Here's how the Election Fraud was carried out in Mexico
by ourobouros
As the days continue to pass after the Mexican presidential election, members of the Coalición por el Bien de Todos (Coalition for the Good of All) continue to present what is called "prueba superveniente", or emerging evidence, of the electoral fraud and how it was carried out.
On election night I was a proud Mexican citizen, convinced that finally my country had reached a point in which actual democracy was viable; I was certain the elections had been clean and there had been no fraud. I even jumped on a few people on this site who derided our democracy and I strongly defended our electoral system.
That was then. This is now. Back then, I thought (as many others did), that every political party (or at least the major ones) had representatives in EVERY voting station across the country. As the post-electoral debacle began and continued, it was revealed that this was clearly NOT the case.
Today's most recent developments (story en español) brings us a much clearer picture of how this fraud was carried out. A key player in this operation is Elba Esther Gordillo, Teachers' Union longtime leader, longtime PRI official and general snake in the grass. Gordillo had a very public and nasty split with Roberto Madrazo within the PRI, which led her to "found" her own Party (Nueva Alianza) while still in the PRI. Shortly after the election she was caught on tape talking to a priista governor about negotiating with the PAN.
Anyway, here's what the PRD and its allied parties are presenting as evidence of Gordillo and her party's collusion with the PAN:
- In over 4,000 voting stations nation wide, where ONLY representatives of PAN or Nueva Alianza (or both) were present, Calderón's votes shot up dramatically, up to 80.77% (statistically impossible). In these voting stations ALONE, Calderón allegedly obtained 320,000 votes (remember the "official" margin between Calderón and AMLO was around 250,000).
- In 485 voting stations nationwide, where there were ONLY representatives of Panal, Calderón beat AMLO by a 63.91 to 29.69% margin (!!!)
- In 2,366 stations nationwide, where ONLY PAN reps were present, the percentages were 71.47 Calderón, 21.47 AMLO.
- Even more scandalous are the results from stations in which only reps from PAN AND Panal were present: 80.77% for Calderón, 13.02% for López Obrador.
This was revealed in a press conference held by Leonel Cota, national PRD president, and Senator Joel Ortega (PRD), who is also AMLO's campaign manager. Ortega also declared that Gordillo's involvement in this goes very deep and that it couldn't have been carried out without her input. The voting stations in which to carry out this fraud were carefully selected and had the protection and cover of local PRI or PAN governments.
This revelation should be a bombshell for the TEPJF (federal electoral court), and should be a major step forward towards achieving a vote by vote recount.
In the meantime, at least two million of us will be chanting and marching for our democracy tomorrow.
Stay tuned.
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tip jar n/t (33+ / 0-)
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voto por voto, casilla por casilla!
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Please consider crossposting to (3+ / 0-)
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We've been looking for more coverage on the Mexico, and I've not had the time to do it justice.
By the way, I have to do an "I told you so" about the comment you had on my diary about more serious acts of civil resistance coming after July 30. Did you see Lopez Obrador's interview with Univision where he refused to to discount the possibility of occupying highways and airports.
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I don't know if it's an 'i told you so' though... (1+ / 0-)
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I mean, certainly there is the POTENTIAL for things to begin to get violent, but that depends entirely on the reaction of the police forces and the people who control them. The citizenry that is fighting for its vote is firmly committed to its non-violent principles.
I think they key here is we need to make the distinction: "serious acts of civil resistance" are not necessarily violent. What AMLO said about the airport and roads in the link you provided:
Asimismo, al preguntarle tres veces si estaría dispuesto a que se "tomara" el aeropuerto de la ciudad de México como parte de sus acciones de resistencia civil, López Obrador dijo: "Vamos a consultar a la gente, vamos a consultar. Yo tengo que irle midiendo, tengo que ver la profundidad del movimiento, del ritmo".
"O sea, ¿no descarta toma de aeropuertos, toma de carreteras?"
