Weekly News Summary: February 15

The Mexico Institute’s “Weekly News Summary,” released every Friday afternoon, summarizes the week’s most prominent Mexico headlines published in the English-language press, as well as the most engaging opinion pieces by Mexican columnists.

What the English-language press had to say…

This week, the Peña Nieto administration unveiled its new strategy to combat organized crime, promising the creation of a 10,000-strong gendarmerie by year’s end, as well as $9.2 billion for social programs aimed at the country’s most violent towns and neighborhoods.  Mexico’s booming auto industry surpassed tourism and oil exports to become the nation’s main source of foreign exchange. The government’s efforts to transform the Mexican narrative of violence into one of prosperity and social development, however, continued to suffer setbacks following the rape of six Spanish tourists in Acapulco last week. Auto defensa vigilante groups in the state of Guerrero continued to hold over forty people accused of several crimes hostage. North of the border, talk of comprehensive immigration reform continued, with critics warning against conditioning reform efforts on the poorly defined notion of securing the border, which Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano added, has “never been stronger.”

¿Qué opinan? Firmas del día: 2/11/2013

Each day we will bring you an assortment of op-ed pieces from major Mexican dailies.

El Universal

Lydia Cacho

Acapulco, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos are considered popular tourist locations in Mexico due to their spectacular scenery . However, last week’s rape case in Acapulco–where 5 Spanish women were sexually abused by a group of men– raised a discussion regarding sexual violence and the lack of attention political leaders, such as Mayor Walton, have dedicated to sexual crimes against women and children who live in these sites. An important issue to consider is that if the authorities continue to ignore the violence against locals, it will not be long until this violence starts affecting visitors and the tourist industry. http://www.eluniversalmas.com.mx/editoriales/2013/02/62960.php

¿Qué opinan? Firmas del día: 2/8/2013

Each day we will bring you an assortment of op-ed pieces from major Mexican dailies.

Reforma

Andrés Oppenheimer

Republican congressmen have not learned their lesson. Some want to create a subclass of 11 million people, most of them Hispanic, by denying them a path to citizenship. While the details of a comprehensive immigration reform are still being worked out, three competing ideas have emerged. Some Republicans, like Rep. Robert Goodlatte from Virginia support a reform that would grant undocumented immigrants temporary legal status, without putting them on a path towards citizenship. Others, like Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) support putting immigrants on a path to citizenship “eventually,” but only after increasing border security and once immigrants meet a long list of requirements. Finally, President Obama and most Democratic congressmen advocate for a direct path to citizenship as long as candidates pay a fine, learn English, and wait in line behind those who have begun the process to migrate legally. Creating a large subclass of residents would institutionalize labor abuse and other injustices. The United States should learn from France’s example, where failure to integrate millions of Muslim immigrants has led to violent riots in the past.

http://www.reforma.com/editoriales/internacional/688/1375747/

¿Qué opinan? Firmas del día: 2/7/2013

Each day we will bring you an assortment of op-ed pieces from major Mexican dailies.

Reforma

Jorge G. Castañeda

A few days ago, Chile hosted CELAC’s (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) first meeting. The organization’s purpose is simple: to build a regional structure that includes Cuba and excludes the United States and Canada. Speaking as CELAC’s president pro tempore, Cuba’s Raúl Castro said he would fight drugs “by fire and sword,” and suggested Cuba’s death penalty has led to a drug-free Cuba. The Cuban dictatorship has indeed used “fire and sword” to fight drugs, but has also employed them to crack down on imaginary evils, like homosexuality and political opposition. Latin American democracies have already been down the “fire and sword” road, only to discover that it leads to death, violence, repression, and, contrary to Mr. Castro’s beliefs, the persistence of drug-related problems.

http://www.reforma.com/editoriales/nacional/688/1375446/

¿Qué opinan? Firmas del día: 2/6/2013

Each day we will bring you an assortment of op-ed pieces from major Mexican dailies.

Reforma

Sergio Aguayo

The National Commission on Human Rights (CNDH) has not paid enough attention to the self-defense committees from Guerrero. In a couple of days, the self-defense committees will openly challenge the judiciary system by trialing 54 detainees.  Even though the state wants the latter, the former refuse to deliver.

Will Guerrero’s Governor outreach to the police or the military forces to rescue the criminals? What if the self-defense committees’ trial and rehabilitation work better than the system we know? How can we reconcile human rights, tradition and security? These are some  questions CNDH should consider instead of prioritizing the institution’s structure.

http://www.reforma.com/editoriales/nacional/688/1375147/

¿Qué opinan? Firmas del día: 2/5/2013

Each day we will bring you an assortment of op-ed pieces from major Mexican dailies.

