'Mexico elections cast light on governors – and state systems built on corruption' diff viewer (1/2)

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~~Mexico elections cast a light on powerful governors – and hope for change~~	Mexico elections cast light on governors – and state systems built on corruption
2016-06-02 12:45:09 UTC	2016-06-02 14:00:13 UTC (about 1 hour later)
Alexander Figueroa was eating lunch with his family when armed men burst in and forced them to the ground, screaming “where’s the boss?” The assailants, who wore bulletproof vests, military-style boots and buzzcuts, methodically searched the house before dragging the 22-year old away.	Alexander Figueroa was eating lunch with his family when armed men burst in and forced them to the ground, screaming “where’s the boss?” The assailants, who wore bulletproof vests, military-style boots and buzzcuts, methodically searched the house before dragging the 22-year old away.
Minutes later, a convoy of Mexican army vehicles pulled up at the house in Cordoba, a colonial town in Mexico’s southeastern Veracruz state. Like the gunmen, the soldiers said they were also looking for Figueroa’s father, a local leader of the sugar cane workers’ federation. He was not at home, and escaped arrest, but his son has not been seen since the raid in December 2014.	Minutes later, a convoy of Mexican army vehicles pulled up at the house in Cordoba, a colonial town in Mexico’s southeastern Veracruz state. Like the gunmen, the soldiers said they were also looking for Figueroa’s father, a local leader of the sugar cane workers’ federation. He was not at home, and escaped arrest, but his son has not been seen since the raid in December 2014.
Related: 'There are two governments': Mexican elections held in shadow of the cartels	Related: 'There are two governments': Mexican elections held in shadow of the cartels
“We’ve searched for him in the hills, rivers, and mass graves but there’s no news of him,” sobbed Figueroa’s mother, Ana Lilian Ortiz. “We have photos and witnesses but the authorities deny the military were ever here.”	“We’ve searched for him in the hills, rivers, and mass graves but there’s no news of him,” sobbed Figueroa’s mother, Ana Lilian Ortiz. “We have photos and witnesses but the authorities deny the military were ever here.”
Figueroa is one of scores of people to have disappeared in the region over the past six years amid escalating violence between warring cartels and corrupt security forces.	Figueroa is one of scores of people to have disappeared in the region over the past six years amid escalating violence between warring cartels and corrupt security forces.
Under the rule of governor Javier Duarte de Ocho, Veracruz has become one of Mexico’s most dangerous, most censored and most indebted states.	Under the rule of governor Javier Duarte de Ocho, Veracruz has become one of Mexico’s most dangerous, most censored and most indebted states.
Duarte, who represents the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), cannot run for re-election this Sunday, when 12 states including Veracruz hold gubernatorial elections.	Duarte, who represents the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), cannot run for re-election this Sunday, when 12 states including Veracruz hold gubernatorial elections.
But the depth of his unpopularity could help put an end to 86 years of consecutive PRI rule in Veracruz – a huge blow for the party which has long dominated Mexican politics, just two years before a presidential election.	But the depth of his unpopularity could help put an end to 86 years of consecutive PRI rule in Veracruz – a huge blow for the party which has long dominated Mexican politics, just two years before a presidential election.
Duarte’s disastrous term of office highlights the vast powers wielded by Mexico’s state governors who are free to deal out patronage like feudal lords, said Juan Pablo Calderon, a columnist – and lifelong PRI member – from the state capital Xalapa.	Duarte’s disastrous term of office highlights the vast powers wielded by Mexico’s state governors who are free to deal out patronage like feudal lords, said Juan Pablo Calderon, a columnist – and lifelong PRI member – from the state capital Xalapa.
“He’s one of the most inept governors in our history who reflects the trio of corruption, impunity and incompetence which are the cancer of the PRI and Mexico,” he said.	“He’s one of the most inept governors in our history who reflects the trio of corruption, impunity and incompetence which are the cancer of the PRI and Mexico,” he said.
