96 characters on the Rosenberg assassination video and he was arrested in Guatemala.
Blog of James Rodriguez currently features photos of protests over the death of Rodrigo Rosenberg, lawyer who recorded an accusation against the president of Guatemala as his murderer, before he was killed.
Other photo entries include a protest over the disappeared, and a vigil for victims of a massacre in a Chixoy River valley dam dispute.
Guatemalan Lawyer Posthumously Accuses President of His Own Murder | techPresident
NYC will only recycle plastic bottles now, no other containers of #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE).
NYCWasteLe$$: Frequently Asked Questions - CAN I RECYCLE ANY OTHER PLASTICS BESIDES BOTTLES & JUGS?
Inhabitat » GREEN RANT: Why Won't NYC Recycle Plastic?
And what do we do about it?
HDPE
YF-DIY-75A MINI RECYCLING PLANT
What about PET?
recycle pet machines Manufacturers & Suppliers
And #5 containers, like yogurt tubs? Look for a Whole Foods dropoff location here:
Good that he's meeting with Calderon, depressing the apparent political impossibility of fighting the gun lobby.
In Mexico, Obama Seeks Curbs on Arms Sales - NYTimes.com
A large part of El Zotz biosphere next door has been cleared.
Prensa Libre - Edición electrónica - Nacional - Invasores se aproximan al Parque Nacional Tikal
From my Spanish cybernaut counterparts. We'll disappear down the rabbithole together. Conjunto amigos!
HispaGrid - Ver Tema - Creacion de terrenos usando imagenes de satelite
UPDATE: They based it on this:
Darb Dabney's OpenSim Blog - Case Study: USGS terrain in OpenSim, a GIS approach
This goes in my Underworld category, bigtime. Matt Taibbi nails it.
The Big Takeover : Rolling Stone
In Penn Station. The brother of my daughter-in-law is a real-life New York hero!
A Boy Named Penn, Born at the Station - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com
I don't expect to be a straphanger again soon, but the 21st century token is here. Like the EasyPass for highways and tolls, it refills from your credit card. The endless subway.
Fenugreek smells like maple syrup? and it's used in fragrances?
New Jersey Plant Is Called Source of Sweet Smell - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com
Not just doing business - buying land and setting up operations.
Tougher Border Can't Stop Mexican Marijuana Cartels - NYTimes.com
When negotiating to acquire ranches in Guatemala, they give the owners a choice of plata or plomo - silver or lead.
Alarma en la Frontera Sur (in cache)
Two dead and one injured in the effort to free two CONAP employees kidnapped a week ago by illegal settlers in the Laguna del Tigre reserve.
Dos muertos y un herido tras liberación de guardas forestales en Guatemala
Twenty-five people at the heart of the meltdown ... | Business | The Guardian
elPeriodico de Guatemala » Pais » Guatemala: la guerra por la ruta entre "los Zetas" y "Pelones"
(photo by Simón Hernández)
A 42 year-old lawyer and another man, 30 years-old, apparently threw grape juice, oil and some salty substances on 27 out of 33 statues in the La Venta Park in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. They claimed they were performing a prehispanic ritual. The statues are now stained and discolored, and authorities are devising a cleaning and restoration strategy.
TabascoHOY.com :: Dañan vándalos piezas olmecas en Museo La Venta
The museo Carlos Pellicer Cámara in Villahermosa, Tabasco has been closed for months due to this season's severe flooding.
TabascoHOY.com :: En el abandono museo Carlos Pellicer Cámara
CIW had a triumph just before they visited us this month - an agreement with Subway to increase the price paid for tomatoes by 1 cent a pound, thus raising income for workers from $10,000 a year to $17,000. This followed similar deals with MacDonald's, Taco Bell, and Burger King - all of them tough fights.
Look at Day 7 and 8 of their tour blog to see their visit to the Girls Club:
COALITION OF IMMOKALEE WORKERS - NE Tour
Also see Katrina Vanden Heuvel's column in the Nation on CIW's work.
In the Trenches and Fighting Slavery
Intentan cárteles despojar a finqueros guatemaltecos vecinos de Chiapas - La Jornada
The electronics disposal and recycling business, from 60 Minutes.
The Electronic Wasteland Video - CBSNews.com
The archaeological site of Chinkultic had been abandoned by authorities and taken over by peasants who charged admission. A brutal police action to evict them left 6 dead and created a a violent response from the local ejido.
Denuncian seis muertes por desalojo en ejido de Chiapas - La Jornada
Giran orden de presentacion a 200 policias tras desalojo en Chiapas - La Jornada
Six Deaths by Eviction in Chiapas Ejido - Translation by Kristin Bricker
New task force to fight narcotrafficking and destruction of protected areas.
Prensa Libre - Batallón verde podría empezar a operar en noviembre
Last Thursday, the Guatemala president's office announced that they had found secret microphones and cameras in the president's offices and residence. The head of security was dismissed. Now, high ranking military officers are admitting that parts of the country are essentially under control of the narcotraffickers..
Guatemala, ¿Estado fallido? | Infolatam
They are calling it "Guategate":
Guategate al Presidente | Infolatam: Noticias y Análisis de América Latina
Guess W's look into Putin's soul was not enough. No summit in 8 years. Where was Condaleezza, the Soviet Union expert?
Prensa Libre - Sesenta periodistas han sido intimidados
More relocations of illegal settlements in Guatemala's Maya Biosphere.
Prensa Libre - Colom anuncia traslado de invasores de El Mirador
Yep, they're all here. The whooshes, the slams, the scary stuff. Nice little demo on the page. Recommended by an editor friend.
VideoCopilot.net Designer Sound FX
Editorial in Prensa Libre, Guatemala.
Prensa Libre - Edición electrónica - Opinion - Invasiones en la Biosfera Maya
Narcotraffickers are extorting and kidnapping travellers across the border into Mexico.
Selva Guatemala trae nuevos peligros para emigrantes hacia EEUU | América Latina | Reuters
Part of my Canada research. Includes the Canadia 2056 unofficial podcast.
the Blog of the Zombie Astronaut
With 0ver 700 kilos of cocaine captured in 2007, 2000 in 2008. The photo above shows the back of the colonel who showed me the landing strips and crashed narcotraffickers' planes in 2006.
Siglo XXI - Aterrizan 30 avionetas con coca en 7 meses
As usual.
Olbermann: McCain should know better - Countdown with Keith Olbermann- msnbc.com
PETA's Latest Tactic: $1 Million for Fake Meat - New York Times
Mexico will send 10,000 and Guatemala 1500 troops to their border to fight narcotraffic, arms traffic and at least five armed groups who are operating there in support of the narcotraffickers.
This is the latest development in a story I began to cover in early 2006 when I went out with the Guatemalan military to see the narco landing strips they were destroying. This can be seen in the "Maya Frontier" video I posted here.
Siglo XXI - País y México enviarán tropas a zona fronteriza
And in a preview of how this could be could be conflated and escalated with the war on terrorism, this post describes a nuclear terrorism scenario in Juarez, extrapolated from this report of Iraqis crossing the southern border:
"According to the "INM" (Mex. Immigr.) Just last week six adult male Iraqis were arrested in Tapachula, state of Chiapas, while attempting to reach the Distrito Federal of Mexico and to proceed to the United States from that point. In their preliminary declaration, the six said they entered through Central America, reached Guatemala and that there they purchased the false passports from Greece and Holland which they initially presented to Mexican officials when arrested. They also claimed they crossed the Suchiate River (bordering Mexico and Guatemala) on a raft."
Tell the voting public one thing, the paying clients another.
Colombia ends contract after flap with Clinton aide - Yahoo! News
And other archives I'll have to explore, online from the University of Texas, Austin.
...continues to be difficult, despite court orders to relocate invading communities.
Prensa Libre - Edición electrónica - Impunidad fomenta invasiones
In San Benito, Peten, a drug bust captured a notebook containing records of police who were on the take and stores that were selling for the narcos. The viceminister of security who announced it to the press was fired by presidential decree a few hours after the announcement. The viceminister was also the lawyer for a group of "usurpados", illegal invaders of public, protected lands who set up private ranches that may provide infrastructure and landing strips for drug smugglers.
Siglo XXI - Viceministro vincula a policías con narcos
A new organized invasion of national park land in near Yaxha, the archaeological site near Tikal in Peten, Guatemala. The invaders are leading a larger group to settle and clear jungle there.
Prensa Libre - Edición electrónica - Portada
The El Diquis dam in Costa Rica is set to start construction a year from now. Archaeologists have that year to find, study and conserve all sites in the flood zone.
Costa Rican Archaeology to be Lost?
Some footage from Maya Carnaval in Chenalho, with Monkeys from Chamula. Shot on Sony PMW-EX1.
The Guatemalan military is assuming a larger role in national security in the country, due to widespread narco trafficking and destruction of natural resources. Not a welcome development, but not unexpected.
EJERCITO SE SUMA A SISTEMA DE SEGURIDAD NACIONAL
I left NBC in 2001, after a year in a production group that was a poor relation to Dateline. It was the last of the three broadcast networks that I worked for. Hockenberry chronicles the post-9/11 slide of the news division. Fascinating.
Technology Review: "You Don't Understand Our Audience"
Carlos Catalan, killed by a gunman. Cristobal Perez, stabbed by a man sent by oil interests.
Over 100 other cases of NGO and government environmentalists, in a report to be issued Dec. 14.
elPeriódico de Guatemala » País » Asesinatos en el sector ambiental
In the Sierra del Lacandon and Laguna del Tigre, invasions and destruction of forest and archaeological sites.
PrensaLibre.com - Depredan parques
Images: Virtual worlds via Google | CNET News.com
Google Prepping A Second Life Competitor?
Doors to open on Google virtual world(s)? - MediaFile
Seems to be just annoying in your email. But the extent is staggering, as outlined in this excellent report.
San Jose Mercury News - Cybercrime: How online crooks put us all at risk
Linden's VAT bombshell hits the SL art world
An early, obsessively detailed island that epitomized Second Life's first explosion of art and nature is now on sale. The move is a protest against an abrupt announcement that European value added tax (a sales tax) will be charged by Linden Labs. 25% more on a monthly charge of $200 or more is a big jump. But there has to be more to this than a tax protest.
The island was one of the first places I visited. It is a combination artificial ecology and pastiche of Maya art and architecture. A product of a time when there were only a few thousand people using SL (I entered when there were 350,000) and a skillful artifact created with crude 3D tools of the time. Now there are almost 10 million people who have tried SL, and times have changed.
At 1.6 million lindens (around $6000 US) Lauks Nest is one of the most expensive properties on sale in SL now. A bit of virtual world history, and a patron may well step in. But what would $6000 do for a living Maya family right now? For an under-funded archaeologist, for that matter?
In the Times today. Thanks to Chris for the heads up. In one paragraph the whole sad story.
Guatemala: Candidate Killed - New York Times
Guatemala: Candidate Killed
By REUTERS
Published: August 29, 2007
A candidate of the party of the presidential candidate Rigoberta Menchú, winner of the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize, was shot dead by gunmen, the latest killing in the approach to the Sept. 9 election, in which 40 people have been killed. The candidate, Clara Luz López, was running for a seat on the Casillas City Council and was killed driving home after a day’s campaigning on Monday. The elections race has been the most violent since the country’s civil war ended a decade ago, as drug traffickers try to win political power to transport Colombian cocaine through Guatemala to Mexico and the United States.
I'll have an embedded Usumacinta map here soon. You'll see them everywhere soon.
Google Releases YouTube-Style Embedded Maps
Google LatLong: YouTube-style Embeddable Maps
A Guatemalan policeman was arrested in the Peten, near the Mexican border, for involvement in the murder of three Salvadoran politicians in February. Four other policemen suspected of involvement had been arrested but killed days later in maximum security prison. One policeman remains a fugitive.
Reuters AlertNet - Policeman arrested in Guatemala murder scandal
The front-runner in the campaign for president of Guatemala has declared a "fight to the death" with the narcotraffickers of Guatemala.
PrensaLibre.com - Últimas noticias
Colom declara la guerra al narcotráfico en Guatemala
Washington - El favorito en las próximas elecciones a la presidencia de Guatemala, el socialdemócrata Álvaro Colom, declaró hoy en Washington “la guerra” al narcotráfico, con el que prevé mantener un serio enfrentamiento si triunfa en los comicios del 9 de septiembre.
“Es una lucha a muerte. Esta es la guerra, la nueva guerra de Guatemala”, afirmó Colom, que incidió en el inminente choque entre su eventual gobierno y unos narcotraficantes organizados: “Veo venir un enfrentamiento corporativo mafioso contra el Estado, porque se están uniendo”.
Colom confesó sentirse amenazado por los narcotraficantes, aunque aseguró que eso no lo va a frenar. “Me dicen que no hable así porque me van a matar, pero las miras del narco están bien puestas, yo ya las tengo y me tengo que cuidar de todos modos”, aseguró en una conferencia organizada por el Foro de Diálogo Interamericano.
El líder de la Unión Nacional de la Esperanza (UNE) cuestionó las decisiones tomadas por el actual gobierno de Óscar Berger en la lucha contra el tráfico de drogas, e incluso insinuó connivencia dadas las cifras: “En 2003 se incautaron dos mil kilos de cocaína, en 2006 sólo 264”.
“El fortalecimiento del narcotráfico es algo muy planificado. Nadie más que yo estaría de acuerdo en reducir el Ejército, pero no como se hizo en 2004. Le han dejado al narco un corredor desde Izabal hasta la frontera con México por donde puede pasar un elefante cargado con todo lo que quiera. Para mí forma parte de un plan maquiavélico: radares que no cubren todo el Petén e Izabal, la fuerza aérea no tiene un solo avión patrullero, la naval tiene lanchas costeras que son de la Segunda Guerra Mundial...” .
Colom aseguró que, si se convierte en presidente, pretende encabezar la lucha contra el narcotráfico en la región. “Hemos hablado ya con el presidente (de Honduras, Manuel) Zelaya, con el presidente (de El Salvador, Antonio) Saca, estamos pendientes de hablar con el presidente (de México, Felipe) Calderón, y hablamos con el primer ministro (de Belice, Said) Musa. Esta lucha tiene que ser regional”, enfatizó.
En el mismo sentido, prevé incrementar la colaboración de Estados Unidos. “Queremos hacer un planteamiento más serio que el de gobiernos anteriores. Platicamos constantemente con la embajada, pero hay muchas cosas que aún no quiero hacer porque aún no ganamos. Sería muy prepotente llegar al Departamento de Estado y pedir ayuda”.
El 9 de septiembre, más de cinco millones de guatemaltecos elegirán a más de tres mil funcionarios públicos, incluyendo a presidente, vicepresidente, diputados y alcaldes.
Las encuestas le dan claramente la ventaja y Colom aseguró mostrarse cauto, pero por momentos vio segura su victoria. Según sus cálculos, su partido obtendrá unos “65 diputados” de los 158 del Congreso. “Traemos un poco de cabeza a la competencia, pero no nos quita el sueño, porque en Guatemala puede pasar cualquier cosa” indicó.
El candidato de la UNE incluso indicó qué tipo de victoria le gustaría obtener. “No quiero una mayoría en el Congreso, es un problema, yo quisiera por lo menos negociar con otro partido, porque si no se vuelve una bancada bastante complicada”, afirmó.
Respecto a su programa fuera de la lucha contra el narcotráfico, Colom prometió aumentar la participación de la mujer en la vida política, incrementar el presupuesto un 52 por ciento en cuatro años, e invertir en infraestructuras sociales. “Soy un amigo del deporte, pero se está gastando demasiado en polideportivos y canchas de fútbol y poco en hospitales y escuelas”, dijo.
Además, el candidato anunció que, en su intento de regenerar la vida política guatemalteca, está negociando con otras fuerzas políticas para consolidar “al menos tres” partidos estables en Guatemala.
Dando ejemplo, prometió ceder el liderazgo de la UNE en 2011: “Reconozco que la UNE depende aún demasiado de mí, pero a partir del 9 de septiembre o el 4 de noviembre (día de la segunda vuelta) tendrá que vivir solita. Y el relevo en 2011 lo tendrá que decidir la nueva generación” concluyó. - DPA
From Bruce Sterling's blog. A profile of Ram Charan, the wandering corporate sage of globalism.
Beyond the Beyond - The Rambling Ghost of Global Business - Wired Blogs
Priests to Purify Site After Bush Visit - washingtonpost.com
I'm glad I got to see it, and go in it, before this day. The plan is to build a 5 million peso reproduction for the site museum. Thanks to Janet for the heads up on this.
La tumba del rey Pakal será cerrada de manera definitiva al público - La Jornada
Unlike a lot of what I put in an "Underworld" category, this actually belongs there.
Maya Caves | Home Page of the Vanderbilt Upper Pasión Archaeological Cave Survey
Anti-Conservation forces seem to be getting stronger in Guatemala, as seen in this attempt on the lives of two leaders of Tropico Verde. (click MORE for the full story)
GUATEMALA
Carlos Albacete Rosales (m)
Piedad Espinosa Albacete (f),
Co-directors of environmental organisation Green Tropic (Tropico Verde)
An attempt on the lives of two environmentalists has been
made in Guatemala City. Amnesty International believes that
their lives and those of other colleagues are in grave
danger.
Environmental activists Carlos Albacete Rosales and Piedad
Espinosa Albacete were the subjects of an apparent attempt
on their lives as they returned home from the La Aurora
National Airport in Guatemala City in a taxi on Wednesday 10
January 2007 at 12.20am.
As they approached their house in the area known as
Carretera a El Salvador, they saw a grey Volkswagen Golf
parked less than 1km from their house. The car pulled out
behind them and followed them until overtaking the taxi a
few metres further on and making a 180 degree turn in front
of them, partially blocking the road.
Four men got out of the car, drawing their handguns as they
did so. They were wearing black woollen hats and dark-
coloured bullet-proof vests, dressed in black clothing
similar to that used by the police but without the
identifying insignia. They stood in front of the taxi and
began to shoot at it. The taxi driver carried on forwards,
leaving the four men behind. They continued to shoot at the
taxi but did not pursue it any further.
Carlos Albacete was left slightly injured by broken glass,
as both the front windscreen and the rear passenger seat
window, on Carlos Albacete's side, were shattered by the
shots. Bullets were also left lodged in the taxi's bodywork,
in the passenger door on Carlo Albacete's side and in the
boot. When police arrived to investigate the incident they
allegedly failed to place the recovered bullets in evidence
bags, putting them directly in their pockets instead.
Both Carlos Albacete and Piedad Albacete work for the
Guatemalan environmental organisation Tropico Verde, and
have been the victims of previous attacks and acts of
intimidation. Following a series of verbal threats, Tropico
Verde's Peten office was forced to close for part of 2005
before re-opening in a more secure location. On 12 September
2006 at 11pm Carlos Albacete and Piedad Albacete's house was
allegedly shot at with machine gun fire. On 24 September a
gold-coloured vehicle with tinted windows parked outside
their house at 5.30am and allegedly kept it under
surveillance. On 13 November 2006 Carlos Albacete and a
colleague were allegedly watched by the four occupants of a
vehicle whilst on a visit with journalists to denounce the
usurpation of protected land in the Peten region. On 18 and
20 December an employee of Tropico Verde received two
telephone calls from relatives warning of persistent rumours
circulating in the Peten region that there would be an
attempt on the lives of Carlos Albacete and Piedad Albacete.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Tropico Verde is an environmental organisation which works
to protect the Mayan Biosphere Reserve (a nature reserve in
the Peten region). During the last four years Tropico Verde
has been active in denouncing cattle ranchers' and alleged
drug traffickers' usurpation of land inside the Reserve.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly
as possible, in Spanish or your own language:
- Expressing concern for the safety of Carlos Albacete,
Piedad Albacete and other members of their organisation;
- urging the authorities to order a thorough and independent
investigation into the attempt on the lives of Carlos
Albacete and Piedad Albacete, and into the threats and acts
of intimidation suffered by them and their organisation
previously, and to bring those responsible to justice;
- reminding the authorities of their obligations to
recognize the legitimacy of the activities of human rights
defenders and their right to carry out their activities
without any restrictions or fear of reprisals, as set out in
the UN Declaration on the Rights and Responsibilities of
Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and
Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental
Liberties.
APPEALS TO:
Attorney General and Head of the Public Prosecutor's Office:
Fiscal General de la Republica y Jefe del Ministerio Publico
Lic. Juan Luis Florido
15 avenida 15-16
Zona 1, Barrio Gerona, 8vo. nivel
Guatemala, Guatemala
Fax: +502 2411 9124
Salutation: Dear Attorney General/Estimado Sr. Fiscal General
Vice-President of the Republic:
Vicepresidente de la Republica
Sr. Eduardo Stein Barillas
Casa Presidencial, 6a. Avenida 4-18, Zona 1
Guatemala, Guatemala
Fax: +502 2253 0801
Salutation: Dear Mr. Vicepresident/Estimado Sr. Vicepresidente
COPIES TO:
Human Rights Defenders Protection Unit:
Unidad de Proteccion de Defensoras y Defensores de Derechos Humanos
Movimiento Nacional de Derechos Humanos
1 Avenida 0-11, Zona 2
Colonia Lo de Bran
Guatemala, Guatemala
Fax: + 502 2232 2651 (if someone answers say ''tono de fax por favor'')
and to diplomatic representatives of Guatemala accredited to
your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the
International Secretariat, or your section office, if
sending appeals after 26 February.
Composed of members of Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas (Conap), the military, the national police, and the Instituto de Antropología e Historia.
elPeriódico de Guatemala - Crearán brigada ecológica para Petén
Virtual worlds are colliding. I have met a number of Mexican, Franch and Brazilian new residents in the last couple of days. And there's another collision taking place in a virtual version of my last network job location. The ghost of Phillip K. Dick is on my shoulder.
New World Notes: HOMELESS FOR THE HOLIDAYS (Updated)
Land from the Maya Biosphere which had been illegally transferred to narcotraffickers will be recovered and criminal charges brought against the people involved.
PrensaLibre.com - Estado recuperará nueve fincas
Via Mildly Diverting weblog:
Carnegie Mellon Near-Regular Texture Database
Met Spin Martin/Eric Rice by chance last night. Here's info by way of his blog on music in the metaverse.
Talib Kweli & Ben Folds at Eric Rice
42minus71 v1.0: Waitin' for the DJ: Talib Kweli's Second Life
A violent turn in the ongoing struggle to remove the governor, Ulises Ruiz.
Asesinan a maestro oaxaqueño; complot para justificar desalojo, denuncia APPO
A year ago, Hurricane Stan brought devastation to the highlands of Guatemala. In a week, Doctor Irene Quieju, from Santiago Atitlan, will stop in New York at the Girls Club to tell us about the rebuilding of the Hospitalito, destroyed by a mudslide in a torrent of mud.
BBC NEWS | Americas | Painful legacy of Guatemala storm
U.S. to Cut Guatemala's Debt for Not Cutting Trees - NY Times
The community which wounded two people by gunfire and took park guards hostage in June is facing eviction by the army, park officials and police. A plan to accomplish this on Sept.22 was cancelled at the last moment by the chief of police, but it is now expected to happen in the next few days. This is part of a stepped up effort to take back the Sierra del Lacandon park from armed invaders and narcotraffickers.
Started my own underwater cavern this weekend, and now I have to check these out.
Angry's Tripping the Metaverse: A Cave System is like the Internet....
In the Peten, community groups are demanding that the government comply with the protected areas act. Business, mining and oil interests have recently challenged the law, claiming that it is unconstitutional.
PrensaLibre.com - Exigen conservación de áreas protegidas
As they come under pressure in the North they are moving to the southern parts of the country, and coming into conflict with other organized crime groups there.
PrensaLibre.com - Narcos rediseñan sus bases de apoyo
Park guard posts are reopened, some progress is being made retaking the Sierrra del Lacandon Park from the narcotraffickers.
PrensaLibre.com - Combaten narcotráfico en Petén
Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, the Mexican leader who was cheated in the 1988 election fraud, has come out sharply critical of Lopez Obrador's "intolerance and dogmatism". He also said that the plan to set up an alternative presidency would be a setback for the democratic process and the PRD in particular. In the circle around Lopez Obrador, he says, are some of the same people who engineered the computerized election fraud that cost him the presidency in the 1988 crisis that Mexicans describe as "the system crashed". Cardenas is a member and one of the founders of the PRD.
AMLO es criticado por Cárdenas por su intolerancia y dogmatismo / 14 de Septiembre de 2006
Twent percent of the park is in private hands, through fraudulent titles.
PrensaLibre.com - Detectan fincas inscritas en forma ilegal
Here is the response of the various Guatemalan environmental organizations to the business organization's charge that the protected area law is unconstitutional. (click More)
boletin de prensa
a s o r e m a
MANIFIESTA SU rechazo
a la pretensión de LA CAMARA DE INDUSTRIA DE
GUATEMALA
– cig- DE derogar la ley de areas protegidas
Ante
el Recurso que con gran secretividad la Cámara de Industria
de Guatemala (CIG) presentó ante la Corte de Constitucionalidad
pidiendo la derogatoria de la Ley de Áreas Protegidas, Decreto-Ley
4-89, después de diecisiete años de vigencia, la Asociación
Nacional de Organizaciones no Gubernamentales de los Recursos Naturales
del Medio Ambiente -ASOREMA-
manifiesta su preocupación y repudio considerando que el argumento
esgrimido de la omisión de un requisito legal al momento de su
aprobación, es a todas luces una prepotente
monstruosidad y solo puede juzgarse como astuta argucia
para beneficiar grandes intereses nacionales y extranjeros a costa
de la destrucción de los recursos naturales de Guatemala.
Las
Areas Protegidas, establecidas en el Artículo 64 de la Constitución
Política de la República, son los pocos focos de bosque y agua que
quedan de aquella Guatemala que hace 60 años era considerada,
junto con los países nórdicos, reserva mundial forestal.
Su creación la obligó, precisamente, la voracidad de esos
sectores a quienes solo ha interesado su valor comercial y nunca
su utilidad ambiental de productores de agua, oxigeno, bancos de germoplasma,
reguladores del clima y fuente de vida para la fauna, flora y el hombre.
Hoy, pareciera
que el deseo de esas empresas es destruir esas áreas para explotar
petróleo y hacer otros
desarrollos sin respeto a la vida de la
sociedad guatemalteca y sin considerar el clamor mundial por la
conservación ambiental para sobrevivencia humana. Está también
la abusiva pretensión de utilizar el ecosistema frágil y único
en el mundo de las aguas del Río Dulce, para transporte
industrial pesado de minería.
