Enrique Peña Nieto falling; U.S. dollar soaring

PRI candidate hits a new campaign low, exactly 30 days before Mexico votes; meanwhile, "the dollar is in the clouds"

The numbers speak for themselves. EPN must be sweating; he's lost .7 of a percentage point since the Milenio/GEA poll released yesterday. Another Mexico City poll (Reforma) reported today that the PRI candidate is actually at 38%, and Andrés Manuel López Obrador at 34%. With the percentage of error factored in, that's almost a statistical tie.

A "free press" in Mexico - but who's really paying the tab?

MGRR Opinion - All the news they want you to have, and at a price you can afford

Mérida protesters recently admonished a local newspaper, "Stop hiding the truth!"

Mérida, Yucatán -
In my university days I was an enthralled student of Russian for three years (most of it now forgotten, unfortunately). My Russian professor was a wonderful man named Pyotr (Peter) Pirogov, and he was a genuine Soviet Air Force defector who one day in the 1950s took off from a base in Czechoslovakia in a then state of the art two-seater MiG and made it to an Austrian air field, chased all the harrowing way by his own squadron, which had orders to shoot him down.

But flying very low and under the radar he made it to freedom, and later to Canada, and still later to the United States. He lived, and as a result I got to learn Russian from a fine teacher who greatly motivated me. That was in the fall of 1970. (His co-pilot, by the way, met a very different fate, but I'll leave that for another story . . . one dealing with trust.)

Peña Nieto strikes back on PAN "narco alliance" claims - and hits the bullseye

PAN put El Chapo Guzmán on the cover of Forbes, charges PRI candidate

Fairly or not, the Institutional Revolutionary Part is often accused of having been in bed with drug dealers during it's long seven decade rule of Mexico, which came to an end in 2000 (Is alleged PRI-narco connection fair game in Mexico's 2012 presidential election?: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/02/is-alleged-pri-narco-connection-fair.html). Yesterday PRI candidate Enrique Peña Nieto fired back rather on that issue rather effectively, pointing out that the most wanted drug trafficker in the world, Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán Loera, escaped during PAN's watch. Here are the basics:

Mexican presidential race tightens

Thirty-one days to go and counting, and the political ads heat up

The random survey of 1,152 respondents was taken May 27-29. Over 21% report that they are still undecided, and the election is but a month away. This is López Obrador's highest number to date, while Peña Nieto slides perilously close to the 40% mark. If the distance should close to 10 percentage points, look for a wild June finale. And how many of Josefina's crowd will stick with her on July 1, faced with the possibility of PRI's return?

Robert Wickard suspects held for 30 days

One defendant seeks dismissal or release, alleging mistreatment in police custody

Mérida, Yucatán --
Four men who are suspects in the murder of former Pennsylvania resident Robert Leo Wickard appeared in criminal court today.

A judge ordered that Martín Alejandro Gómez Gómez, 26, Gianri Lorenzo Matos Montalvo, 18, Edward Jesús Gamboa Salas, 36 and David Wilfrido Pérez Morán, 26, be held for 30 days while their case is further investigated. The detention can be extended at the request of prosecutors. A fifth suspect, Angel Javier Segovia Domínguez, remains at large.

U.S. set to approve more Mérida Initiative funds, amid continued charges of torture, human rights violations by Mexican army

But delivery of cash may be linked to tighter control over 'ejército mexicano'

Mérida, Yucatán --
The Mérida Initiative is a 2007 agreement between the United States and Mexico which provides for U.S. training and equipping of Mexican military and police forces, coupled with intelligence gathering and sharing. As of Dec. 31, 2011, U.S. funding of the program was at $900 million, or over half of the $1.6 billion budgeted by Congress in 2008. The drug war deal derives its name from several meetings held in this capital of Yucatán state between Mexican president Felipe Calderón and U.S. president George W. Bush.

Four suspects in murder of U.S. citizen set to be arraigned, while police hunt another

Victim may have met one of his assailants during recent trip to Campeche

*NEW STORY CONTENT AND UPDATE BELOW - MAY 28, 2012*
Mérida, Yucatán --
Four men who were detained Friday (May 25) in connection with the brutal murder of a former Pennsylvania man remain in police custody here this weekend.

The arrested men are identified as Martín Alejandro Gómez Gómez, Gianni Lorenzo Matos Montalvo, Edward Jesús Gamboa Salas and David Pérez Wilfrido Morán (all in photo).

Authorities are searching for a fifth suspect, Angel Javier Segovia Domínguez.

