La última y nos vamos... kind of. This is the last edition of the Mexican Globalist; however, just like Arnold Schwarzenegger, we’ll be back (next week) with a fresh and new design based on your thoughtful comments and feedback. In the meantime, make sure to enjoy this last edition and to like it ❤️.
Parents of the 43 disappeared students from Ayotzinapa want answers, 6 years later
Vice
Above: Protesters march down Reforma Avenue in Mexico City, holding images of the 43 students who disappeared 6 years ago. © Hugo Cruz / Proceso
What happened? Last Saturday, the Mexican government held a press conference on the sixth anniversary of the disappearance of 43 students in the town of Iguala, in the southern state of Guerrero. The case is also referenced as the Ayotzinapa 43 disappeared normalistas (education students), for the name of the rural town where they attended school.
Among the announcements made, criminal charges have been brought up against 25 members of the military and the federal police - slightly awkward for AMLO who has championed the military for its honesty and service to the people.
Ayotzinapa students? On September 26, 2014, 43 students went missing outside Iguala en route to a protest. According to an investigation led by the previous administration, the students, who were commandeering buses (a tolerated practice) were unaware that one of the buses contained a drug shipment to the US. They were then allegedly turned over to a local gang, by local police officers, who then killed them and threw their bodies into a river, after having incinerated them.
This story, portrayed as the “historic truth” by past government authorities has been completely dismantled by other investigations. Also, burnt bone fragments found near a local garbage dump, which have been matched to two students, have offered hope that the remains of other students would also be found.
What to look for? Since taking office, AMLO has pledged to bring justice to the family of the 43 students, but so far only a few answers have been brought to light. The government is currently seeking to arrest Tomas Zerón, the former chief of criminal investigations in the last administration. Zerón was at the center of the past government’s failed investigation (deemed as a cover-up by the current Attorney General) and his extradition from Israel will be key to the case’s investigation.
🍺The latest quick fix for the tourism industry: “Acapulco Shore”
‘Any news is good news’ seems to be the motto of Mexican tourism strategy these days. After the Visit Mexico website issues and the ‘anything goes’ ads, the most recent debacle involved cast members of “Acapulco Shore” (Mexico’s Jersey Shore) and their promotion of the recently opened Mayan ruins of Uxmal. They treated the sacred ancient ruins with the utmost respect and… Not (Borat voice)... Tadeo and his friends acted like they do on TV (obnoxiously and without masks) and promptly got kicked out. But, hey, at least we all know Uxmal is open now. Associated Press
Above: Acapulco Shore star Tadeo Fernandez promoting Uxmal Ruins in Yucatán before being kicked out #FaceMasksSuck #CovidWho? #MakeMexicoGreatAgain
💚Pro-choice protest clash with police in “liberal” Mexico City
As part of the International Safe Abortion Day (September 28), protestors marched through the country’s capital demanding greater access to abortion - it is heavily restricted outside Mexico City and Oaxaca. Although the protest was overall peaceful, a smaller group of women joined and threw Molotov cocktails. President Lopez Obrador later stated that he respected the feminist movement but said they can’t fight violence with more violence. Reuters
🇲🇽🇧🇷 Oh no you didn’t! The Economist just compared AMLO to Bolsonaro
A recent Economist piece touched a nerve when it said: “Mr Bolsonaro is of the right, and AMLO claims to be of the left. But it increasingly looks as if the main difference between them is merely that the Mexican speaks more softly and has nicer manners”. The Economist Bureau Chief in Mexico later defended the article on Twitter by offering evidence that Bolsonaro has done more for the poor than AMLO … ¡ouch! The Economist
💰….The real reason why leftist AMLO is compared to right wingers, including Margaret Thatcher
AMLO’s desire to reduce poverty and inequality, but also having personally experienced the disastrous debt default crisis in 1982 and the Tequila Crisis in 1994, led him to seek a left-wing style transformation yet with a right-wing reduction in public spending. Bloomberg
⛏️ Parents look on their own for the graves of their missing children in Tijuana extremely sad but worth reading.
📺What it’s like to moderate a Presidential Debate? - A letter from a Mexican host
🦄Used-car startup becomes first Mexican Unicorn
A bit of context: In their new phase as members of the opposition, a group of right wing upper class citizens have gone out to the streets to demand AMLO’s resignation. Unsurprisingly, they have been seen bringing their bodyguards and chauffeurs to help them out. Others, also believe that protesting in English sounds better than in Spanish #Ridiculos
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AMLO’s quote: “Everybody should come camp out, not just the people, but also the bosses, the high-achievers, and the snobs”
Some context: AMLO was referring to the right wing protesters who have set up tents outside his office, but do not sleep there at night. AMLO famously closed down Reforma Avenue in 2006, alleging electoral fraud against him, and did camp day and night along with his supporters..