La
pretendida derogatoria de la Ley de Áreas Protegidas traería como
consecuencia inmediatas invasiones y apropiaciones, destrucción forestal
por talas e incendios, cambio de uso de suelos, impacto ambiental severo
sobre el patrimonio natural, pérdida del turismo e incluso, podría
pensarse también que dentro de esos intereses estaría favorecer
la siembra de drogas y fomentar el narcotráfico, por ser
áreas apetecidas para esas actividades ilícitas.
Si
los argumentos baladíes de la CI fueran tomados en cuenta
por la Corte de Constitucionalidad, se destruirá todo el sistema
de conservación ambiental del país, esfuerzo nacional, además
de constituir una flagrante violación de los Tratados Mundiales que
Guatemala ha aceptado, entre ellos el TLC; la responsabilidad
social y ambiental que la misma CIG promueve y el respeto al
derecho de los guatemaltecos a una vida con calidad ambiental.
Por
todo ello, las organizaciones ambientalistas protestamos enérgicamente
urgiendo a la sociedad completa, medios de comunicación,
grupos mayas, de mujeres, derechos humanos, comunidades y alcaldes,
jóvenes, etc., a toda persona que sabe que la conservación del medio
ambiente es la de su propia vida, a oponerse abiertamente a la
abusiva pretensión de la Cámara de Industria de Guatemala e instar
a la Corte de Constitucionalidad a desestimar tal acción.
Asociación Nacional
de Organizaciones no Gubernamentales de
los Recursos Naturales
y el Medio Ambiente -ASOREMA-
Fundación Defensores
de Fundación del Bosque Tropical
la Naturaleza
Asociación Guatemalteca
de Asociación Guatemalteca Pro Defensa
Educación Ambiental
–AGEA- del Medio Ambiente -aprodema-
Asociación de Rescate
y Asociación para la Recuperación,
Conservación de Vida
Manejo y Saneamiento Ambiental
Silvestre -arcas- -armsa-
Asociación Amigos del Centro
Mesoamericano de Estudios
Bosque sobre Tecnología
Apropiada –cemat-
Fundación Interamericana
de Fundación para el Ecodesarrollo
Investigación Tropical
-fiit- y la Conservación –fundaeco-
Fundación para la Conservación Fundación
Solar
del Medio Ambiente y
de los
Recursos Naturales
Mario Dary Rivera –fundary-
Fundación de Defensa
del Medio Instituto de Derecho Ambiental y
Ambiente de Baja Verapaz Desarrollo
Sustentable –ideads-
-fundemabv-
Fundación Naturaleza
para la Asociación de Comunidades
Vida –npv- Forestales
de Peten –acofop-
Fundación para el Desarrollo Fideicomiso
para la Conservación
Integral del Hombre y
su de Guatemala –fcg
Entorno – calmecac-
Conservación Internacional Asociación
Integral de Desarrollo para los
-CI- Guatemaltecos –ASINDEGUA-
Asociación de Asociaciones
de
Productores Forestales
y Frutícolas
de Guatemala –APROFOGUA-
A business organization in Guatemala has asked that their supreme court strike down the protected areas law as unconstitutional. I am posting their complaint in its entirety below (click More) and I will post the court's response next. Essentially, the national parks and reserves are under assault not just from organized invaders and land dealers, but from narco traffickers and business organizations.
HONORABLE CORTE DE CONSTITUCIONALIDAD.
Yo, SERGIO
DE LA TORRE GIMENO, de cuarenta y tres años de edad, casado, Licenciado
en Administración de Empresas e industrial, guatemalteco, domiciliado
en el departamento de Guatemala, respetuosamente comparezco y
EXPONGO:
-I-
1.
Actúo en mi calidad de Presidente de la Junta Directiva de la asociación
civil Cámara de Industria de Guatemala, la cual acredito mediante
acta notarial de mi nombramiento autorizada en esta ciudad el once de
agosto del año dos mil cinco por el notario Ricardo Sagastume Morales,
estando debidamente inscrito en el Registro Civil del departamento de
Guatemala bajo partida número (187) folio ciento ochenta y siete
(187) del libro número diecisiete (17) de Nombramiento de Personas
Jurídicas.
Adjunto
como anexo “A” fotocopia legalizada del acta notarial de mi nombramiento.
2.
Actúo bajo la dirección y procuración de los abogados colegiados
activos Ricardo Sagastume Morales, Ana Adelina Morales Flores
y Melissa Odily Morán Tobar; quienes podrán actuar en forma
conjunta o separada, indistintamente.
3.
Señalo como lugar para recibir notificaciones la oficina del primero
de los mencionados profesionales, situada en la ruta seis, nueve guión
veintiuno (9-21), cuarto nivel, oficina cuatrocientos uno (401) del
Edificio de Cámara de Industria de Guatemala, zona cuatro (4) de esta
ciudad.
4.
Con la calidad que ejercito, planteo por este medio, inconstitucionalidad
total de la LEY DE ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS.
5.
Esta petición de inconstitucionalidad se basa en los motivos jurídicos
que expresaré razonadamente en lo que sigue de este escrito.
-II-
6.
La Corte de Constitucionalidad ha expresado en innumerables fallos,
de manera reiterada y terminante, entre otros, los principios siguientes:
6.1. Uno
de los principios fundamentales que informa al Derecho guatemalteco
es el de supremacía constitucional, que implica que en la cúspide
del ordenamiento jurídico está la Constitución y que ésta, como
ley suprema, es vinculante para gobernantes y gobernados a efecto de
lograr la consolidación del Estado Constitucional de Derecho. Lasuperlegalidad constitucional se reconoce, con absoluta precisión,
en tres artículos de la Constitución Política: el 44, que preceptúa:
"Serán nulas ipso jure las leyes y disposiciones gubernativas
o de cualquier otro orden que disminuyan, restrinjan o tergiversen los
derechos que la Constitución garantiza"; el 175 que
establece: "Ninguna ley podrá contrariar las disposiciones
de la Constitución" y las que "violen o tergiversen
los mandatos constitucionales son nulas ipso jure"; y el 204
que dispone: "Los tribunales de justicia en toda resolución
o sentencia observarán obligadamente el principio de que la Constitución
prevalece sobre cualquier ley o tratado".
6.2. Con
base en el principio de superlegalidad reconocido especialmente
en los artículos 44 y 175 de la Constitución,
ésta prevalece sobre las decisiones del órgano legislador, que sólo
puede emitir normas dentro del marco constitucional.
6.3. Principio
básico del régimen constitucional es el de legalidad.
El artículo 152 de la Constitución contiene el principio general
de la sujeción de los órganos del Estado, al Derecho. Preceptúa
la citada norma que el ejercicio del poder, que proviene del pueblo,
está sujeto a las limitaciones señaladas por la Constitución
y la ley, o sea que se establece un sistema de atribuciones expresas
para los órganos del poder público.
6.4. El examen, entonces, siempre consistirá en la confrontación necesaria entre la norma acusada de inconstitucionalidad y la Constitución de la República, por lo que lógicamente y en cumplimiento del principio de congruencia, el planteamiento debe seguir ese método.
-III-
7.
Es pertinente, por ende, hacer aplicación de los principios enunciados
en el apartado precedente, respecto de la LEY DE ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS,
que se impugna a través de la presente acción de inconstitucionalidad
total.
-IV-
8.
La ley impugnada tiene la estructura que determinan los títulos siguientes:
Título
I: Principios, objetivos generales y ámbito de aplicación de esta ley.
Título
II: De la conservación de la flora y fauna silvestre y de su hábitat.
Título
III: Del aprovechamiento racional de la flora y fauna silvestre.
Título
IV: Del órgano de dirección y encargado de la aplicación de esta ley.
Título
V: De las infracciones y sanciones.
Título
VI: Disposiciones transitorias.
-V-
9.
El Título I (artículos del 1 al 6) se refiere a disposiciones generales
que comprenden, en su orden, principios fundamentales, objetivos y ámbito
de aplicación.
10. De
acuerdo con lo que expresa el artículo 6 (Ámbito de aplicación):
"La presente ley es de aplicación general en todo el territorio de la República y para efectos de la mejor atención de las necesidades locales y regionales en las materias de su competencia, los Consejos de Desarrollo Urbano y Rural y las Municipalidades coadyuvarán en la identificación, estudio, proposición y desarrollo de áreas protegidas, dentro del ámbito de su respectiva región."
11.
Según lo determina el artículo 2:
"Se crea el Sistema Guatemalteco de Áreas Protegidas (SIGAP), integrado por todas las áreas protegidas y entidades que la administran, cuya organización y características establece esta ley, a fin de lograr los objetivos de la misma en pro de la conservación, rehabilitación, mejoramiento y protección de los recursos naturales del país, y la diversidad biológica."
12.
El contenido del ámbito, objeto y la eventual aplicación de la ley
aquí relacionada compete a una persona jurídica que depende
(¿?) de la Presidencia de la República y, por ende ―por esa dependencia―
forma parte del Organismo Ejecutivo, de acuerdo con lo que establece
el artículo 5 de la LEY DEL ORGANISMO EJECUTIVO (contenida en el Decreto
114-97 del Congreso de la República y sus reformas):
“El
Organismo Ejecutivo se integra de los órganos que dispone la Constitución
Política, la presente y demás leyes. Según su función, los
mismos podrán ser deliberativos, consultivos, de contralor y ejecutivos,
al igual que podrán confluir en un órgano administrativo más de uno
de dichos atributos.
Integran
el Organismo Ejecutivo los Ministerios, Secretarías de la Presidencia,
dependencias, gobernaciones departamentales y órganos que administrativa
o jerárquicamente dependen de la Presidencia de la República.
También forman parte del Organismo Ejecutivo las Comisiones Temporales, los Comités Temporales de la Presidencia y los Gabinetes Específicos. Compete al Presidente de la República, mediante acuerdo gubernativo por conducto del Ministerio de Gobernación, crear y establecer las funciones y atribuciones, así como la temporalidad de los órganos mencionados en este párrafo.”
De
lo anterior, se desprende la siguiente interrogante, ¿el tema de áreas
protegidas constituye materia del CONAP o del Ministerio de Ambiente
y Recursos Naturales? ¿Le compete a un ministerio o a
un órgano descentralizado y autónomo ―creado de manera
ilegal e inconstitucional― la organización, desarrollo, administración
y aplicación del sistema de áreas protegidas de conformidad con
la organización, atribuciones y funcionamiento estatal regulada en
la Ley del Organismo Ejecutivo? ¿Habrá conflicto de competencias?
13.
Del manejo, organización, dirección y desarrollo del sistema de
áreas protegidas, la Ley de Áreas Protegidas asignó como “responsable”
y “competente” al Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas
―CONAP―, entidad la cual resulta ser una extraña combinación
de persona jurídica, de dependencia de la Presidencia
de la República, de órgano máximo de dirección y coordinación,
con jurisdicción en todo el territorio nacional, sus costas marítimas
y su espacio aéreo, teniendo autonomía funcional y
recursos privativos, además de una asignación anual del Estado
y el producto de las donaciones específicas particulares, países amigos,
organismos y entidades internacionales, que se rige por legislación
especial.
14.
Ahora bien, por otra parte, la Ley del Organismo Ejecutivo en su
artículo 29 bis literal b), establece que compete al Ministerio de
Ambiente y Recursos Naturales dentro de sus funciones asignadas por
ley “...b) Formular las políticas para el mejoramiento y modernización
de la administración descentralizada del sistema guatemalteco de áreas
protegidas, así como para el desarrollo y conservación del patrimonio
natural del país, incluyendo las áreas de reserva territorial del
Estado; ...”.
15. Vemos,
entonces, que la materia relacionada con el sistema guatemalteco
de áreas protegidas, es disputada por dos entidades que, por
su naturaleza legal ―artículos
59 de la Ley de Áreas Protegidas y 29 bis literal b) de la Ley del
Organismo Ejecutivo―,
constituyen órganos que integran el Organismo Ejecutivo y, en
consecuencia, dependen jerárquicamente de la Presidencia de la República,
pero con una sensible y peligrosa contradicción lógico-jurídica:
** Una
de ellas, el CONAP, es una persona jurídica pública, con personalidad
jurídica y patrimonio propios;
** y,
la otra, el Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, es un órgano
a nivel de Ministerio,
PERO
AMBOS SON DEPENDENCIA DE LA PRESIDENCIA DE LA REPÚBLICA.
Por
ello, la coexistencia de ambos órganos, con la misma competencia,
hace que se concrete una violación constitucional que debe resolverse
mediante la presente acción de inconstitucionalidad total.
Como
ejemplo encontramos:
Artículo
69 literales a) y o) de la Ley de Áreas Protegidas:
“Las
atribuciones del Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas son:
…a)
Elaborar la política y la estrategia de conservación del
patrimonio natural de la nación…”.
“…o)
Servir de órgano asesor a la Presidencia de la República y
a todas las entidades estatales que requieran de sus servicios en
materia de conservación y protección de los recursos naturales
del país…”.
Artículo
29 bis primer párrafo y la literal a) de la Ley del Organismo Ejecutivo:
“Al
Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales le corresponde formular
y ejecutar… y cumplir y hacer que se cumpla el régimen
concerniente a la conservación, protección, sostenibilidad y mejoramiento
del ambiente y los RECURSOS NATURALES en el país… debiendo
prevenir la contaminación del ambiente, disminuir el deterioro
ambiental y la pérdida del patrimonio natural…”.
“…a)
Formular participativamente la política de conservación, protección
y mejoramiento del ambiente y de los recursos naturales, y ejecutarla
en conjunto con las otras autoridades con competencia legal en la materia
correspondiente, respetando el marco normativo nacional e internacional
vigente en el país…”.
En
consecuencia, siendo la Ley del Organismo Ejecutivo y la creación del
Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales posterior
―años 1997 y 2000,
respectivamente―
a la Ley de Áreas Protegidas ―año
1989― y, entendiendo
que ese Ministerio constituye el ENTE RECTOR de las POLÍTICAS
PÚBLICAS correspondientes a la función sustantiva del mismo ―sostenibilidad,
mejoramiento, protección y conservación del AMBIENTE y los RECURSOS
NATURALES―, poco o nada tiene qué hacer el
Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas, ejerciendo funciones y competencia
propias del órgano rector de la materia como lo es el
Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, creado posteriormente
y con autoridad y competencia en TODA LA REPÚBLICA para esos asuntos.
Así,
el nacimiento, la existencia y justificación legal del Consejo
Nacional de Áreas Protegidas es dudosa
y, además, se cuestiona al contravenir normas constitucionales
imperativas expresas, violando los artículos 2º ―seguridad jurídica―,152 y 154 ―principio
de legalidad―,
44 segundo párrafo, 175 y 204 ―principio
de superlegalidad y supremacía de la Constitución Política de la
República―, 193
y 194 literal f) ―principio
de rectoría de funciones sustantivas de los ministerios de estado―. Dicho en otras palabras,
LA EXISTENCIA del Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas es
NULA IPSO JURE.
-VI-
16.
La Ley de Áreas Protegidas, objeto de la presente acción de inconstitucionalidad
total, en su artículo dos, crea el Sistema Guatemalteco de Áreas
Protegidas (SIGAP), con el fin de lograr los objetivos de esa
ley en PRO DE LA CONSERVACIÓN, REHABILIDACIÓN, MEJORAMIENTO Y PROTECCIÓN
DE LOS RECURSOS NATURALES DEL PAÍS
16.1. Para
ello, en el artículo 59 de la Ley de Áreas Protegidas crea
el Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas, como el "órgano máximo
de dirección y coordinación del Sistema Guatemalteco de Áreas Protegidas
(SIGAP)", lo dota con
“personalidad jurídica” y
“autonomía funcional” para el ejercicio
de las atribuciones y funciones que le asigna la ley y, además, lo
hace depender directamente de la Presidencia de la República.
16.2. En
el artículo 63 establece que el Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas,
para cumplir sus fines y objetivos, se integra de la siguiente manera:
"Para
cumplir sus fines y objetivos, el Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas
estará integrado por los representantes de las entidades siguientes:
a)
Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, MARN.
b)
Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas, CECON/USAC.
c) Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, IDAEH.
d) Un delegado de las organizaciones no gubernamentales relacionadas con los recursos naturales y el medio ambiente, registradas en CONAP.
e) La Asociación Nacional de Municipalidades, ANAM.
f) Instituto Guatemalteco de Turismo, INGUAT.
g)
Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Alimentación, MAGA."
16.3. El
artículo 62 determina que los fines principales del Consejo Nacional
de Áreas Protegidas son los siguientes:
a)
Propiciar y fomentar la conservación y el mejoramiento del patrimonio
natural de Guatemala.
b)
Organizar, dirigir y desarrollar el Sistema Guatemalteco de Áreas Protegidas,
SIGAP.
c)
Planificar, conducir y difundir la Estrategia Nacional de Conservación
de la Diversidad Biológica y los Recursos Naturales Renovables de Guatemala.
d)
Coordinar la administración de los recursos de flora y fauna silvestre
y de la diversidad biológica de la Nación, por medio de sus respectivos
órganos ejecutores.
e)
Planificar y coordinar la aplicación de las disposiciones en materia
de conservación de la diversidad biológica contenidos en los instrumentos
internacionales ratificados por Guatemala.
f) Constituir un fondo nacional para la conservación de la naturaleza, nutrido con recursos financieros provenientes de cooperación interna y externa."
16.4. En los artículos 64 y 69 se dispone lo relacionado a la presidencia del Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas “que será desempeñada por el Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, quien en caso de emergencia delegará sus funciones en uno de los miembros del consejo que él estime conveniente”, y las atribuciones del CONAP las cuales son:
“a) Formular las políticas y estrategias de conservación, protección y mejoramiento del patrimonio natural de la Nación por medio del Sistema Guatemalteco de Áreas Protegidas (SIGAP).
b) Aprobar los reglamentos y las normas de funcionamiento del Sistema Guatemalteco de Áreas Protegidas (SIGAP).
c) Aprobar los dictámenes de convenios y contratos con entidades internacionales.
d) Aprobar su plan estratégico institucional, sus planes y programas anuales de trabajo y su presupuesto anual.
e) Aprobar la memoria anual de labores y la liquidación de su presupuesto anual, f) Aprobar la suscripción de concesiones de aprovechamiento y manejo de las áreas protegidas del SIGAP y velar porque se cumplan las normas contenidas en los reglamentos establecidos para tal efecto.
g) Mantener estrecha coordinación e intercomunicación entre las entidades integrantes del SIGAP, en especial, con la Comisión Nacional del Medio Ambiente, h) Servir de órgano asesor de la Presidencia de la República y de todas las entidades estatales en materia de conservación, protección y uso de los recursos naturales del país, en especial, dentro de las áreas protegidas.
i)
Aquellas funciones que sean necesarias para el buen desarrollo y funcionamiento
del Sistema Guatemalteco de Áreas Protegidas (SIGAP)."
16.5. En
el artículo 80 se dota al CONAP de “patrimonio propio”,
constituido por las asignaciones ordinarias y extraordinarias que se
fijen en el Presupuesto de Ingresos y Egresos del Estado, y aquellos
recursos generados por concepto de las disposiciones legales que por
su naturaleza le correspondan, además de un “fondo privativo”
proveniente de:
“a)
Los ingresos que perciba por cualquier donación en efectivo o en especie.
b)
Los títulos o valores que adquiera por cualquier concepto.
c)
Los bienes que sean transferidos por las dependencias del Estado o sus
instituciones descentralizadas o autónomas, d) Los bienes que adquiera
por cualquier título.
e)
Las donaciones de bienes inmuebles bajo cualquier concepto.
f)
Ingresos generados por las unidades de conservación del Sistema Guatemalteco
de Áreas Protegidas, -SIGAP-, que no tengan carácter privado, o pertenezcan
a otras instituciones del Estado.
g)
El producto financiero de las actividades organizadas directamente por
la Secretaría Ejecutiva del CONAP y sus dependencias técnico-administrativas.
h)
Otros no especificados en el presente artículo y que no contravengan
la legislación guatemalteca vigente."
16.6. Como
no podía ser de otra manera, la fiscalización de la entidad corresponderá
a la Contraloría General de Cuentas de la Nación, de conformidad con
lo establecido en los artículos 3 y 4 de la Ley Orgánica de la Contraloría
General de Cuentas, Decreto 31-2002 del Congreso de la República.
Y,
en el artículo 79 se remite el régimen de personal del CONAP
a las leyes de la materia, "satisfaciendo los requerimientos
de especialización que demanden los diversos puestos de la entidad.".
17.
Un aspecto importante para efectos de esta acción de inconstitucionalidad
resulta el Título VI, Capítulo II, Disposiciones Finales y Derogatorias
de la Ley de Áreas Protegidas, artículos del 91 al 95, los cuales
se transcriben a continuación:
“ARTICULO
91. Organización e instalación del CONAP. El Ministerio de Finanzas
Públicas asignará los fondos destinados a los trabajos de organización,
instalación e inicio de labores del Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas
y sus dependencias técnico-administrativas. La primera convocatoria
de integración e inicio formal de operaciones del CONAP, estará a
cargo del Coordinador Nacional del Ambiente.
ARTICULO
92. Actualización de autorizaciones. Quienes se hayan dedicado
a realizar cualesquiera de las actividades relacionadas con las áreas
protegidas y vida silvestre reguladas en esta ley, deberán actualizar
sus autorizaciones, licencias y permisos ante las autoridades del CONAP,
dentro de los primeros sesenta días hábiles de haber entrado en vigencia
la presente Ley.
En cuanto
a las solicitudes de nuevas autorizaciones, podrán presentarse tan
pronto entre en vigencia el reglamento de esta ley.
ARTICULO
93. Reglamento. El reglamento general de la presente ley, deberá
ser emitido dentro de los noventa días hábiles siguientes a la publicación
de la presente ley.
ARTICULO 94. Derogatoria. Quedan derogadas todas las leyes y disposiciones que se opongan a la presente ley al entrar en vigencia la misma.”
ARTICULO 95. Vigencia. La presente Ley entrará en vigencia tres días después de su publicación en el Diario Oficial.”
En
la transcripción de estos artículos podemos apreciar con absoluta
claridad que NO SE INDICA QUE ESA LEY FUE APROBADA POR UNA
MAYORÍA ESPECIAL O CALIFICADA, lo que hace CONCLUIR que la
misma se aprobó por una mayoría simple.
-VII-
18. El
VICIO FUNDAMENTAL que da lugar al presente planteamiento de
inconstitucionalidad total de la LEY DE ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS
es que, HABIENDO SIDO APROBADA POR UNA MAYORÍA SIMPLE DEL
TOTAL DE DIPUTADOS:
18.1 se
crea una persona jurídica pública y descentralizada, denominada
Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas,
18.2 se
le dota de autonomía funcional ―con funciones y atribuciones
específicas y expresas―,
18.3 se
le confiere u otorga personalidad jurídica propia, considerándolo
el órgano máximo de dirección y coordinación
del Sistema Guatemalteco de Áreas Protegidas (SIGAP),
18.4 se
le reconoce patrimonio propio y con fondos y recursos privativos
Todo
ello contrariando,
contraviniendo fundamentalmente la segunda oración del
segundo párrafo del artículo 134 de la Constitución, que expresa
textualmente:
"Para
crear entidades descentralizadas y autónomas será necesario el voto
favorable de las dos terceras partes del Congreso de la República".
Por
lo tanto, en la publicación aparecida en el Diario Oficial el
10 de febrero de 1989 de la Ley de Áreas Protegidas, se aprecia
del propio texto de la ley que la misma FUE APROBADA
por una mayoría NO ESPECIAL o NO CALIFICADA. Dicho
de otra manera, la Ley de Áreas Protegidas fue aprobada por
UNA MAYORÍA SIMPLE.
Esa
circunstancia de CONTRARIAR, CONTRAVENIR una NORMA CONSTITUCIONAL IMPERATIVA
EXPRESA es suficiente para declarar la INCONSTITUCIONALIDAD TOTAL de
la Ley de Áreas Protegidas.
19. Para
el remoto caso de que se argumentare que no se ha creado una persona
jurídica pública, con personalidad jurídica y patrimonio propios,
o dicho de otra forma, que no se ha creado una entidad o autoridad descentralizada
autónoma, cabe advertir lo siguiente:
19.1 A
lo largo y ancho de la Ley de Áreas Protegidas, el Consejo Nacional
de Áreas Protegidas es considerado, obviamente, como una entidad
distinta, separada, independiente del Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos
Naturales.
Sin embargo, al analizar los
objetivos del Sistema Guatemalteco de Áreas Protegidas y de
la Ley de Áreas Protegidas ―artículo
2 de la Ley de Áreas Protegidas―,
los fines y atribuciones del Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas
―
69 de la Ley de Áreas Protegidas―,
vemos con profunda preocupación que éste EJECUTA y REALIZA
funciones sustantivas propias del Ministerio de Ambiente
y Recursos Naturales.
Constitucionalmente, para el caso
concreto, ES ILEGAL, ES INCONSTITUCIONAL, que dos entidades que
por ley dependen de la Presidencia de la República, REALICEN,
EJECUTEN las mismas funciones, en una abierta
contradicción lógico-jurídica y con un claro conflicto de competencias,
por lo que se están violando los artículos 182, segundo y tercer
párrafos, y 193 y 194 de la Constitución Política de la República.
19.2 En
la Ley de Áreas Protegidas se le confieren al Consejo Nacional
de Áreas Protegidas funciones reglamentarias ―artículo
69 literal b)―, las cuales, de conformidad con la Constitución
Política de la República corresponden con exclusividad al Presidente
de la República.
De esa cuenta, se viola el
régimen de facultades expresas que regula nuestro ordenamiento jurídico,
infringiendo el principio de legalidad y el principio de competencias
expresas, atentando contra disposiciones que emanan de la supremacía
constitucional, como la relativa a la facultad reglamentaria del Presidente
de la República ―artículo 183, inciso e) de la Constitución―.
20. De
acuerdo con el contenido de los puntos precedentes de este apartado,
es pertinente sentar las apreciaciones y conclusiones que se expresarán
a continuación:
20.1 Los
criterios doctrinales se centran, en materia de descentralización
administrativa, en tres grupos: a) descentralización
por región o territorio; b) descentralización por servicio;
y c) descentralización por colaboración.
20.2 La
descentralización por región o territorio, de la que es representativa
el municipio, no es aplicable en el caso presente.
