Gustavo Madero Muñoz, outgoing chairman of Mexico's center right National Action Party and currently a candidate for reelection, condemned this morning's assassination of a PAN mayor in a town near the Jalisco border, saying "life is not respected in Michoacán. The most minimal security is unavailable to public officials so they can do their work."
Gustavo Garibay García, mayor of Tanhuato de Guerrero, Michoacán, was shot and killed by an execution team this morning as he left home. He died on the scene. Garibay had narrowly escaped a previous attempt on his life Oct. 31, 2012. No security escort was with him this morning, when police say at least three assailants approached and opened fire on Garibay.
On Feb. 13, 2013, the executive secretary of Garibay's administrative team was assassinated in the same town.
Tanhuato de Guerrero is east of Lake Chapala, and near Michoacán's border with Jalisco. The town is close to La Barca, Jalisco, where 74 bodies of drug war victims were uncovered late last year. Twenty Michoacán police officers have been arrested in connection with that case.
PAN functionaries in Michoacán tweeted party loyalists this morning with a black-draped party logo. "Enough already," it said.
"I am indignant" by what is happening in Michoacán, said Madero.
"We want to say to Gustavo Garibay's family that we are with them, that they are not alone, that PAN members are united with them, and that we deeply regret these cowardly acts which have caused us to lose a very distinguished member of our party," added Madero.
"Disgracefully, crime has taken the life of one of our mayors, in a state where insecurity is destroying families and where it seems there is no government," said the PAN leader. Mexico's Human Rights Comm'n. says there's no local law in Michoacán.
PAN's current president, Cecilia Romero Castillo, said "the (Michoacán) strategy implemented by the PRI government of president Enrique Peña Nieto has been fruitless. They're paying no attention to the needs of mayors and local authorities, even though those are the people who best understand the situation." Michoacán security accord more of the same old song.
Michoacán governor Fausto Vallejo, who has been heavily criticized for the violence in his state, promised a thorough investigation of Garibay's murder. The federal security commissioner for the state, Alfredo Castillo, said his office would do likewise.
Michoacán is notorious for murdered mayors and local officials. Mexican mayor executed in La Piedad, Michoacán.
Apr. 7 - All Michoacán local governments have been exposed to extortion demands and threats for years, said this official today. "It's nothing new, it's institutionalized," he noted.
Mayor Garibay was badly wounded in the previous attack on his life, but survived
Mar. 18, 2014 - Michoacán Templarios stole human organs from child victims, to sell and to eat
Feb. 17, 2014 - Michoacán belongs to organized crime: 55% of Mexicans
Feb. 14, 2014 - Michoacán, a deadly no man's land
July 28, 2013 - Mexican vice admiral killed in further Michoacán violence
May 23, 2013 - Fiasco in Michoacán suggests little has changed under new government
Apr. 11, 2013 - Is Michoacán a failed state?
Eight months after delivering these comments in Veracruz on July 25, 2013, president Peña Nieto is dealing with the same challenges in Michoacán, if not worse. "Regrettably, parts of the state have passed into the hands of organized crime."
© MGR 2014. All rights reserved. This article may be cited or briefly quoted with proper attribution or a hyperlink, but not reproduced without permission.
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