"El límite es la no violencia, o para expresarlo de otra manera: es un movimiento pacífico" subrayó.
When asked three times if he'd be willing to "take" the Mexico City airport as part of their civil resistance, AMLO said: "We will consult with the people, we will consult. I have to keep an eye on the pace, I need to see the depth of the movement, its rythm".
"So, you don't dismiss the idea of taking airports and roads?"
"Our limit is non-violence, or in other words: it's a peaceful movement."
So, the way I see it is this: the ONLY way this can get violent is if the TEPJF refuses to do a vote by vote recount and police (and/or government) forces begin to crack down on the peaceful protestors. Violence will NOT be incited by AMLO or any of us on the Left. We are fully aware that peaceful resistance is our only recourse.
As for taking roads and airports, we are within our right to stage such protests, all within the framework of non-violence and the defense of Democracy.
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Dude, I understand the distinction (1+ / 0-)
I am on your side.
Lopez Obrador stated that the "limit is violence",
I am not suggesting that the PRD or AMLO are inciting violence. I am suggesting that these demonstrations can only go on so long before there is either a recount, or further demonstrations are "discouraged" by the government through the use of force.I am also suggesting that one of the first targets for occupation would be the oil facilities in places like Tabasco that provide a full third of government revenues. You have to acknowledge that the occupation of oil facilities is a distinct possibility. If that happens, this story will be on the front page in the American media.
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l know we're on the same side :) (3+ / 0-)
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and you're right... if violence DOES happen it will be initiated by the Right. I DO think however, that if the government employs force to "discourage" dissent, they will find out very quickly that it'll have the opposite effect.
If they beat one of us to a pulp on a sidewalk, there will be THREE more of us to take his place. If they beat those three, there will be NINE demonstrating the next day.
All peacefully, all democratically.
As for the taking of oil refineries, it's certainly a possibility as it has already been done before (when Roberto Madrazo stole the Tabasco gubernatorial election from AMLO in 1994).
For my part, in Mexico City, if the TEPFJ refuses to do a vote by vote recount, I am already preparing, with a group of friends, an urban resistance campaign where we will plaster the city with images of our call for democracy and repudiation of electoral fraud.
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Cuidate (2+ / 0-)
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and you're right... if violence DOES happen it will be initiated by the Right. I DO think however, that if the government employs force to "discourage" dissent, they will find out very quickly that it'll have the opposite effect.
Hence, my preoccupation. The Mexican Right is either too stubborn or ignorant to realize that this isn't 1988. Combine the determination of the Left to "take" what is the right of all human beings, self determination for all, with the stubborn insistence of the Mexican Right and you have a recipe for trouble. And you know what, the motherfuckers in the PAN are too busy exalting the how they are superior to the unwashed masses, to comprehend that they are lending legitimacy to Marcos and la otra.
When a people are denied self determination through the ballot, then this lends legtimacy to those who would have us believe that justice comes from the end of a gun. Note I speak of Marcos not AMLO.
If they beat one of us to a pulp on a sidewalk, there will be THREE more of us to take his place. If they beat those three, there will be NINE demonstrating the next day.
All peacefully, all democratically.
As for the taking of oil refineries, it's certainly a possibility as it has already been done before (when Roberto Madrazo stole the Tabasco gubernatorial election from AMLO in 1994).
I suspect that this will be the only way that this issue breaks back into the mainstream media in the United States, and do you really want to think what the response from the Bush administration would be to this? Calderon and the gang can't keep this kicking the poor people to the curb bit up for much longer withhout incurring a situation in which they don't have the power control. If massive, peaceful occupations of highways, and oil facilities occur, where do you think Fox and the PAN will turn to bring in the firepower to restored order?
Remember, that nearly 1/10th of US firepower in Iraq is in private hands. And Filibusters, private military actions against Latin American governments, were common in the 19th century. And now we have Blackwater and the rest, military power not bound by the power of law available for hires. Mercenaries........
