In Michoacán, Peña Nieto makes no mention of "outside the law" citizen militias

"The autodefensas have in common the pretension that it is their right to undertake public security duties, contrary to the law" - CNDH

Guadalajara -
The chairman of Mexico's National Human Rights Commission (CNDH), Raúl Plascencia Villanueva, claims the 20,000 or more community militiamen operating in Michoacán state are "entirely outside the law," but president Enrique Peña Nieto made no mention of them this afternoon when he made yet another quick visit to the troubled region, spending about two hours with avocado producers. They were full of praise for the government's efforts on their behalf.

Peña Nieto sent federal troops into the state in May 2013, and redoubled the effort on Jan. 13 as security continued to deteriorate. On Feb. 4 he traveled to Michoacán with most of his Institutional Revolutionary Party cabinet, and announced a $3 billion dollar aid package to jump start the stagnant local economy. The president promised to return to the state every month, and he's been true to his word. In Michoacán, all the president's men arrive with cash and promises.

Mexico's Supreme Court upholds police vetting process

Guadalajara -
In 2008, during the administration of former president Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, Mexico's congress passed a law which requires every police officer in the nation (about 450,000) to submit to an extensive battery of polygraph, background and other fitness for service tests. Cleansing local police ranks of corruption was a linchpin of Calderón's drug war strategy. Testing began in January 2009, and was to be completed by Jan. 3, 2013. But huge numbers of officers had not been examined by that date, so the congress agreed to postpone the testing deadline to Oct. 29. Mexico extends time to weed out corrupt local cops. When even that deadline proved too demanding, it was extended a full year. Mexican senators seek yet another delay in police vetting.

Mexico arrests key community militia leader in Michoacán, on suspicion of murder

A preview of coming attractions . . .

*Updated Mar. 19*
Guadalajara -
As parts of Michoacán state continue to spiral downward into social disorder, and autodefensas - self-appointed local police forces - increasingly are the primary or exclusive law enforcement bodies in rural counties, a prominent militia leader was taken into custody late this evening by agents of the state attorney general.

Mexican judges consider constitutionality of "hawk" law

Michoacán statute is aimed at punishing narco "halcones"

Guadalajara -
Mexico's Supreme Judicial Court has taken preliminary jurisdiction over a case arising in Michoacán state, where earlier this year the local legislature passed a criminal statute which would jail for up to 12 years "anyone who obtains and shares information concerning the location, activities, movements or operations of the armed forces or public security agencies."

Death by bus, in Guadalajara

Governor uses emergency powers to deal with safety issues, fares

*Updated Mar. 20 (at bottom)*
Guadalajara -
Last Friday a 53 year old metro bus driver here lost control of his vehicle and plowed into a crowd of 20 persons waiting on the curbside. When police arrived an 18 year old university student lay dead, and many others were injured. The conductor, whom prosecutors say was driving at excessive speed, has been charged with the Mexican equivalent of reckless manslaughter.

"Death by bus" is an increasingly common event in Guadalajara. The city's main daily, El Informador, reports that 14 persons have been killed by buses since Jan. 1, and another 70 injured. Victims are usually pedestrians crossing the street, or bicyclists. Children as well as adults have died.

Mexico: Guzmán's extradition to U.S. is inevitable

Guadalajara -
In a weekend interview with the Spanish language network Univision, Mexican ambassador to the U.S. Eduardo Medina Mora said that the extradition of former Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán is "not a question of 'if,' but when."

Guzmán was arrested in Mazatlán, Sinaloa on Feb. 22, 13 years and one month after he escaped from a high security federal prison. There are many federal charges pending against him in the U.S. Guzmán's sons threaten violence, while U.S. congressman calls for his immediate extradition.

At one year, assassination of Jalisco tourism minister remains an open file

Guadalajara -
On a sunny Saturday afternoon one year ago today, José de Jesús Gallegos Álvarez, the Jalisco Secretary of Tourism, was returning to his suburban home after an appointment at the statehouse downtown. An organized crime execution squad intercepted him in route and gave chase, causing Gallegos to lose control of his vehicle. As he staggered out of the car, sicarios pumped multiple .9mm slugs into his body. Gallegos died at the scene, in a neighborhood not accustomed to drug war violence on full display. MGR's original story: Jalisco Secretary of Tourism assassinated in Guadalajara.

