campuses in the
1970s. An El Yunque-like organization has appeared in at least one novel
involving a conspiratorial organization (David Lindsey's "Spiral"). The "vast
conspiracy" story appeals to people everywhere (remember Hillary Clinton's
"vast right wing conspiracy").
July 10, 2007: From 1996 through 2000 the Peoples
Revolutionary Army (EPR) launched several attacks in Mexico. Most of the
attacks were in rugged areas of Mexico's Guerrero state. They also attacked
towns in Oaxaca state. Then, like a lot of allegedly left-wing outfits, it
disappeared. Some former EPR members may have been part of the demonstrations
that shutdown Oaxaca City for several months. That may have been an indication
the EPR was getting back into the revolution game. The EPR is claiming its guerrillas
have attacked Pemex pipelines. Apparently,
attacks on gas and oil pipelines near a refinery in the town of
Salamanca have occurred, but Pemex and the government are not yet commenting on
the rebel's claims.
July 9, 2007: Drug gang related incidents, between
January 1 and June 22, 2007, left 1,429
people dead. This was blamed on "inter cartel territorial warfare." In the week
of April 23 through 29 alone, 249 people died.
July 2, 2007: President Felipe Calderon announced a
new program called "Let's Clean Up Mexico: Recovery Zone." He described the
program as an important part of Mexico's new security strategy. The Mexican
government promises to tackle organized crime. Calderon promises that the state
will take action to clean up schools and public areas. Calderon wants the
Mexican people to play a role by stopping kids from using drugs and helping
protect schools. This is very savvy politics. Calderon is trying to give the
Mexican population a stake in his "counter-drug gang" war. This is an example
of a smart politician energizing the public will.