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One difference: liberals control Mexico City (3+ / 0-)
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The largest overall security force in the nation is in Mexico City. Mexico City is now in its 2nd administration under the liberal PRD party, whose mayor Encinas supports AMLO.
I think the very presence of such law enforcement not under the control of the right-wing provides a bit of a check on notions of using police violence against democracy activists.
(However, the most corrupt and deadly of the armed agents in Mexico are by all accounts the federal police called "Judiciales", which fall under the department of the Treasury there and would sort of be like a combination of our FBI and a national SWAT force. Once the governmnent of Mexico -- the whole country -- offically asked the Treasury Police how many agents they had, and they refused to say.)
by el cid on Sat Jul 29, 2006 at 08:30:27 AM PDT
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I will be with you in spirit (0 / 0)
as will millions more.
How is the weather?
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beautiful weather in Mexico City today (0 / 0)
clear and very sunny, temperatures in the mid 70s Fahrenheit. Hope it stays this way thru tomorrow; couldn't ask for better weather.
El sol azteca brilla fuerte y cálido en el corazon de México :)
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I support a total vote recount. If he won fair (8+ / 0-)
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and square why would he be afraid of a total recount. I guess they borrowed this from the Shrub's Florida play book. Shrub went to the Supreme Court to stop a total recount and the American people are paying a great price till this day.
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very true... (4+ / 0-)
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in fact, what you state is one of our rallying cries and memes here: if you assert you won, why fear a recount? A simple question that has yet to be answered to the satisfaction of most Mexicans by Calderón.
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sigh - made no difference (0 / 0)
Florida legislature was moving to designate a slate of electors for Bush, once the first Florida Supreme Court decision came down. Constitutionally they have the authority to determine how electors are selected -- you hyave not constitutional right to vote for the electors of the president and vice president. Florida's 25 electoral votes were going to go the Bush.
Those who can, do. Those who can do more, TEACH!
by teacherken on Sat Jul 29, 2006 at 06:33:21 AM PDT
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it is unfortunate (2+ / 0-)
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that, because of the mess in Lebanon, and the 24-7 coverage thereof, the situation in Mexico has largely dropped off the radar here. Thanks for the info.
Let's get some Democracy for America
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What little coverage (7+ / 0-)
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the story has gotten in the US press has been so biased that it is worthless. It's been shocking, actually.
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yeah... (6+ / 0-)
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you would think 1.5 million people on the street marching for democracy would warrant more than a side blurb... but again, this is the "liberally biased" American mainstream media, right? ;)
We'll see what kind of coverage 2.5 million people get when we open up our dailies on Monday.
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I have been suspicious (4+ / 0-)
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since I heard Republican crews were there "helping" Calderon. I think they brought their dirty tricks across the border -- and didn't declare them, either. Good luck to you. Keep fighting!
Why do you have to be a nonconformist like everybody else? - James Thurber
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yes, they certainly did (9+ / 0-)
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The brought in Dick Morris to "consult" for Calderón's strategy team. Morris and his crew were behind the swift-boating campaign against AMLO in which he was compared to Hugo Chavez and called a "danger to Mexico".
Morris and his people were operating out of a Mexico City hotel. This is highly illegal, as it is expressly forbidden in Mexican electoral law for any foreigner to participate in any way in a political campaign.
Sigh.
We will prevail though. They will NOT steal our country again.
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Thanks And A Tip O' The Hat... (0 / 0)
...to Dick Morris mentors....Bill and Hillary Clinton!
He can stump for Joe Lieberman. He can work with George H.W. Bush for dubious disaster relief charities. She can protect the flag and take on videogame sex.
But actually stand up for democracy in Mexico?
Not even on their radar screens.
Besides, AMLO isn't likely to do the CAFTA do, and corporate globalization was always more important to Bill & Hill than actual democracy, anyway.