Duarte’s shortcomings as a politician were demonstrated in his reaction to Figueroa’s abduction, which took place in his home town. The UN recently ruled that it was a case of forced disappearance, indicating that state forces were directly implicated.	Duarte’s shortcomings as a politician were demonstrated in his reaction to Figueroa’s abduction, which took place in his home town. The UN recently ruled that it was a case of forced disappearance, indicating that state forces were directly implicated.
The missing student’s parents expected the governor would at least offer a sympathetic ear: they were lifelong PRI supporters who had hosted campaign events for Duarte.	The missing student’s parents expected the governor would at least offer a sympathetic ear: they were lifelong PRI supporters who had hosted campaign events for Duarte.
But when they went to the governor’s palace in Xalapa to plead for help, they were turned away.	But when they went to the governor’s palace in Xalapa to plead for help, they were turned away.
“I cooked for Duarte in my home, but he wouldn’t even see us,” said Ortiz. “We feel ashamed, deceived and abandoned.”	“I cooked for Duarte in my home, but he wouldn’t even see us,” said Ortiz. “We feel ashamed, deceived and abandoned.”
Veracruz, an oil-rich state on the Gulf coast with a population of eight million, is one Mexico’s most geographically diverse and strategically important regions.	Veracruz, an oil-rich state on the Gulf coast with a population of eight million, is one Mexico’s most geographically diverse and strategically important regions.
Its lucrative coffee, sugar, and oil industries have long given rise to powerful local leaders, known as caciques, who political parties depended on to deliver votes in exchange for favours and support.	Its lucrative coffee, sugar, and oil industries have long given rise to powerful local leaders, known as caciques, who political parties depended on to deliver votes in exchange for favours and support.
The state’s location and the vast port in the state capital made it an important drug trafficking route, and similar deals were also reportedly struck with crime bosses.	The state’s location and the vast port in the state capital made it an important drug trafficking route, and similar deals were also reportedly struck with crime bosses.
Under Duarte’s predecessor, Fidel Herrera, tacit pacts were forged with criminal factions to ensure a relative peace in the state, according to security expert Erubíel Tirado. In 2013, a US federal court heard testimony that Herrera’s election campaign received millions of dollars from the Zetas cartel after they split from their former paymasters, the Gulf Cartel. Herrera, who is currently Mexico’s consul in Barcelona has denied the allegations and is not under investigation.	Under Duarte’s predecessor, Fidel Herrera, tacit pacts were forged with criminal factions to ensure a relative peace in the state, according to security expert Erubíel Tirado. In 2013, a US federal court heard testimony that Herrera’s election campaign received millions of dollars from the Zetas cartel after they split from their former paymasters, the Gulf Cartel. Herrera, who is currently Mexico’s consul in Barcelona has denied the allegations and is not under investigation.
Despite his lack of political experience, Duarte was picked as Herrera’s successor and it was widely speculated that Herrera intended to continue as de facto governor.	Despite his lack of political experience, Duarte was picked as Herrera’s successor and it was widely speculated that Herrera intended to continue as de facto governor.
But according to former party colleagues from Cordoba, Duarte was determined to rule on his own terms. After a narrow victory clouded by amid allegations of electoral fraud, he rebuffed his political benefactor.	But according to former party colleagues from Cordoba, Duarte was determined to rule on his own terms. After a narrow victory clouded by amid allegations of electoral fraud, he rebuffed his political benefactor.
In response, Herrera withdrew his support, causing the local PRI structure to fracture, said Jorge Rebolledo, a security expert from the College of Veracruz. “Duarte didn’t have the capacity or personality to negotiate with caciques, who started making their own deals, upsetting the power balances. The security situation is now very fragile.”	In response, Herrera withdrew his support, causing the local PRI structure to fracture, said Jorge Rebolledo, a security expert from the College of Veracruz. “Duarte didn’t have the capacity or personality to negotiate with caciques, who started making their own deals, upsetting the power balances. The security situation is now very fragile.”
Tit-for-tat atrocities have now become commonplace across the state as rival crime groups battle for territory:	Tit-for-tat atrocities have now become commonplace across the state as rival crime groups battle for territory:
Last month, several mass graves containing thousands of bone fragments were found on the outskirts of Cordaba.	Last month, several mass graves containing thousands of bone fragments were found on the outskirts of Cordaba.