20.3 La
descentralización por colaboración se da en parte en este caso,
toda vez que hay participación o concurrencia de representativos del
sector privado ―de
los 14 miembros integrantes del CONAP, uno pertenece al sector privado
a través del Comité de Asociaciones Agrícolas, Comerciales, Industriales
y Financieras (CACIF)―
que coadyuven al ejercicio de las funciones y atribuciones de la organización
que se crea por medio de la ley que por este memorial se impugna.
20.4. Sin
embargo, lo que sí se concreta es un típico caso de
descentralización por servicio. En efecto:
20.4.1 Se
adjudica, en la ley de marras, al Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas,
de actividades que son y han sido propias del Estado a
través del Organismo Ejecutivo y, específica y actualmente,
funciones sustantivas del Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos
Naturales, las cuales se asignan de manera específica a la entidad
creada (o sea, al CONAP).
20.4.2 Se
dota a la entidad creada por la ley de patrimonio propio, que se concreta
en el fondo privativo ―proveniente,
entre otros, de donaciones en efectivo o en especie, de títulos valores,
de bienes que le sean transferidos por las dependencias del Estado o
sus instituciones descentralizadas y autónomas―
según especifica la misma ley; englobando todo lo relativo a este aspecto,
en la existencia de un presupuesto propio de la entidad creada.
20.4.3 Finalmente,
se crea un régimen jurídico propio para la entidad descentralizada,
con recursos específicos, diversos de los que corresponden a las demás
autoridades y dependencias de la administración pública central del
Estado.
20.5 La
concurrencia de las circunstancias indicadas en el párrafo anterior
determina que, a través de la LEY DE ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS, se
ha creado una entidad descentralizada, cuya autonomía está
debidamente delimitada en el articulado de la propia ley que hoy se
impugna por inconstitucional.
20.6 El
artículo 134 de la Constitución Política de la República de Guatemala
preceptúa textualmente:
ARTÍCULO 134.- Descentralización y autonomía. El municipio y las entidades autónomas y descentralizadas, actúan por delegación del Estado.
La autonomía, fuera de los casos especiales contemplados en la Constitución de la República, se concederá únicamente cuando se estime indispensable para la mayor eficiencia de la entidad y el mejor cumplimiento de sus fines. Para crear entidades descentralizadas y autónomas, será necesario el voto favorable de las dos terceras partes del Congreso de la República.
Se establecen, como obligaciones
mínimas del municipio y de toda entidad descentralizada y autónoma,
las siguientes:
a) Coordinar
su política con la política general del Estado y, en su caso, con
la especial del ramo a que correspondan;
b) Mantener
estrecha coordinación con el órgano de planificación del Estado;
c) Remitir
para su información, al Organismo Ejecutivo y al Congreso de la República,
sus presupuestos detallados ordinarios y extraordinarios, con expresión
de programas, proyectos, actividades, ingresos y egresos. Se exceptúa
a la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala.
Tal remisión será con fines de aprobación, cuando así lo disponga la ley.
d) Remitir a los mismos organismos, las memorias de sus labores y los informes específicos que les sean requeridos, quedando a salvo el carácter confidencial de las operaciones de los particulares en los bancos e instituciones financieras en general;
e) Dar las facilidades necesarias para que el órgano encargado del control fiscal, pueda desempeñar amplia y eficazmente sus funciones; y,
f) En toda actividad de carácter internacional, sujetarse a la política que trace el Organismo Ejecutivo.
De considerarse inoperante el funcionamiento de una entidad descentralizada, será suprimida mediante el voto favorable de las dos terceras partes del Congreso de la República.
20.7 Por
su parte, los artículos 44, 175 y 204 de la Constitución de la República,
en sus partes conducentes expresan:
ARTÍCULO
44. Derechos inherentes a la persona humana. (...)
Serán
nulas ipso jure las leyes y disposiciones gubernativas o de cualquier
otro orden que disminuyan, restrinjan o tergiversen los derechos que
la Constitución garantiza.
ARTÍCULO
175. Jerarquía constitucional. Ninguna ley podrá contrariar
las disposiciones de la Constitución. Las leyes que violen
o tergiversen los mandatos constitucionales son nulas ipso jure.
20.8 La
simple confrontación de la ley impugnada en esta acción y los preceptos
constitucionales citados en este apartado, y la consiguiente aplicación
de los principios de supremacía constitucional y superlegalidad,
de legalidad y de congruencia, llevan inevitablemente a la
conclusión de que, en el caso subjúdice, como ya se expresó al principio
del presente apartado, se ha contrariado primordial y fundamentalmente
la segunda oración del segundo párrafo del artículo 134 de la Constitución,
que expresa textualmente: "Para crear entidades descentralizadas
y autónomas será necesario el voto favorable de las dos terceras partes
del Congreso de la República"; toda vez que la ley
impugnada no fue aprobada con el voto de esas DOS TERCERAS PARTES. En
consecuencia, esa omisión, por sí sola, es suficiente para
determinar la INCONSTITUCIONALIDAD TOTAL de dicha ley.
-VIII-
21. Adicionalmente,
a los motivos jurídicos en los que descansa esta impugnación, de acuerdo
con el contenido de los apartados precedentes, resulta pertinente traer
a colación la situación que se esboza seguidamente:
* Según
el artículo 182 de la Constitución, el Presidente de la República
actuará siempre con los Ministros, en Consejo, o separadamente
con uno o más de ellos. Ello implica la obligación
que tiene el Jefe del Estado de actuar SIEMPRE con los Ministros que
corresponda, en el despacho de los negocios del Organismo Ejecutivo,
en armonía con lo que dispone el artículo 193 constitucional.
De
esa cuenta, hacer lo contrario, es decir, que el despacho
de los negocios del Organismo Ejecutivo se realicen, se ejecuten
por otras autoridades y de otra forma a la establecida
expresamente por la Constitución Política de la República, constituye
una violación flagrante, una contravención a la norma superior,
a la propia Constitución Política de la República, lo cual hace
que esa disposición legal, la Ley de Áreas Protegidas, sea NULA
IPSO JURE y deba ser EXPULSADA DEL ORDENAMIENTO JURÍDICO DE
GUATEMALA.
* La
LEY DE ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS, comprende disposiciones, especialmente en
los artículos 2, 59, 62, 69, 80 y 91, que tienen concomitancia ambiental,
fiscal y presupuestaria, y que, indiscutiblemente, inciden la esfera
de competencia del Ministerio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales y del Ministerio
de Finanzas Públicas, preferentemente en congruencia con lo que establecen
los artículos 237 y 238 de la propia Constitución, en relación con
los artículos 6 y 10 de la Ley Orgánica del Presupuesto.
ADJUNTO,
como anexo "B", fotocopia simple de las hojas
del Diario Oficial correspondientes a la edición del 10 de febrero
de 1989, donde fue publicado el Decreto 4-89 del Congreso de la República,
que contiene la LEY DE ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS que se impugna por este medio;
y fotocopia simple de las hojas del Diario Oficial correspondientes
a la edición del Decreto _____________ del Congreso de la
República, que contiene modificación de la LEY DE ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS
que se impugna por este medio.
-IX-
22. Además
de las disposiciones constitucionales y legales mencionadas en
los apartados precedentes, como fundamentos de derecho de esta
petición de inconstitucionalidad me permito invocar las partes conducentes
de los artículos siguientes:
A) De
la Constitución Política de la República:
ARTÍCULO 267.- Inconstitucionalidad de las leyes de carácter general. Las acciones en contra de leyes, reglamentos o disposiciones de carácter general que contengan vicio parcial o total de inconstitucionalidad, se plantearán directamente ante el Tribunal o Corte de Constitucionalidad.
ARTÍCULO 268.- Función esencial de la Corte de Constitucionalidad. La Corte de Constitucionalidad es un tribunal permanente de jurisdicción privativa, cuya función esencial es la defensa del orden constitucional; actúa como tribunal colegiado con independencia de los demás organismos del Estado y ejerce funciones específicas que le asignan la Constitución y la ley de la materia. (...)
ARTÍCULO 269.- Integración de la Corte de Constitucionalidad. La Corte de Constitucionalidad se integra con cinco magistrados titulares, cada uno de los cuales tendrá su respectivo suplente. Cuando conozca de asuntos de inconstitucionalidad en contra de la Corte Suprema de Justicia, el Congreso de la República, el Presidente o el Vicepresidente de la República, el número de sus integrantes se elevará a siete, escogiéndose los otros dos magistrados por sorteo de entre los suplentes. (...)
ARTÍCULO 272.- Funciones de la Corte de Constitucionalidad. La Corte de Constitucionalidad tiene las siguientes funciones: a) Conocer en única instancia de las impugnaciones interpuestas contra leyes o disposiciones de carácter general, objetadas parcial o totalmente de inconstitucionalidad; (...)
B) De
la Ley de Amparo, Exhibición Personal y de Constitucionalidad:
ARTÍCULO
1. Objeto de la ley. La presente ley tiene por objeto desarrollar
las garantías y defensas del orden constitucional y de los derechos
inherentes a la persona protegidos por la Constitución Política de
la República de Guatemala, las leyes y los convenios internacionales
ratificados por Guatemala.
ARTÍCULO
2. Interpretación extensiva de la ley.
Las disposiciones de esta ley se interpretarán siempre en forma extensiva,
a manera de procurar la adecuada protección de los derechos humanos
y el funcionamiento eficaz de las garantías y defensas del orden constitucional.
ARTÍCULO
3. Supremacía de la Constitución.
La Constitución prevalece sobre cualquier ley o tratado. No
obstante, en materia de derechos humanos, los tratados y convenciones
aceptados y ratificados por Guatemala prevalecen sobre el derecho interno.
ARTÍCULO
114. Jerarquía de las leyes.
Los tribunales de justicia observarán siempre el principio de que la
Constitución prevalece sobre cualquier ley o tratado internacional,
sin perjuicio de que en materia de derechos humanos prevalecen los tratados
y convenciones internacionales aceptados y ratificados por Guatemala.
ARTÍCULO
115. Nulidad de las leyes y disposiciones inconstitucionales.
Serán nulas de pleno derecho las leyes y las disposiciones
gubernativas o de cualquier otro orden que regulen el ejercicio de los
derechos que la Constitución garantiza, si los violan, disminuyen,
restringen o tergiversan.
Ninguna ley podrá contrariar las disposiciones de la Constitución. Las leyes que violen o tergiversen las normas constitucionales son nulas de pleno derecho.
ARTÍCULO 133. Planteamiento de la inconstitucionalidad. La inconstitucionalidad de las leyes, reglamentos o disposiciones de carácter general que contengan vicio parcial o total de inconstitucionalidad, se planteará ante la Corte de Constitucionalidad.
ARTÍCULO 134. Legitimación activa. Tienen legitimación para plantear la inconstitucionalidad de leyes, reglamentos o disposiciones de carácter general: (...)
d) Cualquier persona con el auxilio de tres abogados colegiados activos.
ARTÍCULO 135. Requisitos de la solicitud. La petición de inconstitucionalidad se hará por escrito conteniendo en lo aplicable los requisitos de toda primera solicitud conforme las leyes procesales comunes, expresando en forma razonada y clara los motivos jurídicos en que descansa la impugnación.
ARTÍCULO 137. Integración de la Corte por inconstitucionalidad de una ley. Cuando la inconstitucionalidad planteada sea contra una ley, la Corte de Constitucionalidad se integrará con siete miembros en la forma prevista en el artículo 269 de la Constitución.
ARTÍCULO 138. Suspensión provisional. Sin perjuicio de lo dispuesto en el artículo 136, la Corte de Constitucionalidad deberá decretar, de oficio y sin formar artículo, dentro de los ocho días siguientes a la interposición, la suspensión provisional de la ley, reglamento o disposición de carácter general si, a su juicio, la inconstitucionalidad fuere notoria y susceptible de causar gravámenes irreparables.
La suspensión tendrá efecto general
y se publicará en el Diario Oficial al día siguiente de haberse decretado.
ARTÍCULO
139. Audiencia, vista y resolución. Si no se dispone
la suspensión provisional o, en su caso, decretada ésta, se dará
audiencia por quince días comunes al Ministerio Público y a cualesquiera
autoridades o entidades que la Corte de Constitucionalidad estime pertinente,
transcurridos los cuales, se haya evacuado o no la audiencia, de oficio
se señalará día y hora para la vista dentro del término de veinte
días. La vista será pública si lo pidiere el interponente o
el Ministerio Público. La sentencia deberá pronunciarse dentro
de los veinte días siguientes al de la vista.
La Corte deberá dictar sentencia
dentro del término máximo de dos meses a partir de la fecha en que
se haya interpuesto la inconstitucionalidad.
ARTÍCULO
140. Efectos de la declaratoria de inconstitucionalidad.
Cuando la sentencia de la Corte de Constitucionalidad declare la inconstitucionalidad
total de una ley, reglamento o disposición de carácter general, éstas
quedarán sin vigencia; y si la inconstitucionalidad fuere parcial,
quedarán sin vigencia en la parte que se declare inconstitucional.
En ambos casos dejarán de surtir efectos desde el día siguiente al
de la publicación del fallo en el Diario Oficial.
ARTÍCULO
143. Resolución de la inconstitucionalidad como punto de derecho.
La inconstitucionalidad en cualquier caso, será resuelta como punto
de derecho. No obstante, para su resolución se podrán invocar
y consultar antecedentes, dictámenes, opiniones, elementos doctrinarios
y jurisprudencia.
El tribunal ante el que se plantee
la inconstitucionalidad deberá pronunciarse sobre ella, so pena de
responsabilidad.
ARTÍCULO
144. Normas aplicables en la resolución. La sentencia
sobre inconstitucionalidad se dictará de acuerdo con lo dispuesto en
esta ley para los procesos de amparo y de inconstitucionalidad en casos
concretos, en lo que fueren aplicables.
ARTÍCULO
149. Función esencial de la Corte de Constitucionalidad.La Corte de Constitucionalidad es un tribunal permanente de jurisdicción
privativa, cuya función esencial es la defensa del orden constitucional;
actúa como tribunal colegiado con independencia de los demás organismos
del Estado y ejerce funciones específicas que le asignan la Constitución
y esta ley.
-X-
23. Con
base en todo lo expuesto, a esa honorable Corte atentamente formulo
las siguientes
P E T I
C I O N E S :
a) Tener
por presentado este memorial (cuyas hojas están impresas sólo en el
anverso) y los documentos adjuntos, e iniciar la formación del expediente
respectivo.
b) Reconocer
que actúo en mi calidad de Presidente de la Junta Directiva de la asociación
civil Cámara de Industria de Guatemala, la cual acredito mediante
acta notarial de mi nombramiento autorizada en esta ciudad el once de
agosto del año dos mil cinco por el notario Ricardo Sagastume Morales,
estando debidamente inscrito en el Registro Civil del departamento de
Guatemala bajo partida número (187) folio ciento ochenta y siete
(187) del libro número diecisiete (17) de Nombramiento de Personas
Jurídicas; así como tomar nota de lo relativo a dirección y procuración
profesionales y a lugar para recibir notificaciones.
c) Tener
por planteada de mi parte, por este medio y con la calidad ejercitada,
acción de inconstitucionalidad total de la LEY DE ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS,
Decreto 4-89 del Congreso de la República y sus reformas; y dar
a esta solicitud el trámite de ley, corriendo audiencia a las autoridades
o entidades que la honorable Corte estime pertinentes, entre las que
nos permitimos señalar: c.1) el Ministerio
Público, que puede ser notificado en la sexta avenida número
cinco guión sesenta y seis, quinto nivel, Edificio El Sexteo, zona
uno de la ciudad capital; c.2) el Presidente
de la República, que puede ser notificado en la sexta avenida
“A” número cuatro guión dieciocho, zona uno de la ciudad capital;
c.3) el Congreso de la República, que puede ser
notificado en la novena avenida número nueve guión cuarenta y cuatro,
zona uno de la ciudad capital; c.4) el Ministro
de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, que puede ser notificado en
la
; c.5) la Procuraduría General de la Nación,
que puede ser notificada en la quince avenida número nueve guión
sesenta y nueve, zona trece de la ciudad capital; y vencido el plazo
anterior, que se señale día y hora para la vista.
d)
Que, siendo notoria la inconstitucionalidad de la ley impugnada
y por ser susceptible la misma de causar gravámenes irreparables
no sólo al Estado especialmente en aspectos fiscales y presupuestarios,
sino primordialmente al régimen constitucional y, por ende, a la consolidación
del Estado Constitucional de Derecho, se sirva DECRETAR, sin
formar artículo, dentro de los ocho días siguientes a la interposición
de esta acción, la suspensión provisional de la ley impugnada
y mandar que la suspensión sea publicada en el Diario Oficial al día
siguiente de haberse decretado.
e) En
su oportunidad procesal, dictar sentencia declarando la inconstitucionalidad
total de la ley aquí impugnada y ordenar la publicación de la
sentencia en el Diario Oficial, como corresponde, para sus efectos legales
consiguientes.
ACOMPAÑO:
1) Fotocopia legalizada de mi credencial de representación,
como anexo “A”; 2) Fotocopia simple de las hojas
del Diario Oficial correspondientes a la edición del 10 de febrero
de 1989, donde fue publicado el Decreto 4-89 del Congreso de la República,
que contiene la LEY DE ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS que se impugna por este medio;
y fotocopia simple de las hojas del Diario Oficial correspondientes
a la edición del Decreto _____________ del Congreso de la República,
que contiene modificación de la LEY DE ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS que se impugna
por este medio, como anexo “B”; 3) DOCE fotocopias
de los documentos identificados como anexos “A” y “B”;
4) DOCE fotocopias de este escrito, debidamente firmadas
en original.
CITA
DE LEYES: Artículos constitucionales y legales mencionados
en el curso de este memorial y, además, los siguientes: 1, 2,
4, 5, 12, 28, 29, 44, 49, 130, primera oración, 152, 153, 154,
155, 276 de la Constitución Política de la República de Guatemala;
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 21, 42, 43, 133 al 144 de la Ley de Amparo, Exhibición
Personal y de Constitucionalidad; 29, 44, 50, 66, 67, 71, 79, 177, 178,
186 del Código Procesal Civil y Mercantil; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 23, 45, 46, 68, segundo párrafo, 196, 197, 198,
206 de la Ley del Organismo Judicial.
Guatemala,
veintiuno de agosto de dos mil seis.
EN SU AUXILIO:
f)
f)
f)
Election Ruling in Mexico Goes to Conservative - New York Times
For all the parks? That's about one $1 million - doesn't sound like enough to me.
PrensaLibre.com - Requiere Q6 millones para seguridad en Petén
Protest Keeps Fox From Giving State of the Union Speech - New York Times
Director of INGUAT will work with the new viceministry of security to protect tourists.
Not just on the Maya Frontier.
Drugs, crime and a conservation crisis - earth - 02 September 2006 - New Scientist
I haven't found a link for this story, but it is disturbing and bizarre enough to publish here as I received it by email. The president of Guatemala and the governor of Tabasco state in Mexico have a plan to link two major Maya sites by a road which would complete the destruction of the Peten in Northern Guatemala. They also promise comfort and security in an area now overrun by narcotraffickers. Dream on...
Guatemala y México acuerdan construir carretera para incrementar intercambio
07:09 P.M., 23 Agosto 2006
GUATEMALA, Ago 23 (AFP) - El presidente de Guatemala, Oscar Berger, y el gobernador de Tabasco, México, Manuel Andrade, acordaron este miércoles construir una carretera para unir dicho estado mexicano con el norteño departamento guatemalteco de Petén.
La carretera, de 20 km y cuyo costo asciende a 10,5 millones de dólares, será construida con fondos estatales y del Gobierno Federal de México. Se prevé que los trabajos se inicien en seis semanas y concluyan en ocho meses, afirmó Andrade.
En tanto, Berger sostuvo que por parte de Guatemala existe el compromiso de garantizar la seguridad dentro del territorio guatemalteco, así como de habilitar oficinas migratorias y aduaneras, además de la instalación de controles fitosanitarios.
"El comercio en esa región se está desarrollando vertiginosamente y esperamos que así siga. Esperamos un intercambio de comercio ambicioso, grande. Construimos la infraestructura para ordenarlo", explicó el mandatario guatemalteco.
Ambos coincidieron al señalar que el principal sector beneficiado será el turístico, toda vez que la carretera permitirá acceso en un término de cuatro horas, entre los parques arqueológicos de Tikal y Palenque, que anualmente son visitados por miles de turistas.
Cada año el parque de Palenque es visitado por 600.000 turistas y el de Tikal por 300.000, con la construcción de la carretera, los visitantes tendrían acceso a ambos parques.
Juan Sabines, the ex-PRI candidate on the PRD ticket for Chiapas governor, won by only 2400 votes, and the PRI and PAN backers of Aguilar said they would contest it legally. Lopez Obrador said he would welcome a vote by vote recount, a smart move on his part.
Close Election Tests Mexico's Democracy - Forbes.com
Tiene Sabines mínima ventaja en elección de Chiapas - El Universal - Los Estados
La coalición acepta contar voto por voto y casilla por casilla en Chiapas
James Derham, U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala, has asked that Guatemala improve its efforts to fight narcotrafficking and money laundering.
And at the bottom of the article, a note that only 81 kilos of drugs were confiscated so far this year, as opposed to 2,572 in 2005.
Click MORE for the text of the article (no good link to this story)
Guatemala, Jueves 17 de Agosto 2006
EE.UU. pide más esfuerzo contra narcotráfico
Embajador James Derham se entrevistó con fiscal Juan Luis Florido y el ministro Carlos Vielmann.
Dalila Huitz, Siglo 21* | dhuitz@sigloxxi.com
El embajador de Estados Unidos, James Derham, pide que Guatemala incremente su esfuerzo para combatir el narcotráfico y el lavado de dinero.
El diplomático se reunió con el jefe del Ministerio Público (MP) Juan Luis Florido. Antes de entrar a la reunión, el embajador fue consultado sobre la situación del narcotráfico en el país, a lo que respondió que este flagelo “es un delito serio y necesitamos un esfuerzo con gente capacitada para enfrentar el problema, ya que es una amenaza para las naciones”.
Respecto al lavado de dinero, Derham subraya que “se debe evitar que este delito cruce nuestras fronteras”. El diplomático indicó que la entrevista con Florido era una visita de cortesía “para presentarle a un consejero de la Embajada”.
Derham también se reunió con el ministro de Gobernación, Carlos Vielmann, con quien conversó sobre los avances del Plan Maya Jaguar que, con el apoyo de Estados Unidos, combate el narcotráfico en el departamento de Petén.
Baja incautación
Sobre el tráfico de drogas, el fiscal contra la Narcoactividad, Fredyn Fernández, indicó que la desarticulación del Servicio de Análisis e Información Antinarcótica (SAÍA) de la Policía Nacional Civil (PNC), no ha permitido cumplir con la meta de incautar al menos 900 kilos mensuales de cocaína.
Según el investigador, en lo que va del año han sido confiscados sólo 81 kilos. En el 2005 fueron incautados 2,572 kilos de la droga.
Daniel Guerrero, jefe de la nueva unidad antidrogas de la PNC, responde que el fiscal y la Embajada de Estados Unidos “están conscientes de la restructuración que sufrió el SAÍA, y ahora es la Dirección de Puertos y Aeropuertos la encargada de investigar”.
El director de la PNC, Erwin Sperisen, no quiso referirse al tema y dijo que la información la proporcionaría la sección de prensa de la Policía.
32 Tzotzil Maya were sentenced to 25 years in prison for their roles in the Acteal massacre in 1997. 45 villagers were killed in that incident.
Condenan a 25 años de cárcel a 32 tzotziles por caso Acteal
The Governor of the Peten and representatives of the police, military, CONAP, and Defensores de la Naturaleza met yesterday to create a unified plan to fight narcotraffickers and invaders of the protected areas, including Sierra del Lacandon and the Laguna del Tigre.
PrensaLibre.com - Unen esfuerzos por Petén
Emilio Zebadua (Nueva Alianza) and Paco Rojas (PAN) have dropped out of the race (essentially ordered out from higher up) in favor of José Antonio Aguilar Bodegas of the PRI, in his battle against Juan Sabines, a former PRI politician who joined PRD just before the campaign got serious. Are you confused yet?
Declinan los candidatos de Panal y AN en favor del PRI en Chiapas
The original report at Noti7 of three guard posts in the Sierra del Lacandon being burned is no longer availale. Here is the Google cache:
And in case that disappears, the full text can be found by clicking MORE
01/08/2006 Redacción Noti7
Hombres fuertemente armados quemaron tres garitas de control del consejo de áreas protegidas, los hecho ocurrieron durante el fin de semana, en el parque nacional Sierra Lacandón. Las autoridades han retirado a los guarda recursos con el fin de salvaguardar sus vidas.
Los puestos de control El Porvenir, Yaxchilan y Ceiba de oro en el parque nacional Sierra Lacandón, fueron incendiados por desconocidos, se cree que las amenazas provienen de personas ligadas al narcotráfico.
Como se recordará, el 13 y 14 de junio se retuvo a 8 personas del CONAP, por parte de personas que han invadido tierras del estado, con el saldo de dos personas heridas; esto ocurrió cuando realizaban un patrullaje por la zona en busca de depredadores e invasores de áreas protegidas.
Existe presión por parte de personas invasoras de áreas protegidas, por lo que las autoridades han adoptado por retirar a los guarda recursos con el fin de resguardar sus vidas.
Este es el quinto incidente que ocurre en áreas protegidas del estado, donde se ha detectado hombres armados, requiriendo tierras para la vivienda, señalaron las autoridades del Conap.
This one is in El Achiotal, in the Laguna del Tigre Park, Peten, Guatemala. But the story says that it is the third to be burned, after Yaxha and Ceiba de Oro. This differs from an earlier report that Yaxchilan and El Porvenir in the Sierra del Lacandon Park had also been burned. I'll try to determine what has actually happened.
PrensaLibre.com - Queman otro puesto de Conap en Petén
Anarchy and ungovernability, with illegal settlers used as employees and shields of the narcotraffickers. No police, no military, no park guards, little action by the government except to appoint another vice minister of security. The last green gem in the Lacandon, lost.
PrensaLibre.com - Sin autoridad en Sierra del Lacandón
Following the kidnapping and wounding of 8 in the Sierra del Lacandon, and the subsequent burning of the guard posts there, the violence spreads to Tikal Park, much smaller and more heavily visited by tourists.
