Canadian Peace Congress


Canadian Peace Congress
The Canadian Peace Congress hosted the 2nd Tri-Lateral Conference with our fraternal intenational organizations in the US and Mexico which was held in Toronto ON October 2-4, 2009.

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A Bulletin from Mexico

9/16/2008 9:17:44 PM - Charlotte Wilson

A Bulletin from Mexico
September 16, 2008 - Charlotte Wilson
A recent bulletin issued by the FCR (Frente Cultural Revolucionario) does not paint a very rosy picture about either life in that country or its politics. This group, an affiliate of Mexicos Movement for Peace, speak of the growing number of assassinations and kidnappings, usually associated with the drug trade, which, under the current government, are increasing at an alarming rate. Much of this, they claim, has to do with corruption within the government itself, as well as in the police and military, which support the interests of only the wealthy minority while ignoring the needs of the people. When opportunities for steady employment, access to education and basic social supports are non-existent, it is predictable that some people will feel forced to earn their income through illegal means, or to immigrate in search of work. This applies particularly to younger generations who suffer from feelings of disillusionment and hopelessness.
Although these problems are not especially new in Mexico (and many other Latin American nations), they have become more acute since the last presidential elections in 2006. To provide a bit of background information, Mexico was, for nearly 70 years, governed by the PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional), which was formed after the Revolution early in the 20th century. The PRI stayed in power by co-opting a wide variety of groups and, in latter years, by undeniable electoral fraud. When Vicente Fox and the PAN (Partido Accion Nacional) finally won the elections in 2000, many believed that Mexico had finally achieved a true and lasting democracy. This, however, does not quite seem to be the case.
Mexican presidents are allowed to serve one 6 year term (sexenio) with no possibility of re-election. This rule was enshrined in the constitution to reduce corruption as it was widely accepted that each leader would use his term in office to enrich himself and his cronies as much as possible. Mexico is a country where a small elite of extremely wealthy families have long held the power while the rest of the population struggle to get by as best they can.
In 2006 the people had high hopes of perhaps finally changing this system. Andres Manuel Lpez Obrador, the wildly popular mayor of Mexico City, ran as the PRD (Partido Revolucionario Democratico) candidate, against Felip Caldern, Foxs successor. Lpez Obrador (or AMLO as he is commonly referred to in the press) had instituted many reforms of a more leftist character that benefited the people rather than the entrenched business hierarchy. Over the course of the campaign, he, more than any other candidate, travelled extensively, speaking to groups all over Mexico. Various smaller parties joined with the PRD to campaign under the banner of Por el Bien de Todos (for the good of all). The election ended in a virtual tie and the PRD immediately demanded a recount. The electoral body that decides such matters eventually chose not to do so, even though many claim that the members of this group come largely from the PAN and the PRI, thus clearly having an interest in the matter. AMLO and his supporters have never accepted the legitimacy of the current government and continue to protest and demonstrate against every issue, keeping these things alive in the press and the minds of the people.

The FCR bulletin discussed the most recent controversy which involves the governments plan to privatize PEMEX, Mexicos petroleum industry. As in many other parts of the world, the last two or three decades have seen privatization of many industries formerly owned by government (telecommunications, electricity), which many feel should rightly belong to the people. PEMEX is, perhaps a particularly sensitive issue as it was the popular president Lazaro Cardenas (grandfather of Cuautemoc Cardenas, founder of the PRD) who nationalized this industry in the 1930s. AMLO and his followers have spoken out very strongly against this and feel that the solutions to the countrys many woes lie not in measures such as these that will only benefit the same wealthy few, but rather require much more radical changes that will combat poverty and provide greater opportunities for all. The situation remains volatile, and, as AMLO says, tighter security measures and yet more policing are not a solution to these grave social problems.