Author Javier Sicilia Calls Mexican Citizens to Leave Votes Blank in Upcoming Elections
03/29/12- Exactly one year after the discovery of the death of his son, poet Javier Sicilia addressed a crowd of several hundred in Cuernavaca, Morelos with a polemic message about the upcoming July 1 presidential elections. Since March 28, 2011, Javier Sicilia has headed various public demonstrations and protests through an initiative called the Movement … Read more
Fox: Narco-trafficking Problem in Mexico Requires More Than Capturing Cartel Leaders
03/26/12- In an interview with CNN México, former president of Mexico Vicente Fox explained that in order to end the violence, organized crime, and drug trafficking in Mexico, something more needs to be done than capture high-profile criminals. Last year, President Calderón expressed a desire to capture drug lords, in particular Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera–the … Read more
2012 Border Film Week Kicks Off at the University of San Diego
03/27/12 – The Trans-Border Institute (TBI) celebrated the opening night of its annual Border Film Week on Monday, March 26, with the screening of the acclaimed Mexican film “Miss Bala” at the University of San Diego (USD). “Miss Bala” tells the story of an average young woman, named Laura Guerrero, who dreams of becoming a … Read more
Anonymous Hacks Mexican Websites In Protest Of Papal Visit
03/23/12- According to La Crónica De Hoy, just three days before Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Mexico, the group of cyber activists named Anonymous hacked the webpages of the Archdiocese of Mexico, and the Institute of Philosophical Comunication (Instituto de Comunicación Filosófica, Comfil). Samuel Najera, spokesman of the Mexican Episcopal Conference, classified this as a … Read more
Documentary Highlights Plight of Mexican Journalists
03/21/12 – San Diego’s Latino Film Festival wrapped up this weekend on Sunday, March 18. Hosted by the Media Arts Center of San Diego, the festival ran from March 8 to March 18. One of the films that was shown on the final day was a documentary titled Reportero, which was run as a special advance … Read more
35 Arrested For Involvement in Murder of Nuevo León Police Chief
03/13/12 – Members of the State Agency of Investigation (Agencia Estatal de Investigación, AEI) in Nuevo León have arrested 35 individuals for acting as “halcones” (hawks) in the murder of Chief Antonio Montiel Álvarez, a life-long police officer who was killed on March 2, 2012 by hit men (“sicarios”). In addition to planning the murder of … Read more
Coahuila: Police Bribes Protected “Los Zetas”
03/12/12 - New information released by the Attorney General’s Office (Procuraduría General de la República, PGR) indicates that a “network of protection” (red de protección) was uncovered in the northern border state of Coahuila. According to El Universal, Federal Police (Policía Federal, PF) and members of the Federal Agency of Investigation (Agencia Federal de Investigación, AFI) … Read more
TBI Releases New Report on Drug Violence in Mexico
(03/02/12)- On Friday, March 2, the Trans-Border Institute released its the third annual special report on drug violence in Mexico. The authors of the study, Cory Molzahn, Viridiana Ríos, and David Shirk, conducted a comprehensive analysis of newly available data sources tracking organized crime and drug related killings in Mexico. This report finds that violence … Read more
Alleged Successor of Crime Organization in Mexico City Captured
03/01/12- Around mid-day on March 1, 2012, the Attorney General of Mexico City (Procuraduría General de Justicia del Distrito Federal, PGJDF) publicly announced the capture of the alleged successor to “La Mano con Ojos” (The Hand with Eyes), a prevalent crime group in the region that broke from the Beltran-Leyva Organization in 2010. The alleged current … Read more
Castañeda and Aguilar Camín present their ‘Agenda’ toward prosperity, equality, and security in Mexico
02/29/12—A scholarly duo has begun a tour of Mexico, encouraging Mexicans to set their country on a new path to change. It is composed of Jorge G. Castañeda, former Secretary of Foreign Relations, prolific author, and judicially frustrated 2006 presidential candidate, along side journalist and historian Héctor Aguilar Camín. They believe Mexicans can create the … Read more