AP Spanish | 08/05/2006 | Guatemala: matan tres funcionarios de parque nacional
The worst news so far in the Sierra del Lacandon. All three guard posts - El Porvenir, Yaxchilan, and Ceiba de Oro - were burned down by members of the invading groups, presumed acting for the narco traffickers who are taking over parts of the park.
NOTE: That link may no longer work. Try the google cache link below, or click MORE for the full text.
01/08/2006 Redacción Noti7
Hombres fuertemente armados quemaron tres garitas de control del consejo de áreas protegidas, los hecho ocurrieron durante el fin de semana, en el parque nacional Sierra Lacandón. Las autoridades han retirado a los guarda recursos con el fin de salvaguardar sus vidas.
Los puestos de control El Porvenir, Yaxchilan y Ceiba de oro en el parque nacional Sierra Lacandón, fueron incendiados por desconocidos, se cree que las amenazas provienen de personas ligadas al narcotráfico.
Como se recordará, el 13 y 14 de junio se retuvo a 8 personas del CONAP, por parte de personas que han invadido tierras del estado, con el saldo de dos personas heridas; esto ocurrió cuando realizaban un patrullaje por la zona en busca de depredadores e invasores de áreas protegidas.
Existe presión por parte de personas invasoras de áreas protegidas, por lo que las autoridades han adoptado por retirar a los guarda recursos con el fin de resguardar sus vidas.
Este es el quinto incidente que ocurre en áreas protegidas del estado, donde se ha detectado hombres armados, requiriendo tierras para la vivienda, señalaron las autoridades del Conap.
Boulevard Blockade Prompts Grumbling in Mexico City - Los Angeles Times
And I'm going to see his feel-good movie tonight. Arriba!
Al Gore Declares Himself President of Mexico
After the recent departure of the head of CONAP, other environmental leaders in Guatemala are protesting the government plan to extract oil from the buffer zone of the Sierra del Lacandon Park.
The photo above is Pozo Xan, where I landed with the Kaibiles after the visit to the narco landing strip this spring. It's an oil center in the nearby Laguna del Tigre Biosphere Reserve, whose access roads increased invasions and forest destruction.
PrensaLibre.com - Petróleo en área protegida
On the 25th anniversary of his death.
Slain American priest honored in Guatemala | US News | Reuters.com
His supporters:
Falso, que AMLO perdiera votos en revisión de casillas: PRD
Desfiladero - Jaime Avilés - Envolver es la palabra
His detractors:
Sabado 22 de Julio de 2006 / AMLO: voto por voto, sólo un eslogan
Sabado 22 de Julio de 2006 / ¿Mr. López Obrador, president of the United States?
The Federal Election Institute has rejected the PRD's complaint that challenged the validity of 50,000 voting booth results.
El Universal - Nación - El IFE rechaza 21 agravios del "recurso madre"
Guatemala Solidarity Network: the blog :: Rios Montt's Own Horror Movie
The seven judges in the Federal Election Tribunal, the TRIFE, who will decide whether to annul the election (they done it for smaller elections) or call for a recount (they've only done it selectively in the past).
Mexico's Election May Rest on 7 Votes - Los Angeles Times
Lopez Obrador has said that he will call off the marches if a complete recount is announced. But he will never accept Calderon as the legitimate president.
Sabado 15 de Julio de 2006 / AMLO: ni con el voto por voto aceptaré a Calderón
In a march in Atenco, Subcomandante Marcos (Delegado Zero) was accosted by supporters of AMLO and taunted with shouts that "Felipe Calderon thanks you for your support!"
Guess they also believe that Marcos' opposition to Lopez Obrador made it such a close race.
Marcha Marcos en Atenco - El Universal - Los Estados
Al pasar por el primer cuadro de Texcoco un grupo de perredistas del ayuntamiento local se acercaron al Delegado Zero para gritarle “!Marcos, Felipe Calderón te da las gracias por el apoyo!”, sin que hubiera alguna respuesta al ataque.
IFE's response to one of the videos submitted by the PRD yesterday as proof of foul play: It's not ballot stuffing, it's moving ballots that were in the wrong box.
La Jornada - Malinterpretadas, las imágenes del video presentado por AMLO
Wednesday response from the man accused of stuffing the box, and the PRD rep in the casilla:
En Salamanca todo fue legal: Barrón
As I saw in Oaxaca, there were separate boxes for senators, diputados, and president. Easy to get it wrong. And IFE also said that representatives of all parties were present at that time and signed off that there were no irregularities. Have to do better than that.
So he revealed two more today:
AP Spanish | 07/11/2006 | México: AMLO divulga nuevos videos pese controversia por otro
No word yet from IFE.
Leftist in Mexico turns to courts - Americas - International Herald Tribune
Both of these articles from La Jornada:
Documentan irregularidades en comicios de nueve entidades
Impugna el PAN resultados en entidades donde AMLO obtuvo la votación más alta
By José Blanco, in La Jornada today.
¿Cuáles son los objetivos de AMLO?
One of the more thoughtful Mexican columnists, Ricardo Alemán. Also see his other recent columns (links in the right column of his page).
Columnas - El Universal - Columnas - Itinerario Político - Ricardo Alemán - 11 de julio de 2006
As expected there is some controversy surrounding the expansion of military involvement in fighting organized crime in Guatemala.
PrensaLibre.com - Suroccidente bajo despliegue militar
Mexico's Dramatic Vote Count Lacks Credibility
Domingo 9 de Julio de 2006 / Los caminos de López Obrador
From Jorge G. Castañeda.
elPeriódico de Guatemala - La próxima revolución de México
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador called today for a nationwide march supporting democracy, starting on July 12, and another "asamblea informativa" in the zocalo Sunday, July 16. This before hearing whether his call for a recount has been accepted by the Tribunal.
Convoca AMLO a movilización pacífica durante mitin - El Universal - Elecciones
Noticias de Oaxaca - Constituyen hoy Gobierno Popular Paralelo
The striking teachers and their supporters in Oaxaca are back after a break to vote, and they are taking over the centro, government offices, and possibly the governor's palace in the zocalo.
I watched Lopez Obrador claim victory 2 nights ago, in the zocalo in Mexico City. Now that the election commision has announced Calderon the winner by a small margin, AMLO has announced he will organize marches in protest, and contest every count. Not surprising, but Mexico had hoped for a smooth transition.
Domestic | Reuters.co.lta - Izquierda México marcharía tras conteo elecciones
It Was a Long Night in Mexico - Los Angeles Times
In Santiago Atitlan, and elsewhere in Guatemala, the rise of self-appointed anti-crime squads in the face of rising crime and social disorder.
Can't I find any good news?
Self-Styled Justice in Guatemala
PrensaLibre.com - Peligra sitio Waka Perú por invasión de fincas en Petén
PrensaLibre.com - Propiedades de narcos en áreas protegidas
PrensaLibre.com - Peligra sitio Waka Perú por invasión de fincas en Petén
PrensaLibre.com - Es un asalto a mano armada
Reuters AlertNet - Scant improvement on human rights in Guatemala-UN
And, a little late, this obit of a military dictator:
F.R. Lucas Garcia, 81; Brutal Ex-Ruler of Guatemala - Los Angeles Times
PrensaLibre.com - Comienza ejercicio militar
" This military exercise is sponsored by the US Southern Command at a cost between 1.5 and 2 million dollars, involving 400 soldiers in two scenarios: one in Guatemala City and another in the northern department of Coban."
(And another fuerza de tarea, like the one in the Peten, is being established farther south.)
US in Guatemala Anti-drug Force - Prensa Latina
"This force will start working in July and will be based at the Santa Ana Berlin Military Base in southwest Guatemala, near the Mexican border."
In his column "Itinerario Politico" Ricardo Alemán muses on two books which portray AMLO as a messiah. Interesting summary of his career and philosophy.
And it's scary how much of this I'm aware of.
DECISIÓN 2006: Resumen de la Semana - Omnia Chihuahua
PrensaLibre.com - Últimas noticias - Liberan a policía y guardabosques rehenes en Petén
Still unclear what the invaders are being given in return for the release. But this report does say that the invading group had been there a month, cleared 150 hectares of jungle, and were clearly being financed by people with resources. From all reports so far, these are not poor family farmers.
UPDATE: They were promised a meeting next week to discuss the viability of legalization of the the lands.
PrensaLibre.com - Liberan a ocho rehenes en Petén
This is the first time I've seen the Sierra del Lacandon Park first on the list of affected areas. It's a general description of the process as it was described to me 2 weeks ago. Some of the invading communities are setting up infrastructure and clearing landing strips in support of the narcos.
PrensaLibre.com - Invasores en Petén son avanzadas de narcos
The Guatemalan authorities are considering how to proceed in the latest confrontation in the Macabilero area of the SDL park, in which guards were injured and taken hostage. The demands for release of eight remaining hostages include legalization of the invaded land in the Macabilero region, which is now protected area. Negotiations continue.
PrensaLibre.com - Preocupa el destino de ocho rehenes en Petén
Telediario - ATACAN A PATRULLA MILITAR PROTECTORES DE BOSQUE EN PETÉN..
UPDATE:
PrensaLibre.com - Ataque armado en Petén
as of 5pm, Javier Marquez confirmed that the guards are still hostage.
As part of the counterdrug work I saw in the Peten. So far, the U.S. military has not helped in that work, I was told. The pentagon is seeking expanded funds in the 2007 defense authorization bill.
Pentagon Seeks Expanded Counterdrug Role
U.S. Pacific Command would work with the governments of Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand to disrupt the flow of methamphetamines across the region, while U.S. Southern Command would explore ways to work with the governments of Panama, Guatemala and Belize to disrupt the flow of cocaine from Colombia.
Settling on a price to pay the Lacandon community for lands occupied by other groups. This may be the same payment from several months ago, now with a higher price demanded - 10,000 pesos per hectare instead of 5,000. I'll check on it.
El Heraldo de Chiapas - Exige comunidad lacandona pago justo de tierras
UPDATE:
Here's the background on the dispute.
Pierden lacandones 113 mil hectáreas por incumplirse un decreto de 1972
I came back to Mexico to see López Obrador visit Chiapas. I'll try to attend some combination of his stops in Zinacantan, San Cristobal, and Palenque.
Before I'd left, there had been defections from PRI among former members of the Zedillo administration, now backing Calderón, the panista. Now there are powerful old line priistas calling for support for López Obrador, to hold the line against the rise of the right. It's a reaction against the neoliberal policies of Salinas and Zedillo, and the inability of Madrazo to pull out of third place.
After a week of brutally hot days and rainy nights in and around Flores, I'm back in cold and rainy San Cristobal.
Here are two news reports from one press event with the Guatemalan military, where I spent the day with the Kaibiles and ten Guatemalan journalists.
PrensaLibre.com - Descubren narcopista
elPeriódico de Guatemala - Destruyen pista clandestina del narcotráfico en Petén
In Attack Mode, a Rightist Surges in Mexico - New York Times
But a new survey shows Calderon's lead dropping - now 36.7 to AMLO's 37.2. A statistical dead heat.
ansa.it - Ansalatina - CANDIDATO OFICIALISTA BAJO TRES PUNTOS
Humorous analogy, appalling alliance.
Columnas - El Universal - Columnas - Itinerario Político, Ricardo Alemán, 21 de mayo de 2006
The best analysis I've read of the events and results of Atenco. Miscalculation on both sides and a derailing of plans for Dec. 1.
El Universal - Columnas - Estrictamente personal: Raymundo Riva Palacio 19 de mayo de 2006
And a sample of the backlash:
Marcos, ¿a la cárcel? | 2006-05-19 | La Crónica de Hoy
La Crisis - El juego de marcos extrema tolerancia oficial - Escrito por ISABEL ARVIDE
David Broder of the Washington Post on the plan to put 6,000 National Guard troops on the border
Forbes and CNN picked up the same AP story with the scary premise - Mexico on the verge of chaos - as did ten Spanish language papers under the title " Temen el caos en México en vísperas de elecciones". Both versions claim the same thing:
"A poll published Friday in Excelsior newspaper found 50 percent of respondents feared the government was on the brink of losing control."
Mexico Voters Fear Nation on Edge of Chaos - Forbes.com
CNN.com - Fear gnaws Mexicans as vote nears - May 17, 2006
From the story:
George Grayson, a Mexico expert at the College of William & Mary, said the violence reflects Fox's lack of leadership.
"The state has become much weaker under his watch," Grayson said.
Recent polls show Calderon has overtaken longtime presidential front-runner Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whom opponents have portrayed as a leftist demagogue similar to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
But that could change if PRI candidate Roberto Madrazo can convince voters that Mexico was more stable under his party's 71-year reign, which ended with Fox's victory in 2000.
Here's the Excelsior report on the poll:
Excelsior - El periodico de la vida nacional - Conflictos atemorizan a mexicanos
Regarding the 50% responses:
"Así lo demuestra una encuesta de Parametría en la cual se aprecia que 50 por ciento de los entrevistados cree que el país está en peligro."
Headline: Conflicts frighten Mexicans. That's sensible enough. What do 50% believe? That the country is in danger. Of what it does not say. Nowhere does it say the country is on the verge of chaos or that that is what people fear. And reading the column for other figures, the responses are much more diverse, with people placing blame on both the state and federal governments.
This has to be based on a new PRI campaign talking point. Go back to the old repressive PRI government for another 71 years? We'll see if that's really the national mood.
Here's the Wikipedia entry on López Obrador
Andrés Manuel López Obrador - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The lively debate around that entry:
Talk:Andrés Manuel López Obrador - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The entry for Calderón:
Felipe Calderón - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
And the discussion surrounding that entry:
Talk:Felipe Calderón - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Finally, Madrazo:
Roberto Madrazo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The discussion of Madrazo is much shorter, but pungent:
Talk:Roberto Madrazo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Reuters.com - Immigration is Mexico's disgrace - leftist candidate
Mexico conservative would not be US pushover: aide | Reuters.com
Erróneo el despliegue de la Guardia Nacional: Calderón | 2006-05-16 | La Crónica de Hoy
La Jornada - Profesores disidentes exigen la pronta liberación de los detenidos en Atenco
Their demands:
En ese lugar dio inicio un mitin en el que se hizo público el pliego petitorio de los profesores en materia educativa, que abarca tres rubros: desarrollo educativo, que incluye mantenimiento de la infraestructura escolar, desayunos, becas y uniformes a los estudiantes de educación básica; actualización profesional, que engloba aumento salarial, capacitación, mejores condiciones para los docentes y programas de estudios adecuados, y desarrollo social de la educación y sus trabajadores, que rechazan las reformas estructurales.
They were also joined by Atenco demonstrators, and called on Marcos to join forces with them.
Interesting insights on Marcos vs. Lopez Obrador
In protests over Atenco.
Protesters choke Mexico City | Reuters.com
KR Washington Bureau | 05/11/2006 | Flower dispute may impact Mexico's presidential election
File under Rumors, Guesses, and News:
I just went to the bus station to buy a ticket and found that all the buses from San Cristobal to Palenque are being routed through Tuxtla and Villahermosa - an 8 hour trip. Ticket clerk said it was due to asaltos between here and Ocosingo.
On the way back to my house the taxi driver said it was only dangerous in the middle of the night, and it was due to Zapatista activity. Don't know how accurate that is, but it might be a result of the red alert Marcos declared after Atenco. Closing the Caracoles includes closing the road? The cabby also mentioned Federal de Caminos blocking things at Ocosingo. Maybe the highway police aren't letting folks past there. In that case, the cabby's locating the problem around Agua Azul might make sense.
I'll try to find out more and if necessary get an earlier start tomorrow.
The solution: Google News, Mexico:
UNIONRADIO.NET - Centenares de indígenas conmemoran aniversario muerte de Zapata
Con marchas, labriegos rememoran el aniversario luctuoso de Zapata
Jorge Castañeda, a former foreign minister of Mexico, on recent missteps, and the apparent fall from frontrunner status, of Lopez Obrador.
Mexico's Sinking Front Runner - Newsweek: International Editions - MSNBC.com
And another, somewhat longer version:
Mexico, up for grabs - Los Angeles Times
This columnist (José Carreño Carlón) summarizes press coverage of Atenco and wonders if the Atenco disturbance is a trial balloon for post-election conflicts in Mexico. So confusing to this American observer - the jockeying for advantage and placing of blame. Am I the only one who sees Chicago 1968 in this? Disorder and brutal response that will in fact throw the conservatives back in power. We will know on July 3.
Atenco, ¿ensayo del desbordamiento postelectoral? | 2006-05-06 | La Crónica de Hoy
Thursday morning, Mexican police moved into Atenco, arrested Ignacio del Valle and many of his followers in the Frente de Pueblos Unidos en Defensa de la Tierra, and began seeking his daughter, América del Valle. They also freed or accepted the release of 12 hostages taken by the protestors.
El Universal - Nación - PFP asegura que desarticuló el movimiento de Atenco
Cops crush riot in Mexican town | Chicago Tribune
UPDATE Friday PM: Marcos is still in the middle of things, returning to Atenco to address supporters. He showed rifle shells that he said were from government weapons, and challenged the TV media to report on them.
Saldrá Marcos del DF hasta que haya solución en Atenco - El Universal - México
Milenio - Advierte Marcos que permanecerá en la Ciudad de México por tiempo indefinido
Mexican papers are publishing comments by other residents of the town who are not in agreement with FPDT.
Marcos y Del Valle planearon la rebelión, acusan vecinos | 2006-05-05 | La Crónica de Hoy
And there is further backlash against groups sympathetic to Marcos and the FPDT, who may have been involved in the Atenco conflict.
El Universal - "Participaron grupos zapatistas" - Se solidariza EPR; llama a la "autodefensa armada"
From street fighting to a war of words.
Meanwhile, here is a clip from today's demonstration at the Mexican Consulate in New York City.
Hortensia and Elvira Colorado call for peace - iPod video 24.6 mb 4:10 (Spanish and English)
After rioting, police action, and at least one person killed in an attempt to evict flowersellers, there's a lot of fingerpointing going on. Here are reactions from Lopez Obrador, Vicente Fox, and Subcomandante Marcos, who has called a red alert in the caracoles (autonomous communities) in Chiapas, and has suspended his tour.
Machete-Wielding Rioters Subdued Outside of Mexico City - Los Angeles Times
Reuters AlertNet - Mexico police take rebel town, seek hostages
El Economista -- AMLO se desmarca de sucesos en Atenco
EL INFORMADOR Diario Independiente - La violencia en Atenco, una afrenta contra la sociedad: Fox
Indígenas Chiapas acatan "alerta" Marcos y suspenden actividades
This article and accompanying pieces are making the rounds as people panic, er, prepare for the coming pandemic. Do it yourself or trust Bush, take your pick.
O'Reilly Network -- Building Your Own Teleconference System with Asterisk and Gizmo
Mexico election race turns as conservative surges | Reuters.com
Archaeologists Debate Whether to Ignore the Pasts of Relics - New York Times
The president of the World Bank is traveling through Mexico and Guatemala for the first time. He's right that Guatemala has great tourism potential, but whether that alone could pull the people out of poverty is subject to debate.
Guatemala puede convertirse en 'paraíso turístico' dice Wolfowuit
But there's a long way to go until July 2.
Domestic | Reuters.co.lta - Oficialista toma ventaja rumbo a elección México en nuevo sondeo
Not just a KMZ file. There are some good questions raised by Stefan Geens, based on this imagery.
His warning that Congress should not pass anything to anger Mexicans, or AMLO will be elected, is the most interesting part of this rant.
MENACE IN MEXICO By DICK MORRIS - New York Post Online Edition: postopinion
And the reaction in Mexico's La Jornada:
López Obrador, ''ultraizquierdista ligado a Chávez y Castro'': Morris
With two and a half months still to go, signs that Obrador's lead is narrowing.
"Si las elecciones se celebraran en la actualidad, un 38 por ciento de los mexicanos votaría por López Obrador, del Partido de la Revolución Democrática (PRD), y un 34 por ciento por Calderón, del gobernante Partido de Acción Nacional (PAN).
Les sigue Roberto Madrazo, del Partido Revolucionario Institucional, con un 25 por ciento."
But there's still plenty of time for a misstep by any of them.
Nueva encuesta da menor ventaja a López Obrador para elecciones
Mexican officials who served under President Zedillo are considering backing Calderon, the PAN candidate, against Madrazo. More signs that this will be a Calderon - Obrador race, and that PRI is breaking up, at least on the national level. And interesting in light of recent conversations I've had with other members of the Zedillo administration.
Milenio - Ex secretarios de Zedillo estudian unirse a Calderón
Here's another good review of the Mexican candidates, promoting Lopez Obrador as can be expected. But the comments cover some of the contradictions in AMLO's populist campaign.
AlterNet: A Rising Tide in Mexico
Another quick summary of the candidates in the Mexican elections.
"If American companies are already obligated to disclose the sale of bombs and guns to repressive regimes, why not censorware?"
Exporting Censorship - New York Times
Good overview of the candidates and parties.
MySA.com: Columnists - Comment: Mexico's presidential hopefuls ready to campaign
MiamiHerald.com | 02/09/2006 | Bush budget would slash assistance to Latin America
Via EchoDitto
NATIONAL JOURNAL: Cheney 'Authorized' Libby to Leak Classified Information (02/09/2006)
CPJ News Alert 2006 - MEXICO: Columnist arrested and accused of contempt
Angel Mario Ksheratto columnist for the daily Cuarto Poder in the southern state of Chiapas, was detained on Saturday and accused of contempt after missing a court date in connection with a criminal defamation complaint filed against him for reporting on government corruption.
Ksheratto was arrested on Saturday morning by state police and jailed in El Amate, a maximum security prison in the town of Cintalapa, the Mexican press said. He was still being held Monday.
The columnist is required to appear every week before a local judge in connection with a 2003 criminal defamation complaint. Ksheratto must travel 65 miles (120 kilometers) from his base in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the state capital, to sign a court record while the defamation charges are pending, the daily La Jornada reported.
"In prosecuting journalists for doing their jobs, Chiapas state authorities are out of step with the rest of Mexico and the region, both of which are moving to eliminate these laws," CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper said. "We are dismayed by the imprisonment of our colleague and call for his immediate release."
The case stems from two articles published by Ksheratto in August 2002 into alleged irregularities in a state-run agency responsible for the construction of schools. The columnist alleged that a local public official had used state money to build her house. The official filed a criminal defamation lawsuit and Ksheratto was arrested on January 9, 2003. He was released on bail the next day.
Unlike many other places in Latin America, the state of Chiapas has moved to stiffen criminal defamation laws. In February 2004, the Chiapas state congress unanimously approved amendments to Articles 164, 169, and 173 of the state's penal code, drastically increasing penalties for defamation. Articles 164 and 169 raised minimum penalties for defamation and libel from two to three years and maximum penalties from five to nine years. In addition, the amended articles make defamation and libel felonies and impose heavier fines. These changes are not likely to apply in the Ksheratto case, but they have sparked concern among journalists.
The changes were especially pernicious because they reclassified defamation as a felony. Because the penalties for criminal defamation have been increased so severely, journalists who are convicted and sentenced to more than four years in prison can't have their sentences suspended or commuted to probation.
Laws that criminalize speech that does not incite lawless violence are incompatible with the right to freedom of expression as established under Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights, which Mexico has ratified. As the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) stated in 1994, "Considering the consequences of criminal sanctions and the inevitable chilling effect they have on freedom of expression, criminalization of speech can only apply in those exceptional circumstances when there is an obvious and direct threat of lawless violence."
Though imprisonment for press offenses has fallen into disuse in the Americas, prosecution on criminal defamation charges remains common. In August 2004, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights announced a ruling overturning the 1999 criminal defamation conviction of Costa Rican journalist Mauricio Herrera Ulloa, a reporter with the daily La Nación. The Costa Rica-based court ruled that the sentence violated his right to freedom of expression and ordered Costa Rica to pay damages to him. The court's president, Judge Sergio García Ramírez, wrote a separate, concurring opinion questioning the criminalization of defamation and suggesting that such laws be repealed.
World Crises | Reuters.co.uk - U.S. general "startled" by Guatemala drug network
Four months later, still waiting for reconstruction in the Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico.
Stan victims still await new homes - El Universal Online - Miami Herald
General John Craddock is making a 2 day visit to Guatemala to confirm the destruction of narcotraffickers' airstrips in the Laguna del Tigre Park of the Peten.
Jefe Comando Sur EEUU verifica destruccion pistas clandestinas
The enormous Laguna del Tigre reserve, in the Petén of northern Guatemala, has been a center of narcotrafficking. Now the government is planning to destroy the airstrips used by the narcos, and is calling for help from the EU.
PrensaLibre.com - Destruirán pistas del narcotráfico
El Ejército guatemalteco destruirá las pistas clandestinas utilizadas por los narcotraficantes en el parque nacional Laguna del Tigre, en Petén, con la intensión de evitar el trasiego de drogas en esa zona, ofreció el general Francisco Bermúdez, ministro de la Defensa.
From the Brownsville Herald.
Infiltration from the south feared - Terrorist smuggling denied by admitted drug runner
Thank god we stay in the southern part of Mexico when we visit. When our reporter friends mentioned Los Zetas last year, and described a close call with them, I really had no idea what they were. As Mexico tries to downplay them, the FBI is taking the situation very seriously.
Federal Bureau of Investigation - Press Room - Congressional Testimony
Nothing new here, but a good summation for American readers.
The Zapatista's Return: A Masked Marxist on the Stump - New York Times
From prominent scientists and thinkers.
THE WORLD QUESTION CENTER 2006
Starting as an essay on anti-Spanish sentiment in the Philippines, this moves to ways that same prejudice was used to justify non-Hispanic settlement of the New World. Spanish burning of all the Maya books would justify it for me.
'La Leyenda Negra' revisited - INQ7.net
The Spaniards, by the way, were their own worst enemies. The Black Legend started in 1552, when Bartolome de las Casas, formerly bishop of Chiapas, published "Brevissima Relacion de la Destruycion de las Yndias," which has been described as "a powerful and lasting indictment of Spanish behavior toward Indian populations in the New World." (How the good friar could have described it as brief is weird; the work is 4,000 pages long.) Naturally, the Protestants picked up Las Casas' condemnation with alacrity and used it to argue for a greater non-Spanish European presence in the New World and, of course, for their own imperialistic designs.
