Proceso: José Gil Olmos*
Translated by Patricia Mitchell
For the last three decades, starting with the administration of President Carlos Salinas [1988-94] to be exact, what is now known as the NarcoState began to emerge in Mexico.
In this form of government, organized crime and the authorities have fused together to become one in the same, resulting in the fatal consequences that we now suffer: journalists executed, thousands of deaths and disappearances, out-of-control violence, criminal governments, political parties who cover up their crimes, a participating society, sweeping impunity, and a president of the republic who is an accomplice whether by omission or direct participation.
First, beginning with the government of Salinas, this form of co-government started as a result of the former president’s brother Raúl Salinas, who was accused, specifically, of using the networks of Conasupo [National Company of Popular Subsistences, in charge of maintaining price controls on basic food items] to distribute drugs, although he was sent to jail for other crimes.
But before that presidency some symptoms of the overlap between authorities and drug trafficking were already evident; however, the first signs of the NarcoState were expressed during Salinas’ administration.
In three decades, the deterioration of the political class and corruption have been deeply embedded at even the highest levels. This has led to various accusations against 30 governors of different political parties, including: links to organized crime, acts of corruption, creating and covering up criminal networks, illicit business deals, and putting both diverted government resources and dirty money from various criminal organizations towards their own campaigns.
The cases of these officials clearly show that the NarcoState is already a reality: PRI [Institutional Revolutionary Party] members Tomás Yarrington and Eugenio Hernández in Tamaulipas, Mario Villanueva Madrid in Quintana Roo, and Fausto Vallejo in Michoacán; PRD [Party of the Democratic Revolution] member Ángel Aguirre Rivero in Guerrero; and PAN [National Action Party] member Sergio Estrada Cajigal from Morelos.
In this NarcoState, it is organized crime that governs and controls the territory. Nothing that occurs here escapes its power, including the freedom of expression. Eight journalists have been killed so far this year, including Javier Valdez. And it is no coincidence that the most frequent cases of murders, threats, and persecution of reporters occur in states such as Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Guerrero, Sinaloa, Michoacán, and Chihuahua [all on drug trafficking routes to the U.S.].
All sectors of the authorities are involved with criminal groups, where organized crime co-governs. The armed forces have not escaped this corrupting power. Enormous quantities of money are exchanged for the favor of being left alone in the transfer, distribution and sale of drugs. This also extends to their business of kidnapping, extortion, human trafficking, and arms dealing.
Society also participates in the NarcoState, whether directly or indirectly. Often, broad sectors of society are accomplices and form part of the networks or part of their support base. This can be out of necessity, by force, or due to the interests of distinct criminal groups, as in Michoacán, Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, and the State of Mexico.
Other times, society itself has normalized the presence and violent actions of these groups, when faced with the impossibility of protest or lodging any formal complaint. What can be done in the face of a corrupt authority or one that is a part of the criminal group that governs the municipality or state?
This situation will be the priority for the next president in 2018. The expansion of zones controlled by organized crime grows every day and the population of addicts in Mexico is over six million, according to the latest official statistic in 2001. The number of dead or missing journalists grows day by day, sixty percent more murders have occurred this presidential term, and there are more than 350,000 people displaced by violence.
Despite the gravity of the situation, the topic is not on the agenda of any of the presidential contenders. Not one of them talks about organized crime, let alone the NarcoState and its consequences. They avoid this tricky topic, but whoever wins will need to address it. Spanish original.
*José Gil Olmos is an investigative reporter for Proceso and author of Battles of Michoacan, Mexican Reporters in the Zapatista War, Sorcerers of Power and La Santa Muerte [Saint Death]. His most recent book is ,“Santos Populares, la fe en tiempos de crisis”,"Popular Saints: Faith in Times of Crisis," Twitter: @GilOlmos