Experts and analysts are still trying to explain the obvious but paradoxical correlation between a strategy ostensibly aimed at cracking down on the cartels and the chaos that has resulted.
The DRUG WAR strategy serves interests of social control.
(GUERRA CONTRA EL NARCO: El propósito es crear la incertidumbre frente al cambio, lo desconocido, el activismo social.)
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The starting bell rang for the Mexican presidential campaigns on March 30, and the candidates are out of the gates. As the nation faces an unprecedented crisis in levels of violence and lawlessness, one of the big issues is who will have to take the blame for the disastrous war on drugs.
More than 50,000 men, women and children have been killed in violence related to the drug war since December of 2006. That was when President Felipe Calderón made the now deeply regrettable decision to launch thousands of army troops into the streets to confront drug cartels.
Experts and analysts are still trying to explain the obvious but paradoxical correlation between a strategy ostensibly aimed at cracking down on the cartels and the chaos that has resulted.
Besides the booming economy of war, the drug war strategy serves interests of social control. When the nation is militarized in the name of the drug war, the government can and does intimidate and often do worse to dissidents. Human rights defenders, indigenous people seeking to protect their land and natural resources from incursions of companies, and youth in general are particular targets of military occupation, killings and repression (1).
DRUG WAR: DOES it or does it NOT IMPACT TOURISM?
Gerardo Llanes, executive director for marketing at the Mexico Tourism Board: “Mexico's problems are tied up with the international demand for drugs and a need for social reform at home. PR is fine for promoting tourism, but it won't change a country's image. If you are talking about the overall reputation of the country, that's not subject to marketing because it is not a product for sale. There is no point in standing around moaning about Mexico's image when hundreds, thousands of people are being killed each year. It is not Mexico's fault, if it is anybody's fault it is America's (EUA´s) fault, but they have still got to fix it”.
SECTUR, the Secretary of Tourism in México, maintains that the drug war does not impact the number of tourists that visit the country, nor does it influence private investment in the sector (2).
El rector de la UNAM, José Narro, demandó un cambio total a la política actual del combate a las drogas; no se trata de dar un sí o no a la legalización (3).
El rector de la UNAM, José Narro, demandó un cambio total a la política actual del combate a las drogas; no se trata de dar un sí o no a la legalización (3).
El propósito es crear la incertidumbre frente al cambio. “Su propósito es crear la incertidumbre frente al cambio, lo desconocido, el activismo social. Las protestas contra la vulneración de los derechos civiles son ignoradas,” sostuvo Semo. “Las quejas masivas de las ‘víctimas colaterales’ hechas públicas por el movimiento iniciado por Javier Sicilia son acalladas con promesas vagas…” (4) (5) (6).
NOTAS:
(1) The Politics of the Drug War in Mexico by Laura Carlsen *: http://www.cipamericas.org/archives/6743
(2) TOURISM in México: http://rivieranayaritone.blogspot.mx/2012/02/tourism-in-mexico.html
(3) 'Oleada de miles de muertos' dejó política antinarco. http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/843029.html
(4) Miedo, odio y amor electoral en México. Una Doctrina mexicana del Shock por Kent Paterson *: http://www.cipamericas.org/es/archives/6766
La doctrina del shock: el auge del capitalismo del desastre (The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism), es un libro de 2007 de la periodista canadiense Naomi Klein. El libro sostiene que las políticas económicas del Premio Nobel Milton Friedman y de la Escuela de Economía de Chicago han alcanzado importancia en países con modelos de libre mercado no porque fuesen populares, sino a través de impactos en la psicología social con desastres o contingencias provocando que ante la conmoción y confusión se puedan hacer reformas impopulares. “Una rica descripción de las maquinaciones políticas necesarias para obligar a desagradables políticas económicas en los países en resistencia”.
(5) The Mexico drug war: Bodies for billions http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/15/world/mexico-drug-war-essay/index.html
(6) Enrique Semo recuerda a O. Paz en su artículo “El regreso del ogro”: http://analisismexico2012.com/2012/02/enrique-semo-recuerda-a-o-paz-en-su-articulo-el-regreso-del-ogro/
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* CIP Americas Program: With more than 30 years of experience in Latin American news and analysis, the Americas Program of the Center for International Policy is a leading source of information for activists, academics and citizens concerned about US foreign policy toward Latin America and movements for social justice within the hemisphere www.cipamericas.org
It does impact on the national character which is somewhat fearful, paranoid and defeatist about any public issues, not just the drug wars. This goes as far as accepting lack of infrastructure, the inability of the public to feel they can travel safely anywhere at night, poor sewerage, terrible building practices and a raft of other things which all are explained by 'It's Mexico'and a shrug of the shoulders. What a sad and unfulfilling way to exist!
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