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Don't forget ChoicePoint's (2+ / 0-)
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possession - illegally - of Mexican voter registration rolls. And the appearance of those rolls - on national TV, no less - on the PAN's own website after inputting a password based on Calderon's brother-in-law.
Far from mis-reporting, the fraud ran long and deep to insure a PAN win. PAN has taken up the PRI banner of "permanent government" just as Karl Rove has the objective of "permanent Republican majority." However, Karl may have some problems with that now that the Middle East is falling apart, Iraq is falling farther apart, and the economy is slowing down due to interest rate hikes and a collapsing housing market. BUT, all that will not stop Republicans from pulling all the possible tricks to win elections.
Just as the Spanish revolution was Hitler's proxy war for WWII, Mexico's elections are try-out zones for fraud techniques in the US. I cannot believe I write those words and 10 years ago would have dismissed those words as "crazy talk". However, it doesn't take tinfoil hats anymore to see what is happening.
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You and I (9+ / 0-)
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Are on the same page. I felt the same as you election night, and even in the following days.
I also have been talking here about Gordillo..she is in it up to her eyeballs. Watching here on television earlier this week with Calderon made me ill. I felt like slapping her ugly face. She has always been one of the biggest crooks in politics.
As to the poll workers: Not only were many casillas un manned, but the poll workers themselves were often poorly educated and poorly trained.
Poll workers were supposed to attend two training sessions, each about two hours long. But attendance was sporadic. Some people said they didn't have time. Others were bored by the classes or couldn't afford to travel to nearby cities where the classes were held.
Poll workers were paid only 200 pesos – less than $20 – for their expenses.
Just two weeks before the election, the IFE was still searching for 15 percent of the workers it needed for the election, said Hugo Concha, IFE's executive director of electoral training.
“We were late training people,” he said.
At thousands of polling places across the country, poll workers didn't show up on election day. In 11.60 percent of the polling places, people who either had no training or inadequate training were asked to fill in, Concha said.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/...
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Reminds me of someone (2+ / 0-)
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which led her to "found" her own Party (Nueva Alianza) while still in the PRI.
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If Only We had Balls (3+ / 0-)
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If only we had the balls to stand up like the Mexican people are.
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not too late, their bravery may yet help us (0 / 0)
Their fight for democracy THERE may inspire us to fight the bastards more effectively HERE.
And a loss for the new wave of right-wing election manipulation & fraud ANYWHERE is a victory for democracy EVERYWHERE.
by el cid on Sat Jul 29, 2006 at 08:33:00 AM PDT
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not likely (1+ / 0-)
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- ourobouros
after the stole 2004 election talk on Ohio voter fraud was moreor less banned even at DKOS. The left in the U.S. is not very interested in structural issues like elections or the causes of particular policies.
Om Lokaha Samastaha Sukhino Bhavantu (may all beings in all the worlds be happy)
by Chris Cosmos on Sat Jul 29, 2006 at 09:33:24 AM PDT
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agree somewhat, but partly failure of leaders (0 / 0)
I think that the possibility of a huge, popular, citizen-fueled reversal of a coordinated national right-wing election theft in our neighbor to the south could actually strengthen the hand of those who were fighting election fraud here.
One thing people look to is victory. In the USA, there appeared to many people (certainly at the top but a lot of people I knew, ordinary people) that no amount of activism could reverse any election manipulation or fraud. It's hard to know, since by definition we didn't really try.
But people are complicated, and the threat of a good example is ever-present.
by el cid on Sat Jul 29, 2006 at 09:59:32 AM PDT
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I hope this doesnt get lost in the other stuff (5+ / 0-)
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So Important. recommended.
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Recommended! (2+ / 0-)
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Thanks for this diary. You've added much new iformation.Is the next big demonstration scheduled for tomorrow?
