News Summary for February 7th, 2009

++President Felipe Calderón said that the crisis is a moment of opportunity for redefining society, economy and companies, so, in order to overcome it, the joint efforts of society and the private sector are needed.

++ The peso continued to inch up… It recovered eight cents compared to the previous day’s close to reach 14.39 cents at the selling rate. The peso buying rate reached 13.85 pesos per dollar.

Meanwhile, the peso slid compared to the euro, and the local currency dropped 8 cents to 18.93 pesos per euro, at the selling rate.

++ Speaking in New York City, Finance Secretary Agustín Carstens said that some groups of investors seeking turn a profit is what is pressuring the peso-dollar exchange rate… For that reason, he said, the Mexican government will continue to auction dollars.

++ Opposition lawmakers demanded that the Bank of Mexico say who has benefited from the dollar auctions, which they said, made the Mexican currency lose more than 40 percent of its value this year.

++ PRI leader at the Chamber of Deputies Emilio Gamboa said his party filed a constitutional controversy complaint against the Executive Branch accusing it of overstepping its jurisdiction by assigning radio and television concessions to the Communications and Transportation Secretariat.

++ Former attorney general and former head of the National Human Rights Commission Jorge Carpizo spoke out against using the state of siege as a tool to fight narcotics traffickers, as was suggested by the PRI security council.

News Summary for February 6th, 2009

++ Chevron announced the discovery of a large oil field in deep waters in the Gulf of Mexico… The oil company said the field could be greater than the one yielding 500 million barrels of crude it discovered in 2004.

++ The peso recovered some of its value compared to the dollar… The Mexican currency closed at 14.39 pesos per dollar, 21 cents less than the previous day’s rate of 14.60 pesos per dollar… The euro closed at 18.47 pesos per euro selling rate and 18.17 pesos per euro at the buying rate.

++ PRI deputies presented a pre-agreement to lower the IETU tax from 17 to 16.5 percent as an emergency measure to provide incentives to the business sector.

++ IFE councilor Marco Gómez said the electoral body can only call for political parties to remove from the Internet propaganda that is denigrating or defamatory to other parties… He said the IFE can’t intervene when it comes to people sending e-mails or videos about the campaigns. (Comment: Campaign rules are getting quite ridiculous… )

++ President Felipe Calderón condemned what he called a baseless catastrophic and alarmist outlook that does not consider the effort being made to overcome insecurity and the economic crisis at this time.

++ PRD national leader Jesús Ortega called on politicians to be aware of their faults and admit their errors… He regretted that the political class continues to hold onto private and party fiefdoms of power, instead of assuming its role representing society… Ortega included his own party in the critique.

++ The Attorney General’s Office has taken on the investigation into the homicides of Brigadier General Mauro Enrique Tello Quiñones and two other people.

++The National Defense Secretariat bestowed distinctions on outstanding members of the military, among them Division General Sergio Aponte Polito, for their work in the battle against narcotics trafficking.

++ Congressman Andrés Bermúdez Viramontes, known as the “tomato king,” died of cancer.

Blogging on the creation of "Vigilante" groups. ¿Is this happening?

This week’s blog at www.eluniversal.com.mx address one of my biggest concerns...In view of the government’s inability to reduce the crime and violence, ¿Is the population arming itself and organizing vigilante groups? ¿Why wouldn´t they?

¡HELP!

Aunque insiste el gobierno federal y los gobiernos estatales de que en México la población no se están organizando ni armando para enfrentar la ola de violencia e inseguridad que se vive en el país. Parecería que las autoridades piensan que los mexicanos, a diferencia del resto de la humanidad, no están dispuestos a armarse para defender a sus hijos y sus hogares. Y es que ante la incapacidad del Estado de proteger a la población, la pregunta es, recordando al Chapulín Colorado: ¿ahora quién podrá defendernos?

Es tal el grado de inseguridad, que presuntamente un grupo de ciudadanos en el norte del país se están organizando, y amagan con hacer justicia con sus propias manos. Al principio del año una serie de mails impactaron a las autoridades de Cd. Juárez. Una organización llamada comando ciudadano Pro Juárez envío un correo electrónico masivo donde amenazan con matar a un delincuente cada 24 hrs.

El Presidente Municipal, José Reyes Ferriz, de esta ciudad me comentó para mi programa de TV Seguridad Total que “Inicialmente, obviamente nosotros no les dimos una gran credibilidad, pero si lo tomamos con seriedad. Se pidió a la Procuraduría General de la República, que esta allá en Ciudad Juárez viendo delitos cibernéticos….La credibilidad obviamente cae mucho más con el segundo comunicado de este grupo…que establece una fecha límite, dice el segundo comunicado pues que si no se compone las cosas para el 5 de julio entonces es cuando ellos van empezar a entrar en acción." El Presidente Municipal concluye que este movimiento tiene connotaciones políticas y no es necesariamente un grupo ciudadano preocupado por la seguridad de la ciudad. Click here to continue...