The new technology at the root of the NSA wiretap scandal
Via EchoDitto
U.S. SENATOR BARBARA BOXER | Newsroom
Boxer Asks Presidential Scholars About Former White House Counsel's Statement that Bush Admitted to an 'Impeachable Offense'
December 19, 2005
Washington, D.C.– U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today asked four presidential scholars for their opinion on former White House Counsel John Dean’s statement that President Bush admitted to an “impeachable offense” when he said he authorized the National Security Agency to spy on Americans without getting a warrant from a judge.
Boxer said, “I take very seriously Mr. Dean’s comments, as I view him to be an expert on Presidential abuse of power. I am expecting a full airing of this matter by the Senate in the very near future.”
Odd campaign and funding alliances in Mexico
Some candidates, like PRD nominee Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, have devised mass telemarketing finance schemes that some people suspect are being used to funnel in untraceable contributions from Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. Other financing strategies have been contrived by using government officials as intermediaries for laundering campaign contributions, perhaps the most notorious cases being video-scandals in which the PRD leader of the Mexico City Assembly, Rene Bejarano, was taped receiving cash from a city contractor allegedly for party campaigns. Or the Tijuana case, where municipal employee salaries were docked a five percent “PRI contribution” for aid packages donated to victims of Hurricane Wilma, but the money was diverted to the PRI campaign headquarters in Chiapas.
AP Spanish | 11/29/2005 | Guatemala: narcos protegen a saqueadores de sitios arqueológicos
This guy Rendon makes Rove look like a prankster.
RollingStone.com: The Man Who Sold the War : Politics
Feeling warm and cosy today? Don't click this link. Reminds me of the magnetic anti-ribbon my wife stuck to the car: Just Pretend It's All OK.
Boing Boing: A Thanksgiving Prayer, by William S. Burroughs
(Includes a link to video of Burroughs with stirring music and montage)
Nothing light about this. And filed in the category I call "Underworld". The best summary I've seen of the torture issue and the damage it's doing to us as a country. Searing quotations from Wilkerson, Turner, Gerber of the CIA, regarding Cheney's role as the "vice president for torture."
Making Light: Tortuous Thinking
When George Bush left Mar del Plata early for his engagements in Brazil, he met with fifteen young Brazilian leaders. This is an account by one of those leaders and some interesting reflections on Bush's resemblance to Latin American populist demagogues.
One hour with George W Bush Arthur Ituassu - openDemocracy
via Mitch Ratcliffe
After Hurricane, Refugees Grope for Survival in Ruins - New York Times
Ken Tomlinson booted from CPB as report of his work with Rove to tilt public broadcasting to the right is released.
MediaCitizen: The Karl and Ken Show
Hurricane Stan created devastating floods and mudslides in Guatemala. They are still recovering from that disaster.
Previously, I posted an appeal for help and then a dispatch one week after the hurricane from the Hospitalito in Santiago Atitlan, where a mudslide wiped out an entire village.
Here are two Powerpoint slide shows of photos during the worst of the flooding:
INUNDACIONES XELA Y ALREDEDORES-OCT 2005.pps
From Kenneth Wood at Pueblo a Pueblo, I've received three dispatches so far. Here they are as a pdf:
guatemala_mudslide_dispatches.pdf
The full text of that pdf is also in this post. Click MORE to see it.
And please visit the Pueblo a Pueblo
website to make a donation.
From Kenneth Wood's email signature:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world. Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
Oct. 14
Santiago Atitlán - One week later:
This is an email report from Surunda Velasquez. Surunda singlehandedly has changed the lives of the community, creating hundreds of jobs for the T’zutujil people and an outlet for their creativity. She is the person who originally brought beadwork to Santiago.
____________________________________________________________________________
It is a week since the disaster. The amount of work going on with the relief efforts has been as relentless as the Hurricane a week ago was with the rain. It did rain, or should I say, pour constantly for a week.
By now, the aid has arrived from the outside. There were the 1^st and second days when Santiago was on its own, and people were going out to bring in the dead in seemingly countless coffins of mostly kids, as the coffins were small with every now and then a long one that were the adults. The town square was packed . By then, we had set up a soup kitchen to cook for the bomberos and all the able young men with hoes who were bringing in the bodies. And as we were working in Argentina Sojuel’s classroom on the square, we became a witness. It is part of tradition to witness the death and give dignity to the dead to identify it and put it to rest in the cemetery. And now several days later the land in Panabaj is called a “campo santo” an official cemetery as the people after digging for 6 days, are tired and the danger is high health wise to be out digging in the mud.
The first 2 days it was considerably dangerous to be digging in Panabaj because of the continued rain. The town of Panabaj is now off limits and condemned so there can be no return of the survivors.
The next days were filled with receiving the help of the neighboring towns. The solidarity of the people here is high and the outpouring of corn and food and people to help dig in the mud was overwhelming to see and experience. To be on the receiving end of this gives all of us feel quite human and extremely grateful. In the market, people gave or sold for a good price. The vegetables for the soup pot were cooking in the soup kitchen. The feeling of solidarity has been and still is very high.
The aid from the outside was jubilantly received. By then the survivors were told to register at the shelters called Albuergues. And most people have settled or registered in the shelters. It was determined that if one was not registered in these shelters one was not going to be eligible for aid. But as with all such plans, people do fall thru the cracks. There are so many families that took in extended families that survived the mud flow (there were technically 3 mud flows, one on either side of the town). Some households are housing as many as 50 people under one roof. There is a large task underway to locate and do a census of all these people that are desperate with hunger and have not received aid as of yet from the authorities. What aid that exists is still at the stage of being not quite enough. The clothing, for example are mostly clothing donated from the city population and from the outside in the first world. I, myself, have sorted the clothing that came my way and have a stack of clothing much to big to be of use for the small mayan physiques. There is also a standard of choice among the people here and the women need huipiles and cortes, not western pants, blouses, t-shirts and jeans. The men here just won’t fit in the bigger sizes of clothes that have come in, not to mention all the smaller sizes of all the children and babies. And people need bedding. Hopefully, there will be enough to go around, but most of the neighbors know where the truly desperate people are and their goodwill makes it possible to find these marginalized families.
The Red Cross wants to help us. They are bringing in supplies to continue a soup kitchen as well as distribute food. For everyone here tortillas are the one basic food. 2 pounds per adult a day is the average consumption. Of course, ideally, there are beans and other proteins as well. When you have 23 people in your household that works out to 46 pounds of corn a day alone. Unfortunately, the corn that was still out in the fields and close to harvest was destroyed by the storm all over the country. A lot of the people in Panabaj had just harvested their half years supply of corn and ended up having to abandon it in the mud.
They say on the internet that 75%of the country’s infrastructure has been destroyed. The roads are slowly getting cleared but there are a lot of bridges to cross that have been rebuilt hastily. We are still in rainy season, but that is much less rainfall than when a category 1 hurricane comes thru like last week.
The hospitalito Atitlan, which reopened after 15 years of abandonment in April of this year and was progressing with a new operating theater, a new kitchen and medical storage building (which being on the mud flow side of the property actually served to save the hospital building), was halfway buried in mud. The mud did come in but it only filled part of the hall and the reception room. The 2 story stone house across the road was not so lucky and there is just no sign it ever existed but in one’s memory. As of today, the decision to move the hospital has been made and there is movement of looking at serviceable place to rent in town. To look for a building that has 6 –7 rooms preferably on one floor is next to impossible and to have car accessibility a dream. The choices are few but something will get arranged.
Every day something is happening. One cannot help but be involved with the relief efforts. Today at Adisa – Amigos and padres of Descapacitados in Santiago Atilan, we combined the 3 groups of my beadshop where there are 12 families that are affected and the weaving cooperative Cajolya and Adisa to receive and distribute aid to the affected in all 3 groups that came in today. People from Quetzaltenango , Guatemala City and Antigua brought packages of corn, beans, noodle soup mixes, milk powder, soap, aqua pura and toilet paper.
From the 3^rd day or so there has been a campaign to be using clorine to purify the water and to wash hands before eating. The threat of hepatitis is high. Cholera can be around the corner if things get out of hand, hygiene wise. There is a campaign for everyone to take their tetanus shot. There are teams of doctors and nurses from the US and Cuba and Spain. Hopefully some water filtration systems will come so drinking water will not be a problem.
As the day ends, we are tired but do feel a bit more optimistic that some aid is helping people get thru this emergency tonight.
Written by Surunda Velasquez October 12, 2005
Check out our website www.puebloapueblo.org for further updates.
Kenneth Wood
President
Pueblo a Pueblo Inc.
P.O. Box 11486
Washington, DC 20008
tel: (202) 302-0622
www.puebloapueblo.org
Email dated 10/20 from Santiago from Karin B. who is a Swedish journalist. She has been very instrumental in resurrecting the hospitalito. Check out the website for more information.
Hola Ken,
Unfortunately Hepatitis A is on the loose. Between Oct. 7th and 18th, six cases were diagnosed.
The Hospitalito Atitlan, now temporary located in a house formerly known as the Bat House and the Bird House in Tzan Chi Cham, is open to see emergency patients around the clock. We hope to open for consultations Monday.
We have been given a 5,000 liter watertank, that the volunteer firemen of town (with help of a big red truck) will fill with water from a cleaner bay away from the mud slides and town center.
Three teams of health-care workers came to town last week-end. We sorely need them. I for one, have a hollow in my soul that needs to be filled, a torn-up soul that needs some mending, but where to you find the tools? Maybe Time will help us. 72 people have shown up at Centro de Salud with psychological traumas. Others, 192 patients, are diagnosed with “head-aches”.
Earlier today I talked to a young man who lost his home in Panabaj. He told me about how he found a man and a woman holding onto a baby and had helped dig them all out from the mud near his former home-stead.
And will we be able to return to Panabaj? We believe it will be a decision of the inhabitants of Panabaj. Are they willing to return to their lands, their homes, their memories of a mountain coming down in deadly speed, filling their homes with mud and taking away their loved ones, their homes, their lands, their clothes, pots and pans...
We have, however, written a letter to the director of Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meterología e Hidrología, asking him and the agency, that has a reputation of professionals at work, to inspect the area. It is way premature to make the decision whether or not we will continue to rebuild in Panabaj or look for a new future home for the Hospitalito.
Saludos, Karin
October 30
Dear Friends of Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala,
I wanted to bring you up-to-date about how we are using your donation, to
Pueblo a Pueblo Inc. We are working on several fronts:
Healthcare:
Needless to say K'aslimaal, the local governing body of the Hospitalito has
been incredibly busy. The hospitalito in Panabaj remains unusable as it
sits in an area that has been declared a mass grave. The first goal was to
ensure that the town had uninterrupted 24/7 medical care. With incredible
speed, K'aslimaal and the physicians opened up an interim hospitalito and
began providing 24/7 medical services within two weeks of the disaster. I
heard that it still takes 3 hours traveling through the mud, a few miles to
get to the Panabaj facility to transport supplies and equipment back to the
interim hospitalito in town. Water and electricity has been a problem but
the volunteers, staff and doctors have prevailed. The first surgery has
already been performed and the first baby delivered.
K’aslimaal made sure that the first-responders, the bomberos (fireman) were
all vaccinated for Hepatitus B. Vaccinations flown down by Dr. Gil Mobley
were given out to the general public. Consideration was given to vaccinating
all the children under 5 in town (4625) for Hepatitis B and A which would
cost $189,000, well beyond the scope of what K’aslimaal can do. Financial
support and equipment is being supplied to the Puesto de Salud in Tzan
Chaj, which is a clinic that has been established of the far side of
Panabaj, where USAID is setting up temporary plastic tarp dwellings for the
homeless. Some concern has been expressed as these dwellings are barely
minimal and they will remove the homeless from site. The fear is that they
will become permanent housing….but it appears that this is the best solution
given the large number of homeless people and pressing need for housing.
This area is too far away from town for people to be treated for routine
medical problems, so K’aslimaal is supporting the doctors there and victims
needing more than routine care are being referred to the hospitalito. In
fact, all victims of the mudslides have been guaranteed free access to
medical care at the hospitalito. Lastly, on the medical front, K'aslimaal
is providing support to twelve mental health care workers who have been an
incredible assistance to survivors and responders as well. K’aslimaal is
housing and feeding eleven Cuban physicians who have been assigned to five
schools in town where the survivors, who were scattered around town, have
been temporarily moved. School vacation has begun and will last until
February, freeing up these buildings for temporary housing. The Cuban
doctors are providing routine care and monitoring for any disease outbreaks
and referring patients for more intensive care at the hospitalito.
Food and clothing have poured into the community from several diverse relief
agencies. Reports are that the situation has stablized somewhat. At the
same time as securing 24/7 medical capacity, K'aslimaal and Pueblo a Pueblo
have reached out to address non-medical needs.
Housing:
Several T'zutujil hospitalito staff members lost everything in the mudslides
and we are repairing/replacing homes for them and renting facilities for
other staff members who were affected. A special thanks go to these staff
members, who in the face of their own losses, continued to devote time to
re-establish the interim hospitalito.
David Granville, at the Posada wrote Pueblo a Pueblo:
Today a young man named Cruz Chivileu Tzina came to ask for
help. His story is one of the saddest I have ever heard in my life. His
wife gave birth about ten minutes before the mudslide. He does not know if
he had a boy or a girl. The mudslide took his house, his wife, newborn
baby, son of ten, and the midwife. He escaped with his seven year old
daughter. He was catatonic for several days.
He is a stone mason. His mother-in-law owns a small piece of
property that can accommodate another house for him and his daughter.
While there are thousands of people in need of housing, we felt this case
rose to the level of a leading and we must respond with a contribution to
David to ensure that Cruz can build himself and his daughter a new home.
Elementary Schools: Tree of Life lost its school in Panabaj. La Escuela
de Autogestion Comunitaria Pronade de Tzanchaj (335 students) sustained
serious mudslide damage at. With our support Tree of Life will be repairing
the school in Tzanchaj and assisting their Panabaj students with relocation
and school supplies.
Traditional Clothing: Pueblo a Pueblo is supporting a huipile project that
has been started by Susie Granville. As many of you know, indigenous women
take great pride in their cultural traditions and as the Rigoberto Menchu
Foundation has pointed out, this catastrophe has the capacity to degrade
these cultural traditions as people with no resources abandon often
expensive handmade clothing for "Ropa Americana". Under the brilliant and
sensitive leadership of Susie of the Posada, this all-volunteer project is
distributing looms, equipment and threads to T’zutujil women who have lost
everything so they can weave and embroider traditional clothing for
themselves.
Pueblo a Pueblo is also supporting the Cajolya Association of Maya Women
Weavers. This is a non-profit organization of indigenous women who are
preserving the traditions of backstrap weaving while supporting their
families. Several of these women lost their families and homes during the
disaster. Our support will help them build homes, replace weaving equipment
and supplies so these women can hold onto their cultural values and quickly
return to earning a living.
Handicapped Children:
We are supporting ADISA, a non-profit organization in Santiago that cares
for disabled children. Their modest resources modest resources were
exhausted during this crisis. We are further working on obtaining
anti-convulsive medications for their children, as their supply has run out.
Recovery from this disaster is a long-term effort, with reports of 3000-3500
people being temporarily housed in the schools. The major issues of housing
and gainful employment will continue for some time. Our overall strategy is
to continue to maintain a 24/7 medical facility and to meet niche needs
that the larger relief organizations cannot address as they institute
structural programming such as mass relocation, construction of temporary
housing, potable water, etc. While the decisions about the priorities are
always difficult with limited resources in the face of such overwhelming
need, we at Pueblo feel comfortable that our partners on site are addressing
specific needs which will sustain the victims and help weave them back into
the life of the community. We take stewardship of your gifts very seriously
and are investing these contributions with oversight and documentation.
Many thanks have poured in from the above organizations and individuals.
These thanks belong to each of you, the donors, large and small. In the
same way, many of you have written, thanking Pueblo a Pueblo for doing this
volunteer work. These thanks belong to the people on the ground, in
Santiago, who have sustained such losses and are pulling together to help
their neighbors.
Over 500 people have donated to this effort and we have raised and are
disbursing over $100,000 to Santiago. We very much appreciate your
continued support. Besides receiving tax-deductible gifts, Pueblo a
Pueblo, Inc has also registered with www.igive.com This is an on-line
Shopping Mall. You'll find more than 500 stores at the Mall, like Barnes &
Noble, JC Penney, Land's End, Expedia, Dell, and the Wall Street Journal.
You can purchase a host of services and goods including: computer supplies,
travel, hotel accommodations, clothing, toys, flowers and gifts of all
kinds. Every purchase you make through www.igive.com helps Pueblo a Pueblo
- Guatemala Disaster Relief.
As the Holiday season begins, please consider supporting the T’zutujil
people, with a gift in honor of a friend or relative. Widen our circle of
support by informing others of this opportunity. Thank you again for your
support.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Wood
President
Pueblo a Pueblo Inc.
P.O. Box 11486
Washington, DC 20008
tel: (202) 302-0622
www.puebloapueblo.org
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world. Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
Shot in 2002, edited and sent back full resolution over the internet (7 hours upload) in time for Halloween at the Bowery Poetry Club. From San Cristobal de las Casas to Chamula to Zinacantan and Romerillo.
Live Dead - Day of the Dead in the Maya Highlands | Ourmedia
IQ lowering...good ideas scattered...must...quit...daay...jooob...Daisy, Daisyyyyy...
Jeff Jarvis:
BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » The Judy chronicles
Jay Rosen:
PressThink: Times Report on Judith Miller: Key Passages and Initial Comments
NOTE: To help, visit Pueblo a Pueblo.
From Kenneth Wood, who is coordinating relief to mudslide victims in Guatemala, an update from Santiago Atitlán:
This is an email report from Surunda Velasquez. Surunda singlehandedly has changed the lives of the community, creating hundreds of jobs for the T’zutujil people and an outlet for their creativity. She is the person who originally brought beadwork to Santiago.
It is a week since the disaster. The amount of work going on with the relief efforts has been as relentless as the Hurricane a week ago was with the rain. It did rain, or should I say, pour constantly for a week.
By now, the aid has arrived from the outside. There were the first and second days when Santiago was on its own, and people were going out to bring in the dead in seemingly countless coffins of mostly kids, as the coffins were small with every now and then a long one that were the adults. The town square was packed . By then, we had set up a soup kitchen to cook for the bomberos and all the able young men with hoes who were bringing in the bodies. And as we were working in Argentina Sojuel’s classroom on the square, we became a witness. It is part of tradition to witness the death and give dignity to the dead to identify it and put it to rest in the cemetery. And now several days later the land in Panabaj is called a “campo santo” an official cemetery as the people after digging for 6 days, are tired and the danger is high health wise to be out digging in the mud.
The first 2 days it was considerably dangerous to be digging in Panabaj because of the continued rain. The town of Panabaj is now off limits and condemned so there can be no return of the survivors.
The next days were filled with receiving the help of the neighboring towns. The solidarity of the people here is high and the outpouring of corn and food and people to help dig in the mud was overwhelming to see and experience. To be on the receiving end of this gives all of us feel quite human and extremely grateful. In the market, people gave or sold for a good price. The vegetables for the soup pot were cooking in the soup kitchen. The feeling of solidarity has been and still is very high.
The aid from the outside was jubilantly received. By then the survivors were told to register at the shelters called Albuergues. And most people have settled or registered in the shelters. It was determined that if one was not registered in these shelters one was not going to be eligible for aid. But as with all such plans, people do fall thru the cracks. There are so many families that took in extended families that survived the mud flow (there were technically 3 mud flows, one on either side of the town). Some households are housing as many as 50 people under one roof. There is a large task underway to locate and do a census of all these people that are desperate with hunger and have not received aid as of yet from the authorities. What aid that exists is still at the stage of being not quite enough. The clothing, for example are mostly clothing donated from the city population and from the outside in the first world. I, myself, have sorted the clothing that came my way and have a stack of clothing much to big to be of use for the small mayan physiques. There is also a standard of choice among the people here and the women need huipiles and cortes, not western pants, blouses, t-shirts and jeans. The men here just won’t fit in the bigger sizes of clothes that have come in, not to mention all the smaller sizes of all the children and babies. And people need bedding. Hopefully, there will be enough to go around, but most of the neighbors know where the truly desperate people are and their goodwill makes it possible to find these marginalized families.
The Red Cross wants to help us. They are bringing in supplies to continue a soup kitchen as well as distribute food. For everyone here tortillas are the one basic food. 2 pounds per adult a day is the average consumption. Of course, ideally, there are beans and other proteins as well. When you have 23 people in your household that works out to 46 pounds of corn a day alone. Unfortunately, the corn that was still out in the fields and close to harvest was destroyed by the storm all over the country. A lot of the people in Panabaj had just harvested their half years supply of corn and ended up having to abandon it in the mud.
They say on the internet that 75%of the country’s infrastructure has been destroyed. The roads are slowly getting cleared but there are a lot of bridges to cross that have been rebuilt hastily. We are still in rainy season, but that is much less rainfall than when a category 1 hurricane comes thru like last week.
The hospitalito Atitlan, which reopened after 15 years of abandonment in April of this year and was progressing with a new operating theater, a new kitchen and medical storage building (which being on the mud flow side of the property actually served to save the hospital building), was halfway buried in mud. The mud did come in but it only filled part of the hall and the reception room. The 2 story stone house across the road was not so lucky and there is just no sign it ever existed but in one’s memory. As of today, the decision to move the hospital has been made and there is movement of looking at serviceable place to rent in town. To look for a building that has 6 –7 rooms preferably on one floor is next to impossible and to have car accessibility a dream. The choices are few but something will get arranged.
Every day something is happening. One cannot help but be involved with the relief efforts. Today at Adisa – Amigos and padres of Descapacitados in Santiago Atilan, we combined the 3 groups of my beadshop where there are 12 families that are affected and the weaving cooperative Cajolya and Adisa to receive and distribute aid to the affected in all 3 groups that came in today. People from Quetzaltenango , Guatemala City and Antigua brought packages of corn, beans, noodle soup mixes, milk powder, soap, aqua pura and toilet paper.
From the third day or so there has been a campaign to be using chlorine to purify the water and to wash hands before eating. The threat of hepatitis is high. Cholera can be around the corner if things get out of hand, hygiene wise. There is a campaign for everyone to take their tetanus shot. There are teams of doctors and nurses from the US and Cuba and Spain. Hopefully some water filtration systems will come so drinking water will not be a problem.
As the day ends, we are tired but do feel a bit more optimistic that some aid is helping people get thru this emergency tonight.
Written by Surunda Velasquez October 12, 2005
Again thanks to Xeni, I found this roundup of bloggers writing about the after-effects of hurricane Stan.
Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » Flooding Throughout Central America
Many thanks to Xeni for her post on Boing Boing pointing to Pueblo a Pueblo for information on the situation in Guatemala. Please help if you can.
And once you've helped, please browse this site for more on the Maya, and visit Nicco Mele's site, EchoRadio, for the Junglecasts we did on Maya archaeology and history last spring.
Thanks for your interest. If you have questions, or would like to tour the Maya region, write me at dave.pentecost [at] gmail.com
The mudslides are becoming mass graves, as rescuers begin to give up. Thousands are left homeless and there is a continuing need for medical supplies.
World News Article | Reuters.co.uk - Guatemala villagers lose hope for mudslide victims
Reuters AlertNet - Mexico to spend $1.8 bln in hurricane aid
The recent hurricane in Central America created floods and mudslides which left hundreds dead, thousands homeless. The death toll was just revised upward, with 1,400 dead in the village of Panabaj alone.
Here is a sobering dispatch from Hospitalito Atitlan in Guatemala. Please help if you can.
Via Jon Lebkowsky.
High profile non-scientist (okay he's an MD) Michael Crichton twists the scientific method in his continuing vendetta against global warming believers and environmentalists.
RealClimate » Inhofe and Crichton: Together at Last!
New Scientist Breaking News - Robot claims 'treasure island' booty
Great profile of the Soviet missile officer whose overriding of a faulty computer signal prevented us from being annihilated in 1983.
WorldChanging: Another World Is Here: Thank You, Stanislav
In the Washington Post.
Mexican Sugar Workers Take Over Mills
The Observer | International | Armed and dangerous - Flipper the firing dolphin let loose by Katrina
The Zapatistas have announced that, 5 years after the Zapatista caravan to Mexico City in support of indigenous rights, they will make another trip out of the Lacandon forest to publicize the "other campaign", their contribution to a national debate during the Mexican elections.
ABC News: Zapatista rebel leader unveils Mexico tour plans
And an environmental group in Chiapas has called on the rebels to include protection of natural resources as a part of their platform, noting that leftist groups have always struggled against the exploitation of man by man, but never see the unjust and absurd exploitation of nature that is done by every social system, without exception ("siempre han luchado contra la explotación del hombre por el hombre, pero nunca ven lo injusto y absurdo que es la explotación de la naturaleza que hacen todos los sistemas sociales, sin excepción").
IndyMedia Chiapas - Grupo ecologista pide al EZLN incluir defensa de recursos
An update on the lives of the Maya poor in Chiapas, as the Zapatistas launch a national campaign to sway the upcoming elections.
Where Poverty Drove Zapatistas, the Living Is No Easier - New York Times
East Hampton Star - GUESTWORDS: By E.L. Doctorow - The Unfeeling President
Via Slashdot
FCC Issues Rule Allowing FBI to Dictate Wiretap-Friendly Design for Internet Services
As clear a summary as I've seen of the current confusing state of the rebellion in Chiapas.
It will all be made clear in the next Zapatista memo | csmonitor.com
Sorry, they didn't "nail it" as this report suggests. Everything listed is from another neighborhood. Not the East Village. The photos are interesting but they are mockups. Still to be built.
Curbed: Las Vegas' East Village: They Nailed It
The Zapatista leader is taking on his most visible and influential role since the March to Mexico City in 2001. But his criticism of current frontrunner Lopez Obrador in the race for the presidency will cost MLO votes. Will Marcos extract promises from the new president or become a spoiler, tilting the race toward the PRI and PAN?
Bloomberg.com: Latin America - Mexico's Marcos Emerges as Critic Before Presidential Contest
The accuracy of a study of remittances to Mexico by immigrants in the U.S. is being questioned. One issue is whether the study supports or undercuts Fox's claims that he has reduced poverty in Mexico.
Study Challenges Assumptions About Money Being Remitted to Mexico - New York Times
Still unclear what the recent "red alert" by the Zapatistas is about, but they've gotten the attention of the world press again.