Last week, five dismembered bodies were dumped on a roadside just minutes from the town’s picturesque colonial centre. With the bodies lay two sheets of cardboard with messages from the Jalisco New Generation cartel threatening Los Zetas with further “cleansings”.	Last week, five dismembered bodies were dumped on a roadside just minutes from the town’s picturesque colonial centre. With the bodies lay two sheets of cardboard with messages from the Jalisco New Generation cartel threatening Los Zetas with further “cleansings”.
On Wednesday night, a man’s head was found in a park in nearby Orizaba.	On Wednesday night, a man’s head was found in a park in nearby Orizaba.
But as the violence has grown worse, Duarte has apparently opted for denial, blaming reports of escalating terror on political foes.	But as the violence has grown worse, Duarte has apparently opted for denial, blaming reports of escalating terror on political foes.
“Everything bad is to do with his enemies, not his government. He takes any criticism personally,” said Rebolledo.	“Everything bad is to do with his enemies, not his government. He takes any criticism personally,” said Rebolledo.
Journalists have become of focus of this mistrust. While friendly newspapers have been propped up with government advertising contracts, critical voices have struggled to survive.	Journalists have become of focus of this mistrust. While friendly newspapers have been propped up with government advertising contracts, critical voices have struggled to survive.
Local journalists are themselves filmed and photographed by informants, according to several local reporters. In November, Duarte’s own security detail manhandled a photographer at an event to celebrate freedom of speech.	Local journalists are themselves filmed and photographed by informants, according to several local reporters. In November, Duarte’s own security detail manhandled a photographer at an event to celebrate freedom of speech.
One local reporter described a meeting with Duarte’s minister for public security who revealed specific details of the journalist’s personal life. “He made it clear the government has files on every single journalist, information they can use when necessary,” the reporter said.	One local reporter described a meeting with Duarte’s minister for public security who revealed specific details of the journalist’s personal life. “He made it clear the government has files on every single journalist, information they can use when necessary,” the reporter said.
During Duarte’s rule, sixteen journalists have been murdered and three others have disappeared, making Veracruz the most dangerous place for the media in Mexico, according to the press freedom organisation Article 19.	During Duarte’s rule, sixteen journalists have been murdered and three others have disappeared, making Veracruz the most dangerous place for the media in Mexico, according to the press freedom organisation Article 19.
Related: 'Journalists are being slaughtered' – Mexico's problem with press freedom	Related: 'Journalists are being slaughtered' – Mexico's problem with press freedom
Last July, Ruben Espinosa, a local photographer who had fled Veracruz after recieving death threats, was murdered in Mexico City, along with Nadia Vera, a social activist who left Xalapa following police intimidation, and three other women.	Last July, Ruben Espinosa, a local photographer who had fled Veracruz after recieving death threats, was murdered in Mexico City, along with Nadia Vera, a social activist who left Xalapa following police intimidation, and three other women.
Journalists have also allegedly been caught up in organized crime.	Journalists have also allegedly been caught up in organized crime.
In February, Anabel Flores, a 27-year-old crime reporter was dragged from her home near Orizaba by armed men in military uniforms. Her badly beaten body was dumped on a highway the following day.	In February, Anabel Flores, a 27-year-old crime reporter was dragged from her home near Orizaba by armed men in military uniforms. Her badly beaten body was dumped on a highway the following day.
Several newspapers claimed that Flores had worked for criminals; her family says she has been smeared by local authorities.	Several newspapers claimed that Flores had worked for criminals; her family says she has been smeared by local authorities.
Such allegations are difficult to disprove: police investigations are themselves incomplete and beset by allegations of corruption. But nobody doubts that reporting in Veracruz is a dangerous activity.	Such allegations are difficult to disprove: police investigations are themselves incomplete and beset by allegations of corruption. But nobody doubts that reporting in Veracruz is a dangerous activity.
Communities around Cordoba and Orizaba are under constant surveillance. Journalists from outside are warned against driving through the region in a car with out-of-state license plates.	Communities around Cordoba and Orizaba are under constant surveillance. Journalists from outside are warned against driving through the region in a car with out-of-state license plates.