1996-12-05 Local Press
Summary of Local Press Clippings from Mexico
December 5, 1996, Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc.
The actions of the Electoral Tribunal, concerning the PRI's representation in the Congress of the State of Mexico are particularly noteworthy.
DEMOCRACY
Lozano Fired, Madraro Steps In
On Monday, December 2, President Zedillo fired Attorney General Antonio Lozano and replaced him with the head of the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH), Jorge Madrazo. Lozano, who had come from the National Action Party (PAN) to join Zedillo's government two years ago, was facing increasing pressure and criticism for his handling of the investigations into high level political murders in 1994. Along with him, the Special Prosecutor in the Ruiz Massieu murder case and other PAN collaborators were also removed.
The removal of Lozano comes just days after his interrogation of Carlos Salinas de Gortari in the Mexican Embassy in Ireland (see below). In addition. during the past week, accusations were made (and later retracted) that Lozano was keeping pertinent information about the murder cases from President Zedillo. In his instructions to the new Attorney General (who was named to the CNDH by Carlos Salinas), Zedillo said that he should prosecute crimes "without regard for economic power or the political position of those who are under suspicion," insinuating that Lozano was weak in this regard. Nevertheless, official explanations of the removal were not forthcoming. Some believe it was the result of a string of failures on the part of the Attorney General's office (including widespread suspicion that the cadaver found on Paul Salinas' ranch a month ago was planted there). Others say that Lozano was getting too close to uncovering the deep involvement of high level PRI leaders in the political crimes. (La Jornada, 3 December).
Carlos Salinas Interrogated in Ireland
On Thursday, November 28, ex-president Carlos Salinas de Gortari was interrogated by the Special Prosecutor in charge of the Colosio murder case in the Mexican Embassy in Dublin, Ireland. Salinas predictably denied any knowledge of who was behind Colosio's murder. He claimed that he himself had advised Colosia to distance himself from the Salinas administration during his campaign and denied any falling out with the candidate. Salinas tried to focus suspicion on Manuel Camacho Solis throughout his testimony. He said that it was a mistake to have named Camacho the Peace Commissioner in Chiapas during the Colosio campaign because his protagonistic role led to "profound uneasiness" within the party and among investors (It was later announced that Camacho Solis had been interrogated during the second week in November). (Reforma, 29 November, 1 December).
Members of the opposition criticized Salinas' testimony and the Prosecutor's handling of it, The Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) representative Jesus Zambrano said that the fact that the Special Prosecutor went to Ireland and treated the ex-president as a distinguished person, "smells bad and doesn't speak well of the investigation". The Secretary General of the National Action Party (PAN) said that "either Salinas is lying or Zedillo lied" about the alleged distancing of Colosio from Salinas. (El Financiero. 30 November).
In a unanimous decision, the Electoral Tribunal of the state of Mexico revoked a prior decision of the State Electoral Institute which awarded eight Congressional seats to the PR! based on proportional representation. The Tribunal argued that for the PRI to have that number of seats, it would have had to have won either 45% of the total vote, or have won in 38 districts, which it did not. As a result, the thirty seats which are distributed according to proportional representation will only be awarded to the opposition. This settled an inter-party struggle that has been going on since the state elections on November 10 over how the seats reserved for proportional representation would be divided up. The PRI will maintain the largest number of seats in the Congress (30), but they will not have an absolute majority (the four opposition parties will have a total 45 seats). (La Jornada, Reforma, 3 December).
ECONOMY
Minimum Wage Increase Insufficient
On December 3, the minimum wage was increased 17%, bringing it to N$26.45 pesos (about $3,30) per day in zone A (the region with the highest minimum wage). Workers protested that once again the increase is unlikely to keep up with inflation, but the leadership of official labor unions went along with the government's proposal. This is the second increase this year (the first was an increase of 14.3% in April). Nevertheless, it is insufficient to cover most price increases. (Reforma, 2 December).
Anti-Poverty Program to be Initiated
The federal government announced that it will spend N$1.35 billion (approximately $170 million) on the Food, Health and Education Program (PASE) in 1997. The program is expected to support 400,000 families who live in extreme poverty in ten states of the Republic, It will be coordinated by the Secretariat for Social Development (Sedesol), but will also include the participation of the Secretariats of Health and Education. By the year 2000, the government expects the program to reach four million families. In addition, the government will spend N$12.65 billion ($1.5 billion dollars) on ongoing anti-poverty programs, which represents a 4.6 percent reduction in real terms compared with 1996. (La Jornada, 27 November; Reforma. 1 December)
PRI Representatives Protest Economic Policy
A group of PRI legislators in the House of Representatives severely criticized the government's proposed budget for 1997, arguing that it "is an adjustment strategy in which public spending favors privileged sectors and leaves the most needy social groups unprotected." In an eleven page analysis, the rebellious PRI representatives noted that "the economic strategy of the country -beginning with the federal budget- must be inclusive and mutually agreed to, reaching out to all social groups and political parties in the country." (La Jornada, 2 December).