Mexico Braces for Next Move by Elusive Leader of Zapatista Rebels - New York Times
No one knows yet what the plan is, but it's apparently a move into political action.
BBC NEWS | Americas | Mexico hails rebel 'initiative'
This finds few economic and social gains among indigenous groups in Latin America over the last decade, in spite of increased political influence.
If your eyes glaze over when Bush talks social security, wake up! Molly Ivins will shake you awake with some plain talk.
After 1.2 million people demonstrated their support, and the Attorney General who ruled against him resigned, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has emerged stronger than ever in his bid for the Mexican presidency. Susan Hayward of Knight Ridder (with help from our friend Janet Schwartz, I'm guessing) filed this report.
KRT Wire | 04/28/2005 | Mexico City mayor weathers charges, emerges as '06 front-runner
Here's a good summary of the dirty campaign against Mexico City mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and of the current race for president of Mexico. I picked up a lot of this in Chiapas this trip, but this article fills in the gaps.
The Ousting of Obrador -- In These Times
From Mo Carpenter (Maya and pre-Inca archaeologist), whom I ran into on the street in San Cristobal today, a heads up - INAH (Mexican archaeology institute, among other things) is getting a new director. Until I find info on the new, here's an adios to the old:
Full article on the jump
El adiós de Sergio Raúl Arroyo, del INAH
judith amador tello/ apro
* Cumbre Tajín, Casino de la Selva y Museo de Arte de Tlaxcala, entre la polémica
México, D.F., 11 de abril (apro).- El etnólogo Sergio Raúl Arroyo se fue de la dirección del Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) con el respaldo de algunas voces de la comunidad académica e intelectual a su gestión.
Lo calificaron como un buen director, defensor del patrimonio, y no faltó quien recordara que su antecesora, María Teresa Franco, llevó buena parte de su administración enmedio de la polémica por asuntos como la construcción de la Plaza Jaguares, en Teotihuacán.
Las voces de apoyo al etnólogo celebraron fundamentalmente que el ahora exdirector se opusiera a una reducción de presupuesto, así como al proyecto de ley general de cultura impulsado por el Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (Conaculta), visto como una intentona para legitimar al organismo --creado en 1988 mediante decreto por el entonces presidente Carlos Salinas de Gortari-- y controlar así a los institutos nacionales de Bellas Artes (INBA) e INAH.
Pero vale la pena recordar, en aras de un balance más equilibrado, que Arroyo tuvo también desaciertos y prefirió guardar silencio ante problemáticas que exigían una postura clara. Unos cuantos casos son la muestra:
Él mismo ha contado que sus diferencias con Sari Bermúdez, titular del Conaculta (a las cuales atribuye su salida del Instituto), iniciaron cuando hacia enero de 2003 se revelaron las pretensiones del gobierno federal de regresar el edificio del exArxobispado a la Iglesia para la creación de un museo de arte sacro.
Cierto que el INAH no se pronunció en favor, pero tampoco en contra. Su vocero Rubén Regnier dijo entonces a esta reportera que desconocían el proyecto y que el instituto no tenía nada que ver en ese asunto, porque se trataba de un inmueble que, pese a ser monumento, era propiedad de la Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público.
A principios de 2001, casi recién llegado al puesto, Arroyo enfrentó una problemática ya frecuente: la autorización de una zona arqueológica o edificio histórico para la realización de espectáculos que no tienen relación alguna con la historia o sentido de los monumentos.
El caso concreto fue el ahora ya institucionalizado espectáculo en Tajín, Veracruz. El INAH, según consignó la reportera Columba Vértiz en Proceso del 12 de febrero de 2001, no enfrentó el problema pese a que se habían delatado daños al patrimonio en la Cumbre Tajín 2000, sino como ha hecho en otras ocasiones, pretextó que es decisión del secretario de Educación Pública. Arroyo dijo entonces:
“La autorización para estos eventos los da la SEP, nosotros tenemos que cumplir con la revisión técnica muy exhaustiva, revisar la parte legal, eso se somete también a consideración de la Consejería Jurídica de la SEP.”
También al inicio de su administración se dio la demolición del antiguo hotel Casino de la Selva en Cuernavaca, donde se construyeron dos megatiendas Comercial Mexicana y Costco. El escritor y teólogo Javier Sicilia denunció en varias de sus columnas en la revista Proceso la existencia de vestigios arqueológicos en la zona Gualupita, asentada también en terrenos del exhotel. El INAH no negó la existencia de los restos pero pretextó que “no eran importantes”, y dio luz verde a las construcciones.
En mayo de 2004 el mismo semanario dio a conocer un informe del Centro Internacional de Defensoría para el Ambiente y el Desarrollo (OmCED), organismo no gubernamental miembro del Consejo de la Tierra con sede en Costa Rica, sobre la destrucción en el Casino de la Selva, en el cual acusó de negligencia, omisiones y falta de voluntad política a las instituciones responsables de la salvaguarda del patrimonio.
Y aunque destacó una “cierta actitud crítica” en las delegaciones del INAH y la Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, señaló la falta de coordinación entre las diversas instancias gubernamentales, entre ellas el instituto y el Conaculta.
En junio de 2004 se inició otra polémica porque el gobierno de Tlaxcala iniciaba el proyecto de construcción del Museo de Arte de la entidad, en un inmueble histórico. Miembros del Grupo Tlaxcala Pro Defensa y Conservación del Patrimonio Cultura, opuestos al proyecto, aseguraron en su momento que se trataba de un edificio del siglo XVI, y el INAH adujo que era del XIX.
Se solicitó a los arquitectos Óscar Sánchez Ramírez y Carlos Martínez Ortigoza, miembros del INAH, sendos dictámenes sobre la viabilidad del proyecto. Los especialistas recomendaron que no se autorizara la construcción, pero tanto la delegación como la Coordinación Nacional de Monumentos Históricos del INAH decidieron aprobarla. El museo se construyó y opera ya desde hace meses en el centro histórico de Tlaxcala.
Al INAH, durante la gestión de Arroyo, se le ha reconocido haber parado la construcción de un estacionamiento en la zona de monumentos históricos de la ciudad de Puebla o el haber presentado una querella contra la Minera San Xavier, que pretende explotar minerales en el pueblo de San Pedro en San Luis Potosí.
Pero también se ha señalado que el exfuncionario se fue sin haber resuelto un sinnúmero de robos de arte novohispano en templos de varios puntos del país, sin parar la venta de nichos funerarios también en templos propiedad de la nación, con la cual sólo la Iglesia se beneficia; sin aclarar del todo la construcción de la tienda de Wal-Mart en Teotihuacán... En fin, la lista de pendientes es larga.
Andrés Manuel López Obrador, known as AMLO down here, was stripped of his immunity by a vote of Congress and may be ineligible to run for president in the next election.
The New York Times > International > Americas > Opposition Chief at Risk in Mexico
In Mexico, Church's Influence Wanes as Evangelism Grows (washingtonpost.com)
Moves to mend relations between the U.S. and Mexico.
The New York Times > International > Americas > Rice and Mexican Official Hint at Thaw in Relations
"Last fall Ms. Rice's predecessor, Colin L. Powell, said in Mexico that President Bush would make a new effort in 2005 to revise the immigration laws, but on Thursday Ms. Rice did not offer any timetable."
Here's a great selection of links and comments on the essay that's making the rounds and stirring up debate. Saw the post too late to hear the NPR show in question but it will be in the archives for streaming, as Emily Gertz notes here.
WorldChanging: Another World Is Here: Nordhaus/NRDC Face Off--Live
As I started planning the trip to Chiapas with Nicco today, I was startled to see a familiar view - the Palace at Palenque - on a favorite website - Worldchanging. It illustrated a post about the collapse of societies, and how to avoid it. Now I have to finally get Jared Diamond's book "Collapse". Maybe I'll read it in Palenque. (Note: the photo at left is mine, taken from the same spot as the one in Worldchanging)
WorldChanging: Another World Is Here: Collapsing Upwards
Officials in Mexico and Guatemala are confident they will finish the gaps in the Ruta Maya, bringing more traffic, tourists and settlers into the Petén and quickening the destruction of the forest. Thanks to Chip Morris and Marco Lazcano-Barrero for the link.
PrensaLibre.com - Terminarán ruta de México a Petén
UPDATE: Here are Ron Canter's comments on the road:
Saw the item in Prensa Libre on new Ruta Maya link. The one road specifically mentioned will go along the Rio San Pedro Martir. The logical route is via the south shore from La Palma, Mexico to Yalpina, Guat. (on the road to La Florida). In the narrow gap between the river and the Sierra la Pita, the route follows the old San Diego Trail between Tenosique and Flores. Once the road is built, I'm sure the river will quickly be abandoned as a Mx-Guat. link, both legit and for smuggling. A road will impact the Sierra la Pita range, which has largely escaped deforestation so far. Even more serious would be an 80 km Calakmul-Carmelita north-south link via El Mirador.
To settle the debate about whether Thompson was referring to the music business, radio, or television:
'Where Thieves and Pimps Run Free' (p. 2)
It pointed me to Hunter S. Thompson's book called Generation of Swine: Tales of Shame and Degradation in the '80s, published by Summit Books in 1988. There, on page 43, I hit paydirt. Thompson had written:
The TV business is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason.
The battle continues against lawlessness and destruction of the forest in Laguna del Tigre Reserve, Petén, Guatemala. Fifty agents with AK-47s and M-16s have been sent in.
The reserve is the largest in Central America and one of the last habitats of many species, including the scarlet macaw.
PrensaLibre.com - Envían agentes especiales a Laguna del Tigre, Petén
I've fallen victim to the weblogger's dementia - ego searches to see your site's standing. Checking out MSN Search, I find that our site has #1 and #2 spots in a search for "Usumacinta". On Google the site is #3. That's what obsession will do for you.
Mitch Ratcliffe's note about Ross Mayfield's post on the evolution of skateboarding resonated with me this morning. Not that I was ever a skateboarder. But we are definitely riding the chaos this week.
RatcliffeBlog - Mitch's Open Notebook: Order is for the birds, chaos is where we ride
With a little leadership, a core group born out of passion within an architecture that seems natural. Rejecting established culture to develop their own and spreading it in their own words, images and actions. Constant iteration in practice and adaptation by shaping architecture.
A United Nations plan to end world poverty, led by Dr. Jeffrey Sachs.
As usual, this weblog only hints at what's going on in my life. A few crumbs dropped behind on a snowy day. But at a time of the year I'd be scheming madly to leave for Chiapas, the Peten, the jungle and the river, I've been trying to catch up with some of the politics and issues I've usually left behind.
The software that the Hackers for Dean, then DeanSpace, now CivicSpace have been steadily working on for the last couple of years is starting to come together. Just in time for me to learn how to use the new internet democracy tools.
We'll be using CivicSpace for a couple of projects, including a political campaign and the redesign of the Girls Club website. Eventually, it could form the basis of the Ave D community network.
I run into folks from this group all the time these days:
And many thanks to Nicco Mele for his advice. His group in DC is doing some of the best work and publishing one of the most thoughtful sites on the web:
And we'll still make it to the jungle this year.
Via Josh Koenig, a new site to mobilize the fight against destruction of social security.
Social Security: There Is No Crisis -
I posted about this in October after reading John Robb's prediction.
Now, NEWSWEEK has learned, the Pentagon is intensively debating an option that dates back to a still-secret strategy in the Reagan administration's battle against the leftist guerrilla insurgency in El Salvador in the early 1980s. Then, faced with a losing war against Salvadoran rebels, the U.S. government funded or supported "nationalist" forces that allegedly included so-called death squads directed to hunt down and kill rebel leaders and sympathizers. Eventually the insurgency was quelled, and many U.S. conservatives consider the policy to have been a success despite the deaths of innocent civilians and the subsequent Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages scandal. (Among the current administration officials who dealt with Central America back then is John Negroponte, who is today the U.S. ambassador to Iraq. Under Reagan, he was ambassador to Honduras.)
From Xeni's post in Boing Boing: Ohio election grok-helper, a very thorough collection of information on the confusing Ohio recount situation. Great work by Lisa Rein.
Report On Election 2004's Ohio Recount and Voting Fraud Situation
Boston.com - Dad tries to sell Christmas gifts on eBay
Thanks to Dave Winer for the link.
On the genocide in Darfur.
Says Nicholas D. Kristof:
Put 'moral values' to work - saving lives.
The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columinst: Facing Down the Killers
This is the call to action for our time. Using technology to help stop the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, Africa.
Ethan Zuckerman's Weblog : Ghana's election, and hopes for Darfur?
Extensive quotes from a Pentagon Defense Science Board report. Also a link to the full pdf.
Daily Kos :: Pentagon: Bush's 'hypocrisy' lost us hearts and minds
In 2001 I rode for three weeks in the back of a pickup truck belonging to the leftist Mexican newspaper La Jornada. We were racing through Mexico in a highspeed motorcade, chasing the comandancia of the Zapatistas on their caravan from the jungles of Chiapas to Mexico City. Then newly elected president Vicente Fox had declared that he would settle the rebel crisis in fifteen minutes. He gave the Zapatistas safe passage on their way to the capital, and they stopped every day along the way to speak to rallies of cheering supporters. It struck me then that we were seeing the mainstreaming of rebellion. Of course, Mexico has had a lot of practice at this - before Fox, the group in power for 70 years without a break was the Institutional Revolutionary Party.
This news item is the latest twist in the story of Subcomandante Marcos, leader of what has been described as the first internet rebellion.
HoustonChronicle.com - Rebel leader to pen a political fiction
"Leftist Zapatista rebel leader Subcomandante Marcos, who slipped largely out of the public eye three years ago, plans to re-emerge in fiction as the co-author of a police/political novel that will appear in excerpts in a leftist newspaper, his collaborator announced Friday."
It will appear in installments every Sunday in La Jornada. Here's their story, with photos of Marcos and Paco Ignacio Taibo II, his collaborator.
La Jornada - Taibo II y Marcos escriben novela a 20 dedos (Taibo and Marcos write a novel with 20 fingers)
From today's New York Times magazine:
The New York Times > Magazine > Who Lost Ohio?
And an amazing account, written by a Dean grassroots organizer recruited by Kerry's campaign, on where the campaign went off the tracks:
Daily Kos :: Glimpse inside Kerry campaign: no grassroots, reliance on 527s, fear of "moles"
I'll be in Ohio. Thanks, Tom.
(full text - click MORE)
Republicans for Kerry 2004 - dKosopedia
Also on this page:
Diplomats and Military leaders against Bush
Scientists against Bush
Nobel Economists Endorsing Kerry
From Hunter Thompson, of course.
RollingStone.com: Politics - Fear and Loathing, Campaign 2004
A mile from Teotihuacan.
Forbes.com: Mexico Clears Wal-Mart Store Construction
UPDATE: I'm posting an essay on the war of symbols between Wal-Mart and Teotihuacan, written by Homero Aridjis. You can see it in its entirety by clicking MORE below.
Homero Aridjis
Guerra de símbolos
Teotihuacan, lugar donde los hombres se convierten en dioses... o en
consumidores.
"No, los conquistadores no están de regreso. Es sólo Wal-Mart", tituló
James C. McKinley Jr., corresponsal de The New York Times, su artículo
sobre el conflicto cultural y económico que ha despertado la construcción
de la macrotienda de Wal-Mart en el perímetro C del centro arqueológico de
Teotihuacan, una de las veintitantas de la agresiva cadena trasnacional en
el Estado de México. El título no es gratuito: la transnacional tiene la
fama bien ganada de ser una trituradora de comercios locales. Así que la
amenaza a los comerciantes, que desde hace siglos viven de vender sus
productos en los aledaños de la ciudad sagrada, es real. En nuestro tiempo,
sobre todo en Latinoamérica, las conquistas no son armadas sino comerciales
y buscan el dominio de los recursos energéticos y naturales de nuestros
países. No es casual que cada día más estemos viendo entre nosotros la
reconquista económica de nuestro territorio a manos de corporaciones
extranjeras. Así que la pelea por Teotihuacan, aparte de implicar el
aplastamiento del comercio local, es una guerra de símbolos: el símbolo del
México antiguo contra el símbolo del comercio trasnacional, los McDonald's
y el maíz transgénico contra la Serpiente Emplumada y los alimentos
tradicionales de México, el Día de Muertos contra Halloween, las calaveras
contra las calabazas.
El problema de la macrotienda en Teotihuacan no es sólo entre una
trasnacional y los comerciantes locales, sino también arqueológico y de
paisaje. No importa que el INAH intente minimizar el asunto argumentando
que "La inexistencia de patrimonio cultural en el área se confirmó además
con los trabajos de salvamento arqueológico realizados durante el año 1984
por la arqueóloga Ana María Teresa Jarquín, en cuyo informe (¡de hace 20
años!) ratificó la ausencia de arquitectura prehispánica". No es tan simple
la cosa; además de cancelarse en el lugar del centro comercial
exploraciones futuras en una zona grandísima y riquísima en vestigios
prehispánicos, se abrirá a partir de ahora la puerta a otras construcciones
y otros desarrollos, pues con Wal-Mart vendrán McDonald's, Pizza Hut y
Kentucky Fried Chicken, los portaestandartes actuales de la colonización
económica de México, que también están aplastando a los pequeños comercios
de América Latina.
Respecto a la destrucción del paisaje (desde el techo de Wal-Mart se verá
la Pirámide del Sol, y desde la Pirámide del Sol el edificio de la
macrotienda, con sus 24 mil metros cuadrados, 6 mil 500 de construcción, y
un estacionamiento de 8 mil metros, con coches y camiones cargueros yendo y
viniendo), se alterará la relación arquitectura-astronomía de Teotihuacan,
y el entorno visual. Como señala Anthony F. Aveni, existía "una relación
topográfica igualmente sutil entre Teotihuacan y su entorno, relación
observada con frecuencia por los visitantes de la antigua ciudad. Vista
desde la Pirámide de la Luna, en el extremo norte de la ciudad, la silueta
de la Pirámide del Sol se recorta contra el trasfondo lejano del Cerro
Patlachique, con la fachada escalonada de la pirámide imitando elevaciones
en el entorno natural. Las pirámides parecen ser la propia imagen de las
montañas que rodean el valle de Teotihuacan; es como si hubieran sido
creadas para reproducir visualmente las montañas", (Observadores del Cielo
en el México Antiguo, FCE, 1991). Saúl Alcántara, experto en arquitectura
de paisaje y miembro del Sistema Nacional de Investigadores, declaró el 22
de septiembre que ante la UNESCO "uno de los argumentos que el gobierno
mexicano utilizó para solicitar la declaratoria de Teotihuacan como
Patrimonio Mundial (de la Humanidad) fue que no había contaminación visual
en un horizonte compuesto principalmente por terrazas de cultivo".
Recuérdese que tras cinco años de oposición se logró la cancelación de una
salinera industrial en Laguna San Ignacio, aduciendo el presidente Ernesto
Zedillo "daños al paisaje". Pero ahora, gracias a los políticos del Estado
de México y a los altos funcionarios de Conaculta, tendremos como trasfondo
cercano a Wal-Mart. Entretanto, en el Reino Unido, Stonehenge, el complejo
megalítico más importante de la prehistoria europea, que se cree fue
también un lugar de culto al Sol y a la Luna, empleado posiblemente con
fines astronómicos, es objeto de un importante proyecto para devolverle su
integridad. Las carreteras y los caminos aledaños desaparecerán para ser
reemplazados con praderas, y se construirá un túnel para que el tráfico no
se vea ni se escuche desde el centro ceremonial, a un costo de unas 74
millones de libras.
"Queremos que nos tengan confianza, porque ésta es una compañía con
profundas raíces mexicanas (sic) que de ninguna manera pretende dañar el
patrimonio", declaró el 22 de septiembre a este diario Raúl Argüelles,
vicepresidente de asuntos corporativos de Wal-Mart de México, cadena que
maneja 657 comercios en el país, entre ellos 150 Bodegas Aurrerá,
Superamas, Suburbias, Vips, Sam's Clubs y Wal- Marts. Argüelles también
aseguró que, siguiendo los lineamientos del INAH, "la tienda será
'transparente' al paisaje". Aunque el buen negocio está a la vista, porque,
como señaló su vicepresidente, no existe otra tienda de autoservicio a
menos de 50 kilómetros de distancia, la cuestión es que, como denunció el
Frente Cívico de Defensa del Valle de Teotihuacan, la apertura del centro
comercial afectará a la población local, de la cual un 57 por ciento se
dedica al comercio. "La tienda Wal-Mart, que se construye a un kilómetro
del área monumental del sitio arqueológico, no representa un beneficio para
los habitantes de San Juan Teotihuacan; por el contrario, va en contra de
los mercados y negocios de la zona, que también representan un patrimonio
vivo que tiene sus orígenes en épocas prehispánicas", denunció el maestro
Emmanuel D'Herrera, miembro del Frente, quien el 30 de septiembre inició
una huelga de hambre junto con Emma Ortega y Lorenzo Trujillo.
Lo de la responsabilidad por los permisos otorgados a Wal-Mart ha sido un
peloteo entre funcionarios municipales y estatales y del INAH. El 6 de
octubre, en un desplegado, el INAH informó: "El 23 de marzo de este año, la
empresa Arrendadora y Centros Comerciales S. A. de R. L. de C. V. solicitó
al Centro INAH en el Estado de México la autorización del proyecto
arquitectónico para construir una tienda de autoservicio en el predio
ubicado en la calle Cruz de la Misión s/n, Fraccionamiento La Parroquia,
Municipio de Teotihuacan de Arista". Así que en mayo, el Centro INAH del
Estado de México "exclusivamente emitió la autorización del proyecto
arquitectónico, en virtud de que se cumplieron los requisitos técnicos y
jurídicos establecidos en la Ley Federal sobre Monumentos y Zonas
Arqueológicos, Artísticos e Históricos". En este desplegado reitera su
convicción de "mantener abierto el diálogo con todas las partes
involucradas en este asunto y apoya la propuesta del C. Gobernador del
Estado de México en el sentido de trasladar el establecimiento comercial a
un predio alterno". La propuesta de Arturo Montiel resultó demagógica, ya
que fue desmentida luego por su secretario de Gobierno y las obras del
Wal-Mart prosiguieron. Con un 70 por ciento de avance, se inaugurará la
tienda en diciembre.
Si bien algunos consumidores podrían beneficiarse con la bodega Aurrerá, la
mejor solución a esta guerra de símbolos entre la civilización teotihuacana
y la globalizadora Wal-Mart sería la de encontrarle a la macrotienda un
sitio alterno, alejado del centro ceremonial más emblemático del México
antiguo. Como dice Aveni, "El plano rectangular que predomina en
Teotihuacan, el mayor y más famoso de todos los centros ceremoniales de la
América antigua, es a un tiempo grandioso y preciso".
"Aquí la arquitectura muestra una ordenada armonía cuyo origen seguramente
está en el cosmos. Pero la orientación de la ciudad, que los constructores
idearon algunos siglos antes de la era cristiana, parece desafiar la
topografía local. Una vez ordenada, cada parte del medio natural parece
haber sido forzada a conformarse con ella". Lo que sí es seguro es que la
topografía local no se conforma a la presencia perturbadora y ajena de la
tienda Wal-Mart.
Via Doc, John Robb's prediction that the Bush administration is using the "Latin American Solution" with the appointment of John Negroponte as Ambassador to Iraq.
Global Guerrillas: LOYALIST PARAMILITARIES
One of the contributors to the Daily Kos contacted the Crawford Iconoclast about reactions to their endorsement of Kerry. The response from the paper's editor:
From what we can gather, as of Saturday noon, we have had over 600 letters to the editor, of which about 90 percent have been positive and 10 percent negative.
Most of the negatives are attacks on me personally, some rather threatening. Of the positives, many say we expressed their views perfectly, views they have been afraid to express because of fear of retaliation.
When the story hit, we received many phone calls. On Tuesday, 90 percent were negative, very emotional, very threatening. About 10 percent were positive. The next day and through noon Saturday, nearly all have been positive.
Newsweek's newest poll shows that Bush's lead has evaporated since the first debate. Four weeks ago he had an 11 point lead.
Kerry’s perceived victory may be attributed to the fact that, by a wide margin (62 percent to 26 percent), debate watchers felt the senator came across as more confident than the president. More than half (56 percent) also see Kerry has having a better command of the facts than Bush (37 percent).
In this weblog I've concentrated on issues far from home (energy and culture in Mexico and Guatemala), in the neighborhood (local economic development), and on my desktop (Mac OS X). Occasionally, a broader political issue pops up, usually attached to a local figure like Reverend Billy, who is waging a campaign for the First Amendment and against chain stores, in his Church of Stop Shopping.
I've also deplored the tendency of some tech webloggers to hide their affiliations, usually to avoid alienating their tech friends and colleagues with different views. So I find myself in agreement with Dave Winer, Russell Beattie, and Joi Ito, in their recent posts - it's time to take a stand and use whatever platform we have to change the country for the better.
The debate this week showed that Democrats and left-leaning citizens are not just complainers and borderline traitors. Bush is arrogant, incompetent, dangerous. The shadow government behind him has taken the strength of America for themselves and left the rest of us nothing but fear, corrupted TV news, Hummers on the streets, and hatred in the world.
John Kerry has picked up the mantle of plain-spoken confidence and courage that Bush used as a disguise until his fragile performance dissolved into spite and petulance.
There is a way forward. We can have an open society again. We can have a leader who inspires our confidence and the respect of the rest of the world. There may be continued terrorist threats - who would be surprised at that now, after Bush's call to "bring it on"? But we have defended ourselves in the past, and we can do it without losing our rights and demanding blind loyalty to a cowboy dictator. The dictator has no clothes, no heart, and little mind left. There are only four things he's allowed to say on any particular day. We do have a choice. Let's make it.
UPDATE: Via Dave Winer, a Kerry endorsement by a hometown paper in Crawford, Texas:
Regarding the photo above:
RollingStone.com: News - John Lennon - FBI Must Open Lennon File
On the possibility of an October Surprise, and the neo-con shock at the very suggestion. File under "Don't dish it if you can't take it" (and read the comments):
Electrolite: Setting the stage for the "October Surprise."
Garrison Keillor has been getting more and more riled by Bush and his mob. This essay lays it out in his strongest terms.
Just back from the march. I'll be posting new clips here, including the Billionaires for Bush thanking all the little people.