Gay readers share candid thoughts on gay sex tourism in Mérida - and on gringos

Continuing public commentary on the Robert Leon Wickard murder in Mérida

"If there's anything almost as shameful as the behavior of these predatory gringos, it's that Merida's English-speaking expat community hasn't only turned a blind eye to what they do, but has in fact tolerated their presence and quite often interacted with them socially. A great many Yucatecos regard Merida's English-speaking expat community as generally amoral, disreputable, and untrustworthy. And you really can't blame them."
Anonymous comment received by MGRR
May 29, 2012 1:06 PM

"Mérida's English-speaking gay community is more or less a cadre of retired sex tourists. These men like their prostitutes cheap and desperate."
Anonymous comment received by MGRR
May 27, 2012 3:25 PM

The following is the full, unedited text of an unsigned reader comment received by MGRR today, May 27, 2012:

"As a gay gringo in a happy, monogamous relationship with another gringo living here in Merida, I can attest to the humiliation felt when our reputation precedes us.

But I'm the first person to admit that this reputation is pretty solidly grounded in reality.

A revolting way to die – and to live

MGR Opinion - the ugly consequences of social exploitation

Mérida, Yucatán -
No one deserves to die the way local U.S. resident Robert Leon Wickard apparently did. Stabbed to death in his own home, buried in his own garden. Wickard's brutalized body was left to rot by five young Mexican men, who casually sold off his worldly possessions while sleeping feet away from his decaying remains for over two weeks. They took not just his property, but all that any man has: his life. If their statements to police are true, Wickard brutalized them as well, robbing them of all they had: their dignity as human beings.

American citizen murdered in Mérida died at hands of gay sex partners, police say

"Young homosexuals arrived at all hours," claims local newspaper; and - is Mérida homophobic?

Mérida, Yucatán -
A U.S. national who was found murdered in his home in the San Sebastian neighborhood of this capital city of Yucatán had been involved in a consensual sexual relationship with his killers, according to authorities. The five men may have sold their services to him.

The admissions came yesterday (May 25) when four of the suspects in the murder case made formal statements before state judicial authorities. The statements, known in this country as declarations, are compulsory under Mexican criminal law, where there is no legal privilege against self-incrimination.

All of the men remain in custody, with no right to bail.

U.S. citizen found murdered in Mérida

Robbery the likely motive in case which local authorities call "unprecedented"

*Updated content*
Mérida, Yucatán --
A U.S. national was found murdered here today, local law enforcement agencies report. The victim has been identified as Robert Leon Wickard, 67, originally from Pennsylvania. He owned a home in the San Sebastian neighborhood of Mérida, which is southwest of the city's main plaza.

Four men, at least one from Veracruz, are in custody. One is described in a local press account as a transvestite. Robbery was the apparent motive, say investigators.

López Obrador hits personal best in polls

The latest survey, taken May 22-24, will boost the spirits of PRD candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador, especially since 21% of the 1,152 respondents interviewed said they are still undecided. The election is just 37 days away.

U.S. Dollar continues to pound MX Peso

But Enrique Peña Nieto has a "secret stimulus plan" . . .

When there's trouble in Europe -- and there's plenty of it these days -- or in times of general economic uncertainty, investors worldwide park their money in American greenbacks until things improve, thereby bolstering its international value. The U.S. dollar has been steadily gaining ground against the Mexican peso for the last eight weeks or so, a delight to those who spend American currency in this country.

YoSoy 132 protest arrives in Mérida

News Analysis -
"Un Mexico ciego no puede votar - A blind Mexico can't vote"

Mérida, Yucatán --
YoSoy 132 is a very grass roots movement of Mexican activists who have joined forces during this electoral season to protest what they allege is massive manipulation of the candidates and the political process itself by the country's news media, especially at the presidential level. The movement sprang into existence almost overnight, and plans to stage public rallies all over the country from now through July 1. Tens of thousands of the "YoSoys" marched in Mexico City last weekend. Several hundred others gathered at Mérida's main plaza late this afternoon, for 90 minutes of speeches and banner waving.

Cancún business leader with Mérida ties executed at home - but by Los Matazetas?

Narcomensaje might have been authentic, or maybe just a ruse

*Updates below*
Cancún, Quintana Roo --
A prominent Cancún businessman and local civic leader was found murdered in his home here yesterday morning (May 21).

The body of Raúl Enrique de Jesús Encalada Burgos, 52, was discovered by a housekeeper when she arrived for work about 8:30 a.m. Press reports say that Burgos lived previously in Mérida, four hours west of this resort city.