News Summary for June 3rd, 2009

++ As he headed the 26th session of the National Public Security Council President Felipe Calderón had harsh words for those “traitors” who offer protection to criminals from within government institutions… He said nobody, at any level, is above prosecution…

++ The federal government announced plans to build 12 new prisons that will be franchised to the private sector… This with the intention of reducing overcrowding in Mexican prisons…

++ Interior Secretary Fernando Gómez Mont said the federal government has fulfilled the 36 pledges it made last year when the National Accord for Security, Justice and Legality was signed… He said the battle against organized crime must go beyond ideologies and rulers…

++ Businessman Alejandro Martí, whose son was kidnapped and killed last year in a case that shocked the nation, said that good intentions are not enough and that changes are coming about very slowly.

++ Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, speaking on behalf of all PRD governors, took the government to task for failing to inform Michoacán governor Leonel Godoy that an operation would be launched to arrest 30 government officials, among them 10 mayors.

++ A military sweep in Nuevo León that began on Monday has already led to 59 arrests of police officers and officials in charge of state public security.

++ PAN national leader Germán Martínez suggested three debates prior to the midterm elections on July 5th: Martínez said there should be a debate between PAN and PRI, another between PAN and PRD and a third between PRI and PRD. PRD head Jesús Ortega said he would not take part in a debate only with Beatriz Paredes, head of the PRI, because he said, the country needs to know proposals being put forth by all three major parties.