1996-10-24 Local Press
Article Index
Summary of Local Press Clippings from Mexico
October 24, 1996, Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc.
DEMOCRACY
Church-Government Debate Over Rights and Obligations
On Sunday, October20, Arch Bishop Noberto Rivera Carrera said that the Catholic church "can and should" get involved in politics, and that citizens have the right to obey authorities when the authorities try to violate their human rights or when "they are breaking the law." In response, the Secretariat of the Interior sent a note to the Arch Bishop, saying that "no one, under any circumstances, is exempt from respecting and obeying the rule of law" and that members of organized religions can not "get involved in politics". (La Jornada, 22 October).
Cordoba testifies and Provides No Information
Jose Cordoba Montoya was called to give a statement to the Special Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday, October 16 about what he knows in relation to the assassination of Luis Donaldo Colosio in March 1994. During his 21 hour stay at the Prosecutor's offices, the former top advisor to President Carlos Salinas reportedly denied having phoned Colosio the night before his murder, and having any knowledge about interest groups within the government at that time. "I didn't belong to any political group, but rather to a government," he reportedly testified. Since last March, Cordoba has been asking the POR and the Colosio Commission in Congress to call him to testify, apparently in an attempt to clear his name. The POR continuously delayed calling him. It is interesting that when they finally did, it was done secretly. Neither the public nor the Congressional Commission knew that Cordoba had testified until he called a radio station two days later to advise them. (La Jornada, 19 October 1996)-
Garcia Abrego: Guilty
Juan Garcia Abrego was found guilty of 22 counts of drug trafficking and money laundering in a Houston court on October16- Abrego, who is 52 years old, was the head of the Gulf Drug Cartel, and on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" list. He was accused of bringing 15 tons of cocaine into the US and of having laundered ten million dollars. The date of sentencing was not set yet. US Attorney General Janet Reno thanked the Mexican government for its help in capturing and "expelling" Garcia Abrego and said that both countries will continue to work together to bring drug traffickers to justice.
Meanwhile. Mexican Attorney General Antonio Lozano Gracia has less than four months to apprehend and extradite the Arellano Felix brothers if he wants to receive the United States' "certification" of good conduct in the war against drugs. Two of the three brothers have been formally accused of cocaine trafficking in the U.S. (El Financiero, 17 October).