Debt Payments Put State Funding in Jeopardy in 1997
During 1997, Mexico will pay N$119.7 billion (about $1.5 billion) to pay the interest and commission on its foreign and domestic debt. The domestic debt will be a problem for state governments, because they will be forced to pay out at least 20 percent of their payments from the federal government in debt payments. The resources needed to cover the cost of the public debt in 1997 will be 33.7 percent greater than in 1996 (12 percent in real terms). With respect to the foreign debt, the government's payments will increase from N$44.55 billion in 1996 to N$51.85 billion in 1997. (La Jornada, 29 November).
Mexico City transportation Fares Hiked
Close to twenty million residents in the metropolitan area of Mexico City awoke to price increases on all forms of urban transportation on Saturday. The price of the subway, public buses and commuter train was increased 30 percent (from N$1 to N$1.3). The fare for private buses was increased 50 percent (from N$1 to N$l.5 for up to 5 kilometers) and the taxi fare was increased between 20 and 30 percent. (El Financiero, 30 November).
Increasing Number of Women Head Rural Families
The migration of men from rural areas to cities and the United States has meant that an increasing number of women are left in the countryside to take care Of their families and lands. However, since women are largely excluded from government programs giving land titles, credit and subsidies to rural producers, these women fact even greater challenges than their male counterparts. Thus, the Network of Women's Peasant Organizations of UNORCA (the National Union of Autonomous Regional Peasant Organizations) is working with these women to develop alternative productive activities, in addition to fighting for their legal rights. According to UNORCA, close to 30 percent of rural women receive no compensation for their work. (El Financiero, 2 December).
CHIAPAS
Peace Process Advancing
The Congressional Commission for Agreement and Peace (COCOPA) turned in a summary of the proposals for reforms in the area of indigenous fights and culture to the Zapatista Army for National Liberation (EZLN) and the Interior Secretariat for their approval or disapproval. The document lays out the agreements reached in the San Andres peace process to date and the necessary next steps, including Constitutional reforms. COCOPA said it was "definitive" and that the two sides would have to approve or reject it as is. EZLN Sub-Commander Marcos announced that, although the COCOPA proposal is lacking in some areas, the EZLN delegation has approved it. If the government follows suit and the process continues to move forward, a peace agreement could be signed in the first quarter of 1997, Marcos said. However, he noted that the EZLN is still a long way from turning over their arms. (La Jornada, 3 December)
Pastors for Peace Attacked in Chiapas
Members of the U.S. organization Pastors for Peace were attacked - presumably by the paramilitary group Peace and Justice - when they were in Chiapas to turn over humanitarian aid to communities in northern Chiapas. According to Tom Hansen, the director of the organization, while their bus was passing through Agua Fria on Thursday, November 28, a group of about one hundred people blocked their path and pounded on the bus, demanding to inspect the contents. The delegation refused. After having been denied official protection the following day by security forces, a man in an olive green uniform shot at the bus several times. Fortunately, no one was wounded. The organization called on all parties seeking peace in Chiapas to work to ensure the reduction of hostilities in the zone (Pastors for Peace Press Release, 30 November; La Jornada, 1 December).
Commander Ramona Undergoes Successful Operation
EZLN Commander Ramona is recovering well after having undergone a kidney transplant in Mexico City last week. The doctors said that the kidney is functioning well and that Ramona should be released from the hospital within two weeks. Although the doctors said that Ramona could travel back to Chiapas after her release, they recommended that she remain under medical observation during the next three months. Organizations of civil society collected donations to pay for Ramona's treatment in a private hospital, and the doctors volunteered their services (La Jornada, 28 November).
Army Looking for Guerrillas in Chiapas
The army reported finding an arms cache in the Sierra Madre of Chiapas, which has provoked an intensification of the militarization of the area around Angel Albino Corzo. In addition, five hundred soldiers reportedly interrogated and intimidated the local population of the town Queretaro. These activities led the Popular Peasant Union Francisco Villa (UCPFV) to file a complaint. The group says that the army is collaborating with local authorities in a "witch hunt" against its members, (La Jornada, 1 December).