Enrique Peña Nieto inaugurates Women's Justice Center in Mérida

Mérida, Yucatán -
Surrounded by admiring self-described "country women," most fitted out in their best regional dress, president Peña Nieto appeared today in the White City, the Yucatán's 472 year old capital, to announce the opening of a National Women's Justice Center.

The event coincided with the International Day of the Woman, which is being celebrated this weekend in many countries.

"I salute all Yucatecan women, and all of Mexico's women, for their tenacity and their combative spirit. They have fought tirelessly for their country and their families," said the president during a 90 minute presentation.

Michoacán lemons, very pretty - and expensive

"Lemon tree very pretty, and the lemon flower is sweet"

*Updated Apr. 20*
Guadalajara -
Lemons and limes are a staple of the Mexican diet. Not to garnish a margarita (a drink almost never consumed by citizens of this country, who greatly prefer tequila solo - a shot straight up), but as a seasoning of sorts used on all types of food. Perhaps it helps cut the fire of the three alarm salsas everybody eats.

Colima braces for Caballeros Templarios, while Human Rights Comm'n. says there's no local law in Michoacán

*Updated Apr. 28*
Guadalajara -
The chair of Mexico's National Commission on Human Rights (CNDH) said yesterday there is "often a complete absence" of governmental authority at the county and municipal level in Michoacán state, where citizen militias continue to jockey with federal forces for control of local communities long ravaged by drug cartels and organized crime, the most powerful of which is Los Caballeros Templarios.

Federal troops and police entered the state in April 2013 in an effort to restore order. On Jan. 13 the administration beefed up the effort, but many areas remain far from secure according to daily news accounts by the Mexican press.

Mexico enacts uniform criminal procedure code for the first time in its history

Guadalajara -
For the first time since declaring its independence almost 204 years ago, Mexico has implemented a national criminal procedure code which will be binding on each of its 32 states as well as the federal government.

The Código Nacional de Procedimientos Penales was signed into law yesterday by president Enrique Peña Nieto during a ceremony in Mexico City, and was published today in the country's Federal Register, making it the law of the land.

American spring breaker murdered in Cancún

Alleged overcharging leads to homicide

*Updated Mar. 15*
Cancún, Quintana Roo -
A 23 year old American citizen on spring break has been murdered here, Mexican news services are reporting at this hour.

The man left a bar known as the 11:11 Saturday evening. His body was found early Sunday morning on a remote road. Investigators say he was strangled.

Jalisco governor takes credit for discovery of burial sites

. . . as the fourth one is unearthed in the same neighborhood

Guadalajara -
In comments which will raise some eyebrows here, Jalisco governor Aristóteles Sandoval Díaz said the reason narco fosas, or organized crime burial sites, are turning up all over the state is because in his administration crime "is being investigated."

Mexican Church has harsh words for government over El Chapo Guzmán's capture, and official corruption

"The Chaponización of Mexico portends an alarming social decay" - Archdiocese of Mexico City

Guadalajara -
In a terse editorial published yesterday by the influential Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico City in its official publication, Desde La Fe, Church officials said last week's take down of Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquín Guzmán is no cause for celebration, but only a reason for reflection. The Chaponización of Mexico (translated and edited for clarity by MGR) presented this case:

"Public enemy number one has fallen. The arrest of Joaquín Guzmán Loaera demonstrates how one of the most wanted criminals in this country was protected by many, while the United States - now clamoring for his extradition - praised Mexico and congratulated itself for 'the coordination of law enforcement agencies in both countries.'

At 14 months of PRI administration, 21,258 drug war dead

*Updated Mar. 17, 2014*
Guadalajara -
Mexico's National Public Security Ministry reported yesterday that in the first 14 months of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) administration of president Enrique Peña Nieto, the country recorded 21,258 deaths related to organized crime and narco violence.

Previous reports from the ministry have confirmed that on average, about 1,500 persons per month, or 50 a day, continue to die in the now 87 month old drug war (stories below). The PRI government, as did its PAN predecessor, maintains that most of those killed were cartel operatives or gang members murdered by competitors in narcotics trafficking and allied industries.