UPDATE: Here are two short edited clips of the protests:
Billionaires for Bush (Quicktime - 31MB)
Protest on Seventh Avenue (Quicktime - 14MB)
- In preparation for the RNC, Rev. Billy has been creating demonstrations where smart mobs gathered in public places to recite the First Amendment. On Saturday before the largest demonstration in the city, he led the faithful in six rousing choruses of that basic right.
For your Sunday (and everyday) inspiration, here's a short clip, from St. Marks Church, in the Lower East Side, New York.
Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping - Quicktime clip 8/28/04
Audio is a bit rough. In case you need the text:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
UPDATE: This post was picked up on Cory's site in a post by Xeni Jardin. Thanks, Xeni! And welcome Boing Boing readers!
Also, here is Rev. Billy's site:
Reverend Billy & the Church of Stop Shopping
This one's for Bill.
TheStar.com - Go ahead, make my day: Revenge feels, oh, so good
Fahrenheit FBI | Perspectives | CNET News.com
The Federal Communications Commission voted 5-0 last week to prohibit businesses from offering broadband or Internet phone service unless they provide police with backdoors for wiretapping access. Formal regulations are expected by early next year.
But the commissioners didn't give the FBI and its allies at the Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration everything they wanted.
Okay, time to get serious. I was hit by over 3000 comment spams last night. Today's the day I do something about it.
Here's a good summary of types of weblog spam and measures that can be taken against them:
Learning Movable Type: Concerning Spam
UPDATE: Here's the most popular anti-comment spam measure:
MT-Blacklist - A Movable Type Anti-spam Plugin
And the site to update the database of spammers:
MT-Blacklist/Comment Spam Clearinghouse
AND ANOTHER UPDATE: MT-Blacklist worked. No more hours spent deleting spam. Thanks to Jason for installing it.
A long story on the "stonewalling" that Alfonso Morales has gotten from INAH in his request for a permit to investigate the tomb in Temple XX. Since I don't know how long it will be available on the web, I will publish it in full. (click MORE)
This is the story that I waited years to cover for National Geographic. By now, the show that wanted it has been cancelled. But there's still interest.
Noticias de Oaxaca - La tumba del Templo XX de Palenque, en un "impasse"
La tumba del Templo XX de
Palenque, en un “impasse”
COLUMBA VÉRTIZ/ PROCESO
PALENQUE, CHIAPAS
A más de cinco años de su descubrimiento, la tumba del Templo XX de la zona arqueológica de Palenque aún no ha sido explorada.
Su apertura para restaurarla, estudiarla y preservarla está lejana y su deterioro desde marzo de 1999, cuando se vio su interior por un agujero cuadrado de 10 centímetros, que luego cerraron, no se ha calculado.
El Consejo de Arqueología del Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) no ha autorizado a examinar el sepulcro al arqueólogo Alfonso Morales Cleveland --del Proyecto Grupo de las Cruces, auspiciado por el Instituto de Investigaciones de Arte Pre-Colombino (PARI, sus siglas en ingles), el cual está bajo la dirección de Merle Greene Robertson, fundadora de la Mesas Redondas de Palenque-- debido a que no se ha terminado la recuperación exterior del edificio.
Morales Cleveland, al aceptar finalmente una enrevista con este semanario, deja claro que ha terminado la consolidación del templo desde hace un año y medio, y envió su informe al Consejo hace un año.
También mandó en el 2003 una propuesta de fecha para penetrar a la tumba:
“No puedo hacer nada si el Consejo no lo aprueba.”
No tuvo respuesta; en cambio, el INAH le clausuró en junio de ese año un pozo que forma parte del proyecto de consolidación del edificio.
Joaquín García-Bárcena, presidente del Consejo de Arqueología, y Alejando Martínez Muriel, coordinador Nacional de Arqueología del INAH, lo contradicen:
“No ha terminado la consolidación y se le clausuró el espacio que estaba excavando porque iba a entrar sin permiso a la tumba.”
De la cámara funeraria (destacada por Sergio Raúl Arroyo, director del INAH, en su discurso de inauguración de la V Mesa Redonda de Palenque, efectuada del 2 al 5 de este mes) se conoce poco. En el artículo Los murales de la tumba del Templo XX Sub de Palenque, publicado en el cuarto tomo de La pintura mural prehispánica en México, de Beatriz de la Fuente, Greene Robertson detalla que es rectangular, de aproximadamente 3.65 m. de largo, y tiene una puerta sellada en la parte sur y jambas a ambos lados:
“Con la cámara digital introducida en el agujero que mencionamos, fue posible ver la longitud de los muros de la tumba, los bordes de once vasijas de cerámica en el piso, una multiplicidad de cuentas de jade y una parte del cráneo de quien ocupó el aposento.”
De las fotos digitales de las pinturas murales (tomadas a través del hoyo), la especialista hizo dibujos de las figuras de pie ubicadas en las paredes. Advierte que hasta no entrar al sepulcro, se sabrá qué tan precisas son las imágenes:
“Los muros de la tumba se pintaron primero con una capa ligera de rojo, que se aplicó con un pincel ancho, el cual se pasó rápidamente en muchas direcciones. La pintura de las figuras de pie se elaboró con un rojo más intenso de una manera natural y libremente fluida.
“…Hemos podido establecer que hubo probablemente nueve figuras pintadas en los muros: cuatro del lado poniente, una en el norte y cuatro del lado oriente.”
LA ACUSACIÓN
Morales Cleveland se graduó en 1989 como licenciado en humanidades en la Universidad de Texas. Tiene una maestría en arqueología. Desde 1973 ha trabajado junto con Greene Robertson en diversos proyectos de rescate en Palenque.
En su propuesta de consolidación del Templo XX para el año 2003 (la entregó en diciembre de 2002 y fue, según él, autorizada con las firmas del director del INAH y de Martínez Muriel), expuso la instalación de dos puertas de seguridad herméticas como parte de la restauración, con el mismo acabado de la superficie de la estructura para que la gente no las viera, con la finalidad de proteger el sepulcro de los cambios de temperatura del exterior para cuando se otorgue el permiso de explorarlo y para asegurarlo contra el saqueo.
Detalla:
“La segunda puerta coincidía con la parte de abajo del muro, y las estructuras mayas, como el Templo XX, están construidas con lodo por lo tanto no son muy seguras; los exteriores tienen estuco... después del primer hijo de Pakal dejan de usar estuco, regresan al lodo, entonces es imposible poner una puerta dentro del lodo porque cualquier persona la puede sacar. Tuvimos que excavar el espacio donde iría la puerta y restaurar el muro por los dos lados. Es una trinchera que ya se había hecho en el 2002.”
Allí apareció una pequeña olla de barro y el arqueólogo llamó al jefe de seguridad de la zona, Antonio Rodríguez, pues no se encontraba el director del sitio Juan Antonio Ferrer, para que fuera testigo:
“Es un tramite sólo burocrático para que no se pierda nada”, dice, y con el reporte del vigilante se desató todo:
“Mencionó el jefe de seguridad que en la línea que está en dirección a la tumba se encontró una ollita; entonces la gente creyó que yo estaba dentro de la subestructura que cubre la tumba. O sea, son dos estructuras, es decir, dos edificios montados uno sobre otro: el antiguo, que data de 540 antes de Cristo, y el segundo, cuya fecha no sabemos. Entonces pensaron: ‘ya se alocó Alfonso, se está metiendo a la cámara funeraria’.”
El INAH le envió un abogado con una carta, donde se le consigna que no tiene autoridad para meterse a la tumba hasta terminar la consolidación.
“Eso lo sabía”, expresa.
Paralelamente unos arqueólogos del INAH-Tabasco lo visitaron con el pretexto de una evaluación, “pero no nos pidieron información, tomaron fotos sin preguntarnos qué estábamos haciendo”.
Después el Instituto le clausuró el pozo donde se iban a poner las puertas:
“Argumentaron que estábamos haciendo una excavación orientada a la cámara funeraria. Desde 1999 ha sido nuestra intención trabajar la tumba, no ha sido un secreto, pero antes se debe terminar la consolidación, en la cual se ha gastado cerca de dos millones de pesos.”
Ahora no puede tocar nada en esa trinchera, pero con tranquilidad ha decidido esperar:
“Me clausuraron esa obra, pero no el proyecto.”
REGLAS INTERNACIONALES
Debido a que el Templo XX está conformado por dos estructuras de diferente época, Morales Cleveland se basó para su consolidación en los convenios internacionales firmados por México, como el de Venecia, y el Consejo de Arqueología aceptó esos lineamientos:
“Por un lado el edificio tiene el templo original de 540 y por el otro está la modificación que le hacen los mayas. Prefirieron desarmar el edificio viejo para no perder espacio en el lado de la plaza, quitaron toda la piedra, pero algo terrible pasó, creemos que fue una sequía, porque no continuaron con la modificación, dejaron para siempre a medio construir el edificio.
“Entonces no reconstruimos básicamente, sólo consolidamos. Está prohibido agregar piedras que no están dentro de la estructura. ¿Cómo estabilizamos la roca madre si no hay arquitectura?”
Tampoco cortó los árboles porque abajo no había estructura, “no era necesario”.
Antes de que le clausuraran el pozo, Morales Cleveland le informó al director del INAH, a través de una carta, que terminará la consolidación para el 15 junio de 2003, y le sugirió esa fecha --día en el que se conmemoraban los 51 años del descubrimiento de la tumba de Pakal-- para abrir el sepulcro del Templo XX.
Era, resalta, una propuesta sujeta a la aprobación del Consejo. También le comentó que el gobernador de Chiapas, Pablo Salazar, quería estar presente ese día y deseaba invitar al Presidente. Morales Cleveland elucubra:
“Tal vez creyeron que Alfonso decidió cuándo abrir e invitar al gobernador. Yo no invito a políticos. La carta la recibieron, pero nunca me respondieron. Me ignoraron totalmente. Desde que el gobernador era senador sabía de la tumba.”
Por su parte, García- Bárcena, en una reunión con Arroyo y el arqueólogo, “mencionó que nunca aprobó las dos puertas”. Morales Cleveland levanta sus cejas al hablar:
“No sé qué propuesta vio que nunca se dio cuenta de lo que estaba ahí. No sé si leyó un reporte equivocado. Me sellaron de recibido.”
Luego de la clausura siguió restaurando lo que le faltaba y ya terminó la consolidación.
LA POSICIÓN DEL INAH
El ingeniero García-Bárcena niega que las dos puertas de seguridad formen parte de los trabajos de restauración, y agrega que “Morales Cleveland argumenta lo que quiere, pero no está terminada la consolidación.” Aún más, sostiene que la obra se le clausuró porque sí intentó explorar la tumba.
--¿Puede seguir trabajando?
--Hasta que no se resuelva el problema de la excavación no autorizada.
Es un caso raro, según Martínez Muriel:
“Nunca nos había pasado. Creo que Alfonso se aceleró un poco, no sé cuál vaya a ser la solución. Si no lo hubiéramos parado se hubiera metido a la cámara funeraria.”
--¿No es un malentendido?
--Puede ser, por eso queremos hablar con Merle Greene, para ver cómo se puede solucionar. El pasado mes de diciembre se le mandó una carta, pero padeció una neumonía fuerte, como es una persona ya mayor se le complicó su salud. La conozco desde hace muchos años. Tengo una buena relación con ella.
Arnoldo González Cruz, director del proyecto de investigación del sitio arqueológico de Palenque, al ser interrogado sobre cuándo se iba a abrir la tumba, sólo se limitó a decir que no era la persona indicada para hablar de eso.
EL DETERIORO DE LA TUMBA
A decir de García-Bárcena, no le puede pasar nada a la tumba mientras esté sellada, y Martínez Muriel supone que está estable “porque el hueco que le hicieron era muy pequeño”.
El director del Palenque, Juan Antonio Ferrer, alerta que “esa tumba requiere de un cuidado minucioso”:
“Hay que volver a reintegrar fragmentos para garantizar la estabilidad del estuco, hay que tener un procedimiento del secado de la pared. No sabemos qué efecto pueda producir el exterior cuando se abra, por eso hay que planear lo que se va a hacer en la cámara.”
--¿Urge abrirla?
--¿Cuál es la urgencia? ...Si se conservó durante mil 400 años.
Morales Cleveland manifiesta preocupación por el estropeo del sepulcro aunque se haya tapado la perforación de 10 centímetros:
“La tumba tiene mil 400 años de deterioro, el problema es que no la hemos visto en un año, no hemos visto qué cambios ha habido por excesos de agua, de calor, de lo que sea.”
Los arqueólogos, resalta, tienen la obligación de restaurar y consolidar lo que descubran, por ello no se puede negar a esa obligación ética:
“Estoy listo para hacer lo que me digan.”
Para Greene Robertson es importante la tumba del Templo XX. Cree que está enterrado un pariente importante de Pakal.
La historiadora de arte Beatriz de la Fuente se refiere a los murales de ese sepulcro:
“Ya se sabe que existen, así que ya son obras de arte”
Sólo espera que los especialistas no permitan que se deterioren.
"As the emergency situation in Chiapas no longer prevails, the ICRC is today bringing to an end the humanitarian activities it has been conducting there for the past ten years in aid of displaced persons and residents. "
Mexico: ICRC phases out humanitarian aid in Chiapas
Jonathan Schwartz has posted a collection of links to articles about the 50th anniversary of the CIA coup in Guatemala.
A Tiny Revolution: More Horrible Anniversary
In a triumph of Gandhian tactics and smart mob performance, Rev. Billy (minister for both the Church of Stop Shopping and The Church of the United States Constitution) and friends appeared in a CBS News story last Saturday.
They walked around at Ground Zero, reciting selections of the Constitution to other friends over their cell phones. It was a protest against the prohibition of protest at the Republican convention.
The Realmedia clip is off the news page by now, but it can be downloaded from this CBS link:
This goes into my "Underworld" category.
A Flash version of an Alice in Wonderland pop-up book by J. Otto Seibold. By way of Boing Boing.
I'm shocked.
Boston.com / News / Nation / Correcting data, US says terrorism incidents increased in '03
WASHINGTON -- The State Department acknowledged yesterday it was wrong to report that terrorism declined worldwide last year, a finding that was used to boost one of President Bush's top foreign policy claims, success in countering terror.
Call it misplaced nostalgia for my former career. For Michael J, another TV veteran and a loyal reader.
Boing Boing: A Directory of Wonderful Things - Web Zen: Television Zen
Thanks to MoveOn and Salon, an inside look at how the Pentagon manipulated intelligence on weapons of mass destruction.
Salon.com | The new Pentagon papers
The Toyota Hi-Lux diesel 4WD double cab pickup (can you tell I love that truck?) came back into camp today with a newspaper and a whoop went up. Former Guatemalan dictator Efraim Rios Montt has been placed under house arrest after the death of a journalist from a heart attack after being chased by Rios Montt's supporters. This story says that in fact his daily life has not changed. But he can't leave the country.
AP Spanish | 03/09/2004 | Guatemala: Ríos Montt indemne pese a arresto domiciliario
Some years ago the authorities in Chiapas were deporting foreigners who came to Mexico on tourist visas and got involved in pro-Zapatista rallies. At least one government official is pushing to reinstate a similar policy.
El Economista - Buscaran expulsar a extranjeros de Chiapas
The Salt Lake Tribune -- Guatemala police get first break
Guatemalan police said Wednesday they made the first arrest in the case of an Ogden architect who was killed earlier this month on a Book of Mormon tour through Central America.
My 17 year-old son Will is suddenly an expert in the singularity, transhuman possibilities, nanotechnology. Here's a link for him. And anyone else interested.
Here's a note on the author of this SFGate.com editorial:
John A. Russo is city attorney of Oakland. He is immediate past president of the League of California Cities and serves on the board of directors of the National League of Cities.
"Were a totalitarian government to be imposed upon us, its inception would look strikingly like these provisions. History teaches us that such evils almost always begin justified by concerns for public safety and amid general panic."
Barriers to the Constitutional Right to Privacy / Patriot Act -- Forgoing liberty for safety?
Documents from the Defense Intelligence Agency files show U.S. figures scratching their heads in disbelief as the Mexican military misinterpreted and over-estimated the Zapatistas in '93-'94.
Documents Reveal Pentagon's Scrutiny of Zapatistas and Mexican Military
CNN.com - Officials seize nearly two tons of drugs - Jan. 26, 2004
AP Spanish | 01/26/2004 | Decomisan 900 kilos de cocaína en Guatemala
According to this account from Guatemala, the capture seems to have started on the Rio Pasion, a tributary of the Usumacinta.
Prensa Libre - Incautan 900 kilos de cocaína
From Boing Boing, a link to this story. Much more extensive and sophisticated than the bungled Watergate break-in.
Boston.com / News / Nation / Infiltration of files seen as extensive
Watchdog study finds more criticism of Dean than other Democrats on network news
Rebellious townspeople clash with Mexican police after declaring autonomy
Hispanic Business - Mexico City Poll on Attitudes to NAFTA, U.S. Security Checks And President Bush
The same Chiapas official minimizes the extent of the autonomous (Zapatista) communities - only 200 out of 20,000 in Chiapas, he says.
mural.com --- Minimizan entidades autónomas en Chiapas
A report from InterAction on the results of the December meetings on the U.S. - Central America Free Trade Agreements:
The Mexican impact on job creation and loss is instructive. A recent Carnegie Endowment for International Peace study finds that 1.3 million jobs were lost in the Mexican countryside due to NAFTA. 25 A more conservative World Bank study of NAFTA found only that the 10-year-old agreement had not lowered (nor raised) the number or quality of jobs , and added that there was little conclusive evidence that NAFTA had raised Mexican wage levels. Not good news for Central America. Analysis of the Mexican Agricultural Sector suggests that fewer than 1% of agricultural production units are exporters. The other 99%, without support for some type of protection against imports or incentive toward economic reconversion, are likely to benefit less from trade expansion. Indeed, this is what happened in Mexico, and suggests what might happen in Central America.
Thanks to Harrison for pointing this out. NAFTA hasn't delivered on its promises for Mexico. The proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas may do no better for the hemisphere, as Nobel Prize winner Joseph E. Stiglitz explains. (requires free registration)
Op-Ed Contributor: The Broken Promise of Nafta
From the LA Times, the story of two men who left their village near the Usumacinta River to work in auto plants in the north. How NAFTA may have hurt, and helped their chances for a better life.
New Opportunities, New Struggles
So President Bush doesn't read the newspapers (he has very smart people to tell him what he needs to know) and he doesn't see any protestors either - they are all herded into "free speech zones" far from his route when he comes to town. And no media are allowed in those zones. It's good to be the king.
CBS News | Silencing Voices Of Dissent | December 4, 2003 20:19:06
And an interesting spin on the subject, including a prediction some years back from the CIA-ousted former president of the Dominican Republic. He predicted that America would one day look like a U.S. occupied Dominican Republic.
Palestine Chronicle: Juan Bosch: His Prophecy of a Fascist America
I just read Jon Krakauer's book on Mormon extremism and murder, "Under the Banner of Heaven". Now Roan McNab has sent a link to a "Doubletake" article from 1999, concentrating on the archaeology connection.
Milenio.com - Instala el Ejército diez nuevos retenes en Chiapas
Reuters AlertNet - U.N. outlines ambitious rights agenda for Mexico
A good summary of the electronic voting machine controversy, via Electrolite.
Diebold with a Vengance - Secrets, lies, and electronic voting
BBC NEWS | Americas | Guatemala general 'accepts loss'
General Rios Montt has not been seen in public since election day, when he was met with whistles and boos as he arrived to cast his vote at a polling station in Guatemala City.
And from Tim Weiner in the New York Times:
Ex-Guatemalan Dictator's Political Career Screeches to a Halt
Mr. Ríos Montt still looks down from thousands of campaign posters and banners fluttering in the breeze. But the general disappeared from public view after casting his vote on Sunday to shouts from Guatemalan voters of "Get lost!" and "Assassin!"
Tim Weiner has the story in today's New York Times.
A Former Ruler's Candidacy Revives Fears in Guatemala
Tomorrow's vote will affect our work on the river, one way or the other.
Sunday Herald UK - Guatemalans go to polls under the shadow of a bloody past
Op-Ed Contributor: Guatemala's Fictional Democracy
Newsday.com - Guatemala Disbands Presidential Security
Reuters AlertNet - Guatemala paramilitaries free hostages
And in election news
Reuters AlertNet - Ex-dictator trails as Guatemala election looms
Destruction of crucial palm, orange, lemon groves in Iraq by U.S. soldiers as punishment for failure to give information on the resistance. A violation of the Geneva Conventions.
Thanks to Patrick Nielsen Hayden. Check his link to Ken MacLeod's site.
Tears of rage, tears of grief.
Electrolite: Who kills orchards.
Not just Chiapas.
Reuters AlertNet - FEATURE-Mexico City's urban Indians call for autonomy
Small Times has published a response from Doug Parr, chief scientist at Greenpeace, UK, in the continuing nano vs. green debate. Includes links to previous documents. (via Howard Lovy's NanoBot)
Small Times: WITHOUT A REALITY CHECK, CLAIMS OF NANOTECH'S BENEFITS ARE A CON
Dave Halbeck sent along this appeal for help from Guatemala. Human rights activists continue to be threatened for their work there. (click more)
CNN.com - Activist's death a suicide, prosecutor concludes - Sep. 19, 2003
Via Electrolite, an interview with New York Times columnist.
CalPundit: An Interview With Paul Krugman
A chart comparing Bush's war on terror budget to such things as the Education Department budget and the Bush tax cuts (from Washington Post by way of several weblogs).
Good comments on Patrick Nielsen Hayden's site.
From AP via the San Francisco Chronicle:
Social groups protest former Guatemalan dictator's presidential candidacy
"Hundreds of members of a consortium opposed to the presidential candidacy of a former dictator staged a massive march through the streets of Guatemala's capital Thursday.
United under the slogan "peace yes, terror no," union leaders, former military officials, academics, human rights activists, business leaders and politicians from across the political spectrum demonstrated against Efrain Rios Montt, the ruling party candidate for elections Nov. 9."
Also in the Chronicle, from Jill Replogle:
This article adds to the story Janet Schwartz first uncovered - the conversion of Tzotzil Maya to Islam in the outskirts of San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. What's interesting about this report is that it appears in Indian Country Today as "a dramatic exposé by Native Americas Journal."
ICT [2003/08/14] Exposé: Islamic Sect Targets Chiapas Indians
Susanna Hayward and Janet Schwartz filed this report in June:
KR Washington Bureau | 06/24/2003 | In Chiapas, missionaries battle for converts
I usually don't link to the Washigton Times, but this is good news. It looks unlikely that Efrain Rios Montt will return as president of Guatemala.
Guatemala strongman slips in polls - The Washington Times: World Briefings
But it may let Bush off the hook.
PNS: Why Won't Bush Condemn Rios Montt, the 'Central American Saddam Hussein'?
Turns out that one of the people behind the cancelled terror futures market is Robin Hanson, an economist associated with the Extropians.
The Register - Meet the 'transhumanists' behind the Pentagon terror casino
(via Charlie Stross)
Reuters AlertNet - UN rights envoy attacks Guatemalan dictator ruling
On his third appeal, Gen. Efrain Rios Montt has been granted the right to run for president of Guatemala.
Reuters AlertNet - Guatemala court lets ex-dictator run for president
In Counterpunch, a report on the U.S. government's 3 year old Plan Colombia, 1.3 billion dollars to fight the war on drugs.
(While we wait for the decision whether Rios Montt will be allowed to run for president of Guatemala.)
SOA Watch: Training Colombia's Killers in the US
From the report:
Many of the Colombian officers cited in the reports graduated from the School of the Americas (SOA) - a US military training institution for Latin American soldiers - and certainly the strategy of using paramilitary groups for the military's dirty work is nothing new for SOA students.
Roberto D'Aubuisson established the Death Squads that were responsible for much of the violence in El Salvador in the 1980's, and Benedicto Lucas Garcia masterminded the creation of the Civil Defense Patrols in Guatemala. Mexico's Jose Ruben Rivas Pena, who took the SOA's elite Command and Staff Course, called for the "training and support for self-defense forces or other paramilitary organizations in Chiapas."
One part of me is singing:
...and the packets' red glare, wi-fi bursting on air...
and another parts screams out the Who:
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...
So I get down on my knees and pray we don't get fooled again!
The Who sang that before Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II.
Next?
Halliburton lands $23M Pemex contract - 2003-06-30 - Houston Business Journal
Halliburton Co.'s Halliburton de Mexico unit has been awarded a three-year contract by Mexico's state-owned oil monopoly Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, to provide tools and testing services and products for its Bateria Artesa field in Reforma Chiapas, Mexico.
The contract, with an estimated value of $23 million, will include the operation and maintenance of the Carmito CO2(a) Gas Separation Plant, which was built by Halliburton in 1997 and has been in operation ever since.Halliburton is a Houston-based oilfield services company.
Guardian Unlimited | World Latest | Ex-Guatemalan Dictator Denies Violations
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) - Human rights groups list Efrain Rios Montt among the most ruthless dictators in Latin American history, saying he directed a scorched-earth campaign that exterminated innocent Mayans while trying to weed out guerrilla forces during the height of a 36-year civil war.
But the retired brigadier general is pushing for a new image as he makes a third attempt to run for president. In an about-face, he says the government should punish those responsible for atrocities committed during Guatemala's 1960-96 civil war.
Yet while he supports the idea of high-ranking military officials facing justice, he says he won't go after them if elected and claims he did nothing wrong during his 18-month military government.``People want me to feel pained, remorseful and moved for these things that happened, and I feel bad because what really happened in Guatemala, those black pages of history, are going to be difficult to correct, cleanse and clarify,'' he says.
In the wake of the media blitz over Andrew Luster, Max Factor heir, CNN and Court TV provide this look back at other fugitives who escaped to Mexico.
CNN.com - When the going gets tough, desperados often look to Mexico - Jun. 24, 2003
"He said he was debating going to Canada or Mexico," Hadley said, "but he thought Canada was too cold."
Our friend Janet Schwartz has been working on this story for at least a year. You can see her photos with this report from Susana Hayward, about Muslim conversion among Protestant Maya in the expulsado neighborhoods around San Cristobal de las Casas.
KR Washington Bureau | 06/24/2003 | In Chiapas, missionaries battle for converts
In related news, Mother Tynnetta Muhammad of the Nation of Islam posted several columns about a trip to Chiapas, a concert that was postponed, and the New Age forces that brought her there.