News Summary for February 4th, 2009

Unknown assailants in Quintana Roo shot and killed Brigadier General Enrique Tello Quiñones and another two people… Tello Quiñones was working as public security adviser in Cancún…

In 1997 Tello Quiñones had taken part in the "Buenos Aires" operation in Mexico City… He was head of a special unit at the Federal District Public Security Secretariat… Six youths were killed in that operation…

++ A federal court ordered 40-day temporary detainment for Jaime Bracamontes Alcázar, a suspected member of the Beltrán Leyva drug cartel.. This man was arrested last month during searches of 10 residences used by the “Los Pelones” group in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero.

++ Speaking in Campeche, President Felipe Calderón acknowledged that the world economic crisis “storm” will hit Mexico… He said that nonetheless Mexico’s economy will be able to confront this difficult international situation…

++ The Finance Secretariat recognized that the adjustment in growth to negative 1 per cent will cause a loss in tax income of 10 billion to 15 billion pesos.

++ The peso continues to plunge… The Mexican currency was traded for up to 14.72 pesos per dollar in Mexico City and up to 14.80 pesos in other parts of the country… This depreciation occurred even though the Bank of Mexico auctioned 102 million dollars at a maximum exchange rate of 14.60 pesos and a minimum of 14.59 pesos per dollar.

++ PRD and PAN senators will back a PRI proposal to work on an economic emergency decree during the current ordinary congressional period. (Comment: On Imagen News we spoke with Senator Gustavo Madero about the proposals that will be debated. Check out the program for February 3^rd, clicking here.

++ Arely Gómez González, a special prosecutor for election crimes, warned that officials who use funds and or government programs for electoral purposes could be punished with up to nine years in prison.

Peso Falls....

Mexico Peso falls..falls...falls.... Purchase at the airport was 14.70 pesos per dollar. ....

News Summary for February 3rd, 2009

++ The Radio and Television Industry Chamber gave its stance regarding a decision by television stations to interrupt programs to broadcast spots by political parties… According to the Chamber, the system of broadcasting spots lasting up to three minutes per hour, will test audience patience…

++ The peso depreciated when compared to the dollar, reaching an exchange rate of up to 14.57 pesos per dollar… Since August, the peso has depreciated by 45 percent in comparison to the dollar.

++ Volkswagen idled its auto plant in Puebla for the second time this year… 479 workers halted work and will resume on Friday.

++ The Senate PRI caucus wrapped up a meeting in Querétaro with the approval of a legislative agenda for the last ordinary session of Congress in this legislature… Among the topics they are pushing for, PRI senators are seeking an economic emergency bill…

++ Meanwhile, in Guanajuato, PRD senators’ leader Carlos Navarrete announced that his party might propose a law to punish officials who were irresponsible or committed crimes during their terms… Navarette’s remarks came after former president Vicente Fox, speaking in Querétaro, said he had left his office to others during his term.

++ Chiapas Attorney General Raciel López Salazar said that Mariano Herrán Salvatti, detained on January 24th, tried to reach an agreement with organized crime in exchange for his freedom.

News Sumamry for February 2d, 2008

He died...
French scientist Christopher Augur, who was shot in the head during a robbery near the Mexico City Airport, died over the weekend…
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The French government recommended that French citizens take precautions when choosing to travel to Mexico in view of growing insecurity and violence…
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The Medical Forensic Service handed over Augur’s body to the French embassy for it to be sent to France for burial…

The Mexico City Attorney General’s Office presented three suspects who were temporarily arrested for 30 days in connection to Augur’s murder…

Miguel Ángel Herrera García, who is suspected of shooting Christopher Augur, was taken to the Reclusorio Preventivo Norte prison...
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Calderón lives in another country...
As the World Economic Forum in Davos came to an end President Felipe Calderón insisted that Mexico is a “safe and trustworthy location” for foreign investors because its economy is one of the most stable at this time of world crisis.
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Finance Secretary Agustín Carstens said that in case the world economic situation should worsen the federal government could this year make use of its reserves, which are sufficient to soften the impact of the current crisis…
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Political parties kicked off contests this weekend for midterm elections… Approximately 2,800 candidates signed up seeking to become formal candidates in races to compete for one out of 300 seats up for grabs at the Chamber of Deputies in elections on July 5th…
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The killings continue...
Twenty killings took place over the weekend: 12 in Chihuahua; 6 in Guanajuato; another 2 in Guerrero and one in Querétaro...
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And cold weather has led to the deaths of 36 people this winter… 14 people died because of hypothermia and another 22 from inhaling carbon monoxide from faulty heating systems.