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yes, tomorrow at 11 am local time (0 / 0)
the march will begin at the anthropology Museum and head toward the Zocalo. City officials estimate attendance will be between 2 and 2.5 million. Of course, federal officials estimate a few dozen of us will show up :).
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with only 12 people you can fill the Zocalo (2+ / 0-)
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The attendance estimates are just wildly optimistic, they never had a million plus people last time, just a dozen people with really, really big shirts. Or maybe it was done with mirrors.
It just looked like a million-plus people because you liberal maniacs just won't shut up and admit that we must be quiet and always let right wingers win.
by el cid on Sat Jul 29, 2006 at 08:37:05 AM PDT
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Breathtaking View (1+ / 0-)
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- mariachi mama
Whenever I'm in Mexico City, I enjoy running around Chapultepec Park one time, then running up the path to reach the Castillo. In the early morning, from that vantage point, you see (and feel) the energy that emanates from this metropolis. For me, it's a breathtaking view.
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Calderon and his Regressive Policies (1+ / 0-)
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Great Diary.Here's what one Calderon Sycophant added to his Wiki entry.
And yet, some Calderon Sycophants dare say that Calderon is to the left of President Clinton, when the truth is that he is FAR to the RIGHT of even Bush.
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Daily Mass Catholic Pro-Lifer Wins Mexico Presidential Elections over Abortion Supporter
By John-Henry Westen
The Inter Press Service News Agency described Calderon saying: "He is known to be a devout, conservative Catholic, attending daily mass, and has not shied from acknowledging his stances against abortion, condom use, homosexual relations and euthanasia."
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I have a bit of sympathy for this view (0 / 0)
I think that in the particular case of Felipe Calderon, in many ways he is indeed to the right of Bush Jr.
On the other hand, it's also true that US politics are so unbelievably right wing that what typically counts as "right wing" in most other nations, Latin America included especially, would be considered centrist or even leftist here.
Similarly, if you took a typical Republican candidate here and plunked them down in most Latin American campaigns, they'd be considered so far right that they'd be lucky to be a 12th or 13th place party, much less a top 3.
by el cid on Sat Jul 29, 2006 at 08:41:30 AM PDT
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Sugar O/T (5+ / 0-)
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Sorry way off topic, but the sugar dispute between the US and Mexico was settled, so now we get to have more American high fructose corn syrup shoved down our throats. The US soft drink manufacturers are salivating. Mexico needs to have a government that takes care of her citizens instead of letting corporations feed us poison.
So maybe it's not so off topic.
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Calderon wants to raise taxes on middle-class (2+ / 0-)
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- ourobouros
Currently, Mexico collects less than 11% of GDP in taxes, compared to about 32% here, and as high as 50% in some Western European countries.
There is no capital gains tax in Mexico. Roberto Hernandez, a friend of Calderon, sold his bank for over 10 billion dollars to Citigroup, and paid NOT ONE PESO in taxes.
Calderon has said that's the way it should be.
In fact, Calderon has vowed to slash the top marginal rate on the affluent, because he believes that the affluent pay more than their fair share in taxes.
But if you're poor or middle-class, Calderon hopes to raise your tax burden.
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POLITICA) PREPARA PAN OFENSIVA FISCAL VS POBRES: RAMIREZ
Viernes, 28 de Julio de 2006, 9h58
Fuente: InfoSel Financiero
MEXICO, Julio. 28.- Alfonso Ramírez Cuellar, coordinador de las Finanzas Públicas de la bancada del PRD en la Cámara de Diputados, advirtió en torno la ofensiva fiscal que "preparan" los panistas contra los sectores de menores ingresos, mediante la imposición del IVA en alimentos y medicinas.
De acuerdo con información de La Jornada, el presidente de la Comisión de Hacienda y Crédito Público, Gustavo Madero, señaló al IVA en alimentos y medicinas como una alternativa dentro de la reforma fiscal para elevar los ingresos del erario-------------------------------------------
posted by Alice at
Saturday, July 29, 2006
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