In Search of the Messiah - Musical concert in Chiapas, Mexico, postponed
In Search of the Messiah - Journey to Chiapas
In Search of the Messiah - The Missing note in music may link to the magical world of Chiapas
Rand Beers, former adviser to Bush on terrorism, quit and joined Democratic candidate Kerry as national security adviser. He says Bush is making things less secure, not more.
Former Aide Takes Aim at War on Terror (washingtonpost.com)
Gen. Efrain Rios Montt, campaigning for president in spite of being barred by the Guatemalan elections authorities, was attacked and stoned by villagers in Rabinal, where mass graves from Rios Montt's genocidal war were found last year.
CNN.com - Guatemalan ex-dictator stoned during campaign trip - Jun. 14, 2003
Besides the fires and invasions in the Peten, resurging political problems:
Reuters AlertNet - FEATURE-Guatemala: a new Latin American political hotspot?
Ginger Thompson has a story in the New York Times today on the recent crackdown on immigrant smuggling.
In Border Town, Migrant Crackdown Rankles
Reuters | Maya Indians Mark Watershed Guatemala Massacre
Gen. Efrain Rios Montt is currently president of the Guatemalan Congress. But in the 80's as President of the country, he led a genocidal war against indigenous groups in Guatemala.
Now the ruling party has nominated him as a presidential candidate for November elections.
Washington Squirms Over Guatemala Race
Reuters | Mexico Police Find 92 Migrants in Cooler Truck
Find Weapons of Mass Destruction:
IndyMedia Center - U.S. Terrorist Infrastructure Map
Yahoo! TV: Entertainment News & Gossip - 'TIME-TRAVELER' BUSTED FOR INSIDER TRADING
From LA Times, and posted on the Common Dreams website, an Arthur Schlesinger editorial that lays it out clearly:
Today, It is We Americans Who Live in Infamy
Also on Common Dreams, a report on a speech by Scott Ritter, former weapons inspector, who predicts that the U.S. will lose the war.
(Thanks to Doc Searls for the links)
www.mnftiu.cc | get your war on | page twenty-two
Government Executive Magazine - 3/21/03 Diplomat resigns to protest war
A career Foreign Service officer and Army Reserves colonel has resigned from the State Department in protest over several foreign and domestic Bush administration policies.
And I'm 6 miles away.
CNN.com - Party supporters clash in Chiapas - Mar. 6, 2003
Two horrifying stories of Guatemalans dealing with their recent history, from the New York Times and Reuters.
Guatemalans Try to Mend Ties Snapped by War
War Violence Looms Large as Guatemala Digs Up Past
My entry on Barlow's essay regarding Cheney elicited some strong reactions that deserve a reading. Here are two of them.
*********
I am not impressed by John Perry Barlows logic whether it is concerning his bad driving habits or his justification(?) of Dick Cheney.
So Dick didn't really want to start Armegeddon and he really doesn't want to fight Iraq. Its all only a "bluff".
Am I supposed to be comforted by this? I'm not. As any decent poker player will tell you a bluff only works if you are willing to live with the concequences if the other card players don't buy it. A few dollars lost in a card game is a reasonable risk, but nuclear holocast or a war that risks the lives of tens or hundreds of thousands is a bad risk.
*************
Cheney is a co-founder of the Project for the New American Century, along with Rumsfeld and several other architects of the Bush administration's current policies. The PNAC's reports (e.g. "Rebuilding America's Defenses") explicitly call for the US to fight wars in order to demonstrate its military might, with the goal of US hegemony over the world (Barlow got this part sort of right). This doesn't jibe with Barlow's theory that Cheney et al are just bluffing and really aren't interested in war - they've made it quite clear that they want it. Unless their reports were also part of some elaborate bluff, which would be odd considering they weren't part of the government when they wrote them.
As for Cheney being a "man of principle" and "indifferent to greed", I can only assume Barlow is basing this on his personal interactions with the man. The public record paints a very different picture. As CEO of Halliburton, Cheney played accounting tricks to hide liabilities in order to maintain the stock price, then sold $18 million in stock just before it tanked, and finally received a $20 million retirement package he wasn't entitled to. All of this while cutting tens of millions in employee retirement benefits. What motivation other than greed would explain this?
There's a lot of other tripe in here as well. For one the assertion that the Soviet Union "capitulated" in the face of US nuclear superiority and perceived irrationality, when in fact it simply collapsed economically. For another the notion that there was ever a "symmetrical balance of power" between the US and USSR. While it's true that each could annihilate the other completely, in economic and conventional military terms it was never close.
In any case we'll see how this all plays out very soon. Even though I don't think it's Cheney's motivation, I think the scenarios Barlow mentions (coup or exile for Saddam) are probably the best that can be hoped for at this point. At least the Iraqis will be spared from barrages of cruise missiles and who knows what else.
One of my favorite writers and thinkers, on Dick Cheney. I've been doing a lot of driving here in Chiapas, and I appreciate his analogy when discussing Reagan-era policy. It may apply now as well.
SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL by John Perry Barlow
"What I was not thinking about, however, was the technique I once used to avoid being run off the road by Mexican bus drivers, back when their roads were narrower and their bus drivers even more macho. Whenever I saw a bus barrelling down the centerline at me, I would start driving unpredictably, weaving from shoulder to shoulder as though muy borracho. As soon as I started to radiate dangerously low regard for my own preservation, the bus would slow down and move over. As it turned out, this is more or less what Cheney and his phalanx of Big Stategic Thinkers were doing, if one imagined the Soviet Union as a speeding Mexican bus."
Can't Google find other news from Chiapas? Can't Reuters? Can't I?
Actually, it's an interesting story, with a horror-movie headline.
Grisly Mexico Factory Breeds Man-Eating Flies
From Susana Hayward and Janet Schwartz:
KR Washington Bureau | 02/19/2003 | Mexico's Fox remains opposed to U.S. attack on Iraq
From Forbes magazine, the future of industry in Mexico, according to Maquiladora Export Industry Board (CNIME) Chairman Daniel Romero.
Forbes.com: Mexico's maquiladoras hope to stand ground in 2003
After 40 years of maquiladora development along the U.S. border, the low wages that once attracted investment from more developed countries are no longer the bargain they once were. But wages in central and southern Mexico still are."I'd prefer that the industry that's moving from the north go to Chiapas rather than Costa Rica, Nicaragua or Brazil, as is happening now," Romero said.
Yes, I'm awake in the middle of the night. Started obsessing about my trip back to Mexico and just decided to get up.
And from the Sunday Herald (UK):
Family cursed by fatal insomnia
Buena noche.
In the Nation online, a column by Katha Pollitt that touches on the case of Sister Antonia Anthony, age 74, who was investigated by the Denver police for work in Chiapas.
They Know When You Are Sleeping
See also this previous post on the story:
The Daily Glyph: Denver Spy Files Target Chiapas
From the Washington Post:
Abducted To America (washingtonpost.com)
From 1942 onward, the United States abducted some 3,000 people of Japanese, Italian and German ancestry from Latin America, shipped them to the United States and placed them in internment camps. These prisoners were never charged with crimes.
via Electrolite, Patrick Nielsen Hayden's weblog
In the Rocky Mountain News, a story of the "spy files" kept by the Denver police intelligence bureau, now being revealed in a lawsuit brought by the ACLU.
...Sister Antonia Anthony is a 74-year-old Franciscan nun whose sideline is raising money for the poor of Mexico.
She has come across a new description for her work, courtesy of the Denver Police Department.
"I have seen my spy file," Anthony said Tuesday. "I was listed as part of the Chiapas Coalition as a criminal extremist group. I suppose when I first read that, it just seemed to me to be ludicrous."
Ludicrous and now part of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the thousands of peaceful protesters who are mentioned in the intelligence bureau's spy files.
Sorry, I've been out of the country. I did hear about it, though. And I normally wouldn't link to an MSN article (that's just the kind of crank I am) but this lays it all out pretty well.
Via Backup Brain
Okay, so I relaxed a little here in San Cristobal. Now for a crazy 48 hours shooting Day of the Dead activities in town and in the villages. And 5 hours to feed it by internet, to DV Dojo in New York, for projection at the Bowery Poetry Club on Saturday night.
Can Dave do it? He better - there's a blurb about the screening in this week's Village Voice, and a lot of other press about the Girls Club Film Festival.
It won't be Live Dead, but it will still be warm. More craziness later...
My son Will made me proud today by going to Washington, D.C. for the anti-war rally. I'm waiting for him to get back right now. When was the last one I went to? 1969?
CBS News | Shades Of The Sixties
That's Minnie, Bill Gates, Mickey, Michael Eisner
This also marks my 200th entry in this weblog.
From John Perry Barlow, a rant that suits my current state of burnout.
Here's a sample from Barlow:
It pains me deeply to say this, but I think that part of the problem may be the Internet.
A lot of what's wrong may be the very sort of thing you're reading right now.
The Internet, has, as expected, provided a global podium to everyone with an opinion. Cyberspace has become an infinite set of street corners, each with its lonely pamphleteer, howling his rage to a multitude all too busy howling their own to listen.
All of our energy goes into things like this BarlowSpam, energies that might be better spent in creating traditional blocs like the NRA, or the AARP, or some large group capable of either buying Congress or scaring the shit out of them. This screed won't scare an elected official anywhere. And it wouldn't generate enough money to elect or defeat a dogcatcher.
As much as I loathe organizations, we need to organize.
Fascinating article on the slowness of the intelligence community to grasp the importance of the internet, by John Perry Barlow, former lyricist for the Grateful Dead. His story of being drafted as a consultant to the CIA is both hilarious and sobering.
By way of Doc Searls, a paper originally published in 1991, with equal relevance today.
Metaphor and War: The Metaphor System Used to Justify War in the Gulf
Convictions in the murder of a Guatemalan human rights figure have been overturned:
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Guatemala court annuls rights verdict
From Voice of America News, a resolution in the killing of an anthropologist and human rights worker.
Retired Guatemalan Colonel Convicted of Murder of Myrna Mack
UPDATE 10/5:
From sci-fi writer Bruce Sterling, a link to some news you can use, if you are a corporate criminal.
Forbes.com: Best Places To Go To Prison
Alonso Mendez has sent an article by John Ross, by way of Bruce Ferguson at Ecosur. Ross has been reporting on Chiapas for many years, and in the face of recent reports of "paramilitary" incidents, offers an unusually close look at recent disputes as personal rather than political incidents. The entire text of the Ross story can be read by clicking "More" below.
Here's the tag to the article, by way of explanation:
John Ross, whose "War Against Oblivion" covers seven years of Indian
uprising in Chiapas, has written this piece to temper the alarm
generated by national and international support groups who claim the
EZLN is under paramilitary siege, a conclusion that leads to a
dangerously skewed analysis of the actual political dynamic in Chiapas
and Mexico today.
FROM: JOHN ROSS
johnross@igc.org
Big Trouble in Indian Country - 1 of 2
WHO IS KILLING THE ZAPATISTAS OF CHIAPAS? SOME SAY PARAMILITARIES, SOME SAY THE SAME OLD PRI
MEXICO CITY (Sept. 11th) - Who is killing the Zapatistas of Chiapas?
In the past month (August), four members of the civilian support base of
the Zapatista Army of National Liberation have been killed in renewed
conflict deep inside the rebels' Lacandon jungle zone of influence. The
Zapatistas and their supporters blame the killings on a rejuvenated
paramilitary presence and have mounted a national and international
campaign against the Mexican government of Vicente Fox and Chiapas state
governor Pablo Salazar. For its part, the Salazar administration claims
that it has dismantled the paramilitary apparatus that flourished in the
state when the long-ruling (71 years) Institutional Revolutionary Party
(PRI) ruled Chiapas and that the killing is being done by disgruntled
PRIistas seeking to undermine Salazar, that southern-most state's first
non-PRI governor.
The paramilitary phenomenon is a long-standing one in Chiapas. Soon
after the Zapatistas' surprise January 1st 1994 uprising, a group of
generals at the Rancho Nuevo military base just outside San Cristobal de
las Casas circulated a Chiapas Strategy Plan, designed to create and arm
civilian counter-insurgency units in the 38 municipalities in which the
rebels had influence.
The bitter fruit of the Chiapas Strategy Plan was plucked at
Christmastime 1997 when members of a paramilitary death squad thought to
be named Mascara Roja ("Red Mask") slaughtered 46 Tzotzil Indian allies
of the Zapatistas, "Las Abejas' or 'The Bees', in the highlands at
Acteal.
At the peak of their power, 11 distinct paramilitary formations were
calculated to be active in Chiapas. The so-called 'Development, Peace
&Justice' group, backed up by the commanding officer of the 31st Military
Region, General Mario Rennin Castillo, a counterinsurgency expert
trained at the Fort Bragg North Carolina Center for Special Forces,
conduted a reign of terror in the north of the state, where human rights
groups charge the paramilitary formation with more than 60 murders. Led
by PRI state legislator Samuel Sanchez, 'Peace and Justice' drove
Zapatista supporters off their land. closed down Catholic churches in
the region, and is thought to have organized a failed assassination
attempt on San Cristobal bishop emeritus Samuel Ruiz and his
then-coadjutor Raul Vera in 1997.
Sanchez eventually went to jail and was released by the new governor
Salazar after agreeing to lay down his arms. But some 'Peace and
Justice' stalwarts resisted pacification and the paramilitary split into
three warring factions. The leader of the most violent branch, Diego
Vazquez, was jailed last spring after he refused to abide by a
non-aggression pact arranged by the diocese in the north of the
Chiapas.
In a recent interview with this reporter, Salazar's Indian Affairs
Secretary Porfirio Encino, insisted that no paramilitary group was now
active in the state, a position that was ratified by Chiapas Government
Secretary Emilio Zabadua at a Geneva Human Rights conference in August -
the affirmation is rejected by the Zapatistas and their supporters.
The problem may well be one of definitions. There is no Mexican law
that defines and sanctions a paramilitary formation. The strictest
definition would be a group that is armed and trained by the military to
carry out a military strategy, such as low intensity warfare, with the
approval of the Mexican government - but few paramilitary groups
actually fit this profile. Mascara Roja, responsible for the massacre
at Acteal, for example, bought its weaponry on the black market and was
trained by a Tzotzil Indian who had once been a low-ranking member of
the military.
A looser definition of a paramilitary group might be an armed formation
with military characteristics such as uniforms, a description that would
fit the Zapatista Army of National Liberation.
An examination of five separate incidents of violence against Zapatista
civil bases in the Lacandon jungle between July 31st and August 31st
tends to debunk the hypothesis that paramilitary bands armed by the
Mexican military and supported by the government of Vicente Fox, are
responsible for the skein of killings.
All of the incidents took place far away from public view with no
neutral observers to challenge partisan interpretations of the events.
All the killings seem to be more about cows and corn and timber poaching
than ideology. In three of the killings, the aggressors are Indians and
in all five of the incidents, the perpetrators were PRIistas, mostly
with limited fire power (they sometimes used stones.)
--- On July 31st, a group of PRI Indian farmers in communities just
outside the Montes Azules biosphere reserve in an area the Zapatistas
designate as an autonomous municipality named for the old anarchist
Ricardo Flores Magon, rampaged through the Zapatista hamlet of La
Culebra, injuring seven. The mob was led by Pedro Chulin, a member of
the PRI delegation in the state congress and the head of that body's
Indian Affairs Commission. Chulin is also the founder and leader of the
Organization for the Defense of the Rights of the Indians and the
Farmers (OPDDIC) which the EZLN considers to be a paramilitary formation
- the OPDDIC's base community San Antonio Escobar is a few miles down
the road from a military installation. But there is no other evidence
that the Indian farmers who attacked the Zapatistas were either armed
and trained by the military, or carried out a specific military strategy
ordered by President Vicente Fox, both conditions for defining the
OPDDIC as a genuine paramilitary organization.
--- The next incident occurs on August 7th at a ranch named August 6th
in the autonomous municipality of November 17th, when a Zapatista civil
supporter Jose Lopez Santiz is murdered under mysterious circumstances.
The details have not gotten less confusing as the case has progressed.
Lopez Santiz's murderers are thought to be led by a local rancher,
Baltazar Alonso, from the nearby mestizo town of Altamirano - but slow
action by the police there allowed the alleged gunmen to escape and they
are still on the lam. The killing does not seem to be a political one -
the victim and his presumed assassin knew each other and drink and bad
debt seem to be involved. Nonetheless, the rebels see the hand of
paramilitaries in the Lopez Santiz murder and blame Governor Salazar
and the 'mal gobierno' (bad government) of Vicente Fox, for failing to
crack down on armed groups.
A few days after the killing, Zapatistas marched through Altamirano
behind a large banner charging that "Pablo Salazar is directly
responsible for the counter-insurgency." Salazar, an ex-PRI senator who
headed up the legislative commission that wrote an Indian Rights law
favored by the EZLN, had arrived in Altamirano to try and 'dialogue'
with the rebels. Hermann Bellinghausen, chronicler of the Zapatista
rebellion who files for the left daily La Jornada, and who often
compares this long-smoldering conflict to the Macondo of Gabriel Garcia
Marquez's magic realism classic "One Hundred Years of Solitude",
captured the following colloquy for posterity:
Pablo: "Hola, I'm your governor."
Masked Zapatista: "Can you prove that you're the governor?"
Salazar, who looks a little like the U.S. social commentator Michael
Moore, takes off his baseball hat. "Do you recognize me now"
Masked Zapatista: "Is your name Pablo Salazar?"
Pablo: "That's my name but I don't have any picture identification
with me today."
Masked Zapatista: "There's no problem. We just want to tell you what
we want." The Zapatistas explained that they were looking for Baltazar
Alonso, the accused killer, to ask for money to support Lopez Santiz's
widow, a community custom. The two sides parted amicably.
--- The third incident of supposed paramilitary violence against the
EZLN unfolds August 21st. Spurred on by Chulin, a band of PRIistas
launch a stone-throwing assault on a Zapatista roadblock at Quixmil,
just outside the Montes Azules reserve. The Zapatistas are masked and
armed only with sticks. The rebels explain they have set up the
roadblock to stop clandestine shipments of precious hardwoods to the
county seat at Ocosingo. They also are looking for stolen cars and bar
beer trucks from entering the zone - the EZLN prohibits alcohol
consumption in their communities. The PRIistas claim the Zapatistas are
charging a 'tax' of $150 USD to let the poached timber proceed to
Ocosingo. One person is shot and six injured in the ensuing melee which
Bellinghausen, whose headline writers are often given to hyperbole,
calls the "biggest paramilitary attack sine Acteal."
--- PARAMILITARIES EXECUTE TWO ZAPATISTAS was the frontpage Jornada
headline when, on August 25th, two officials of the San Manuel autonomia
were fatally wounded in a shoot-out whose origins are cloudy at best.
Other state and national media were more circumspect, describing the
gunfire as erupting between family members during a heated discussion
over a bride price. The facts substantiate that the Zapatistas Jacinto
Hernandez and Lorenzo Martinez came to the school house in Amaytik to
settle a dispute involving a Zapatista girl who had eloped with a
non-Zapatista youth - her family was demanding a high dowry in
accordance with Indian uses and customs. Although the selling of women
into marriage is prohibited by the EZLN's own Revolutionary Law of
Women, the two officials had been called in to mete out justice.
Apparently, all sides arrived at the session armed.
When Bellinghausen reported the incident as yet one more instance of
paramilitary vengeance against the Zapatistas, Governor Salazar grew
choleric and took out full-page newspaper ads blasting the Jornada
reporter: "it is irresponsibly simplistic to reduce every act of common
delinquency to one of paramilitaries vs. Zapatistas."
--- The final incident in this skein of blood took place August 23rd
(but was not reported until the 26th) at K'an A'kil in the autonomous
municipality of Olga y Isabel near Chilon in the north state where the
rebels have been blocking a Pablo-sponsored road-building project, and
bears more resemblance to a paramilitary killing than its predecessors.
Antonio Mejia, a local Zapatista leader, is gunned down and his ears
taken as trophies by the "Aguilares", a family of ex-military men with
reported ties to the PRI - all the gunmen are still at large.
Curiously, the Aguilares do not appear on a list of paramilitary groups
that has long circulated in Chiapas.
According to Enlace Civil, a non-government organization that
distributes complaints or "denuncias" issued by the autonomous
municipalities, 92 incidents were reported between January and July
2002, most of them catalogued as "intimidation" by either
paramilitaries or PRIistas, although the distinction between the two is
not always clear.
There is little question that Chulin and the PRI are inciting Indian on
Indian violence in an effort to destabilize the Salazar administration
and take Chiapas back by hook or by crook. Chulin's agitation has found
sympathetic ears in non-Zapatista jungle communities devastated by the
collapse of the international coffee price and the PRI's limited
abilities to provide agricultural subsidies in exchange for votes since
the party lost the state house. On the other hand, Zapatista communities
are doing a better job of surviving the coffee crisis because they are
ideologically unified and have consistent support from national and
international non-government organizations.
A leaflet attributed to Chulin and widely distributed in the jungle, is
a measure of PRI disintegration. The screed blasts the Zapatistas,
Vicente Fox, Salazar, and even the military whose members are described
as "bloodsuckers only interested in their paychecks", not exactly a
typical paramilitary sentiment. Even though the PRIistas appeal to the
Indians of the jungle to "stand up like men" to the hated Zapatistas'
roadblocks, the leaflet also borrows a page from the EZLN playbook by
lambasting Fox's grandiose development scheme, the Puebla to Panama
Plan, as opening up the Lacandon jungle to transnational exploitation.
Despite the PRI offensive in their bailiwick, the EZLN's top command
has remained silent for the past 17 months, apparently awaiting a
Mexican Supreme Court decision on the Indian Rights law for which they
have battled many years. The court's surprise opinion that it has no
competency in the matter handed down this past Friday (September 6th) is
certain to ratchet up violence between Zapatistas and PRIistas in this
already tense zone .
***************************************
In Egypt, in a live TV trasmission for Fox and National Geographic, a cable controlled robot passed into a "secret chamber".
Pyramid Rover finds ... another door
What happens to the producers of these shows after the letdown? I think I'll make sure I know what's coming if I try that trick.
This link is making the rounds of the weblogs. An article from the Sunday Herald headlined Bush planned Iraq 'regime change' before becoming President, but it's much more: a plan drawn up by Cheney, Rumsfeld, Jeb Bush and others in 2000, for global domination (that phrase sounds like paranoia but it's accurate). It urges American use of biological weapons: "advanced forms of biological warfare that can 'target' specific genotypes may transform biological warfare from the realm of terror to a politically useful tool".
Yes, Saddam's bad. Are we the baddest?
I wanted to believe we were a force for good, I really did. Is it too late for the hydrogen economy?
The last photos of Bill Biggart, 9/11/2001.
Thanks to Doc Searls.
Here's a link from Reuters AlertNet about the murder of an anthropologist in Guatemala. The trial started last week.
Reuters AlertNet - Guatemalan officers go on trial in 1990 murder
Be afraid. Or disgusted. Imported worm from Vietnam:
Gone Fission: The 'Nuclear' Worm (washingtonpost.com)
The backlash against the government's proposed TIPS program (recruiting citizen informants to alert the authorities to suspicious behavior) includes Operation TIPS-TIPS with this chalkmark (inspired by WIFI warchalking) to rat out the informants themselves. Also, it appears that (no joke) a call to the TIPS program actually gets routed to the Fox TV program, America's Most Wanted.
Thanks to Boing Boing and its guestblogger Xeni.
One entire day in the tomb of Pacal, a day out of time. Last June, with photographer Ken Garrett of National Geographic. Ken was preparing a story about Palenque for the magazine, April 2002. The article was superceded by other Maya stories, including the new mural in Guatemala.But Ken allowed me to accompany him into the tomb of Pacal while he lit it beautifully, and asked the restoration crew to clean the sarcophagus lid. I thought it would make a great sequence for a full program on Palenque that I was shooting. But to see so clearly the portrait of Pacal, in death pulled down into the underworld by great fleshless jaws, while the World Tree grows again from his torso. Astonishing. Deep inside the Temple of the Inscriptions, hundreds of tons of limestone away from the green world of howlers and tourists.
My father-in-law, Bill, died today at 5:30 pm. He spent his life as a mechanical engineer for the military, and lived all but his last 4 days at home. His father worked for Edison and Steinmetz, and Bill spent time as a child playing in their laboratories.
My father, Joe, died in 1992 at age 62. He was in college when the transistor was invented, and immediately chose to become a ceramic engineer. I grew up near Washington, D.C. in the 50's and 60's, while my Dad worked on the space program. One evening he brought home some of the first freeze-dried meals - "astronaut food" - for us kids to try. Joe built his own color TV. He had a furnace for growing crystals and gems on the carport. A ham radio enthusiast and computer hobbyist, he taught himself machine language programming after his first heart attack at age 48. He almost lived to see the internet bloom.
I spent 20 years in all the television networks, a pioneer in the crash-prone world of nonlinear editing, until I lost my nerve and my drive towards heart failure. In 2001, I split for the jungles of Mexico. There I had the honor of assisting the team in Palenque, by fishing a video camera inside the Temple XX tomb. We still know very little about the great man who was buried there. But we know that not all great men are forgotten.
Doc Searls calls this site a real-world Jerry Bruckheimer movie. They are running seminars to prevent a digital Pearl Harbor. I was struck by their logo - a cobra with a computer mouse on its hood. And their grasp of scary, impenetrable jargon:
SECTOR 5 has dedicated itself to creating an event and summit that holds the same mission and goals as numerous agencies, organizations and companies (existing or newly created) that are currently trying to wrap their arms around the matters of cyber terrorism and the protection of national interests and critical infrastructures. The mission: "identify the critical systems, identify the vulnerabilities to those systems and establish plans to protect them". The SECTOR 5 event has been created for, and is solely dedicated for the previously stated objectives.
SECTOR 5 is an executive level event, meaning that ALL facets of the program are geared toward C level security and management attendees (CEO, CIO, CTO, CFO, CISO, CSO, etc.). The program will offer an atmosphere and format focused primarily on delivery of strategic content and the ability to network with peers from the various critical infrastructures.
...but not the ability to write clearly in English, I guess. Hey, for $995 a day you're expecting poetry? There's a war going on!
Robots have been used for the first time in combat in Afghanistan, to search caves. I know I've seen footage taken by a robot inside Egyptian pyramids. Has anyone used them in Maya excavation?
The military robots have grenade launchers and shotguns. We won't need those in the ruins, will we, Alfonso?
Here's the article in Yahoo! News - U.S. Tests Robots in Afghanistan. There are also good photos there.