An intriguing passage states “Mexico has strict restrictions on gun ownership, with most legitimate sales processed through one store on a military base near Mexico City.” This and other elements of the story invite suspicion that a significant portion of the cartels’ weaponry may come from the Mexican military via the US government, including the State Department-authorized Blue Lantern program exposed here.

The clock on the Torre Latinoamericana strikes 5:00 on April 6th as the ragtag group that fills the esplanade of the Bellas Artes museum yells ‘No more blood!’ and ‘Down with Felipe Calderon!’. This is not a common place to begin a protest, but this march was called by poets and artists, friends, followers, and men and women who read the poems and articles of Javier Sicilia. They all believe that poetry and art will triumph over death.

After the murder of his son and six of his friends on March 28 in Cuernavaca, the poet and social activist published “An Open Letter to Politicians and Criminals,” in which he condemns Calderon’s war as being poorly planned, poorly executed, poorly directed, and for putting the country in a state of emergency. In his letter he also called upon his fellow Mexicans to struggle for peace and justice.
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We spoke with him about the 18 months elapsed since Brad Will’s murder without any justice despite his murderers being photographed at the scene, in broad daylight, with many witnesses who stepped forward.

We also told the Congressman that we were hearing from many people opposed to the Merida Initiative (Plan Mexico) – a part of the secretly negotiated Security and Prosperity Partnership currently being considered for funding by Congress – because the Bush security initiative would strengthen the unpopular Calderon Administration which has appointed members of El Yunque to top positions of his administration.

Congressman Engel said he would thoroughly review our flier (which you can download as a PDF here and bring to your Congressperson).

The Americas Society/Council of the Americas held this “conversation” on hemispheric affairs with U.S. Congressman and Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere Eliot Engel. The event was part of their Congressional Discussion Series sponsored by the American International Group.

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