Excelsior

Jorge Fernández Menéndez

A rumor has circulated in social networks claiming  that Los Zetas may have caused  the explosion in Pemex as a way to confront, challenge, or intimidate the new federal government .  Although the rumor is believable, the truth is not that logical.  Unless the Zetas as a criminal group are in a much more advanced period of decline than thought, it would be illogical for them to diverge attention from their priorities and focus in this type of violence.

http://www.excelsior.com.mx/2013/02/05/jorge-fernandez-menendez/882691

¿Qué opinan? Firmas del día: 2/4/2013

Each day we will bring you an assortment of op-ed pieces from major Mexican dailies.

El Universal

Andrew Selee

A higher education initiative between the U.S.- Mexico governments can improve the relationship between the two countries. By creating a bilateral program that can facilitate the exchange of top students and professors from both countries,  Mexican students could  benefit from prestigious math and science programs in the United States, while American students could benefit from recognized language and cultural programs in Mexico. In the long run, this initiative could create a generation of more competitive professionals in both countries.

http://www.eluniversalmas.com.mx/editoriales/2013/02/62833.php

¿Qué opinan? Firmas del día: 2/1/2013

Each day we will bring you an assortment of op-ed pieces from major Mexican dailies.

El Universal

Bajo Reserva

The explosion at the headquarters of Mexico’s state-owned oil company, Pemex, can be considered as the first red alert for President Enrique Peña Nieto’s administration.  Especially because  everyone expects  information, transparency, and reliable data that can remove any speculations about the origin of the accident. Clarity in the investigations is important since this incident caused deaths and injured dozens of people.

http://www.eluniversalmas.com.mx/columnas/2013/02/99917.php

¿Qué opinan? Firmas del día: 1/31/2013

Each day we will bring you an assortment of op-ed pieces from major Mexican dailies.

El Universal

Bajo Reserva

U.S. agencies have noticed a change in the strategy used by the Mexican government to fight crime. Unlike the past administration, the new government has  been discrete about criminal arrests. For example, the Mexican Army detained Jose Angel Carrasco Coronel–one the Pacific Cartel leaders–without making any  public presentations.

http://www.eluniversalmas.com.mx/columnas/2013/01/99893.php

Reforma

Jorge G. Castañeda

How is Cassez’s case similar to the Obama’s migration reform? The French Government defended Cassez becaue it assumed the obligation to do the same with all French citizens who were arrested and abused abroad. The government did not ask if the people in trouble were “guilty” or” innocent”: they were French. As seen, some Mexican citizens disagreed with the French government’s lobbying  strategy.

This  behavior is similar to the one some Americans  express after certain styles of Mexican lobbying in favor of comprehensive immigration reform. In this case,  Mexico defends  Mexicans in the U.S. (guilty or innocent, with or undocumented). While, this may be as controversial as Cassez’s case, it is important for Mexican authorities to cooperate with the American government and create a solution that can help its citizens.

http://www.reforma.com/editoriales/nacional/687/1373823/

Milenio

Transcendio

Last night,  Jesus Zambrano– president of the PRD– met with representatives from his party and the IFE to avoid a fine that the latter gave to the party for Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s excessive campaign costs.  This could free the party from a millionaire sanction.

http://www.milenio.com/cdb/doc/impreso/9171156

¿Qué opinan? Firmas del día: 1/30/2013

Each day we will bring you an assortment of op-ed pieces from major Mexican dailies.

El Universal

Bajo Reserva

Mexico’s new mechanism designed to protect  journalists and human rights defenders is already giving results in a corrupted manner. On the other hand, the information released by IFE which reveals Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s excessive campaign costs has created a discussion that has divided the internal currents of the the PRD.

http://www.eluniversalmas.com.mx/columnas/2013/01/99877.php

Excelsior

Leo Zuckerman

There is something wrong with a society fascinated by guns. For example, while people all over the United States mourned the death of the innocent children from Sandy Hook elementary, children in other parts of the country visit guns shows with their families. The worst part of  the U.S. gun culture is that in many instances children see and touch weapons with their parents’ approval. The question is, how many more victims will the U.S. need before it ends with gun fascination?

http://www.excelsior.com.mx/2013/01/30/leo-zuckermann/881797

Reforma

Templo Mayor

Now that legislators want to launch an energy reform that would modernize a sector of PEMEX, fishers in the state of Tabasco stand against a project that plans to construct an offshore platform.

http://www.reforma.com/editoriales/nacional/687/1373541/