News Summary for June 8th, 2009

I am still in Hermosillo and sorrow is turning in to outrage...
++ Forty-four infants have died in the fire at the ABC day-care center in Hermosillo, Sonora. The privately-run day-care center belongs to IMSS nurseries and had passed a recent review of installations… State authorities said that malfunctioning in the center’s air-conditioning system could have set off the fire…

++ A short circuit was reported in another day-care center in Hermosillo… Nobody was hurt.

++ The National Defense Secretariat said that “Comandante Magaña,” leader of a Beltrán Lyeva drug cartel unit --- was killed in last Saturday’s shootout in Acapulco between army troops and hired gunmen at the service of narcos.

++ Within the last few hours two armed groups launched simultaneous attacks on two police precincts in Guerrero… Three police agents were killed and another two wounded…

++ Mexico’s Ambassador to the United States Arturo Sarukhán said it was dangerous and pointless in institutional terms, to continue to use army troops in counter-drug operations…

++ The Popular Revolutionary Army requested that the Mediating Committee be reinstated to hold talks with the federal government… The EPR is still pressing for its demand that two of its members who disappeared be presented alive.

++ The Communications and Transportation Secretariat filed a complaint with judicial bodies about the “irregular” legal writ granted to Aviacsa by a judge, allowing the airline to resume activities…

++ IFE presented messages taped by leaders and lawmakers calling on citizens to vote on July 5th… This in an effort to stem a growing movement on the part of citizens to cast “blank” or “null” votes because they feel political parties don’t represent them… IFE chief councilor Leonardo Valdés said that those who refuse to vote annul their chances at having an effect on Mexico’s future.

++ Dulce María Sauri, a former national PRI leader, placed four spots on Youtube calling on citizens to cast blank votes… Sauri said that parties are not interested in solving the nation’s problems, only in politicking and political group power plays…