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Energy
Pemex To Invest USD 12 Billion In Next Decade On Pipeline Upgrades
November 13, 2009
State-owned oil company Pemex announced plans to spend around USD 12 billion to upgrade its aging pipeline
network. Pemex said the investment plan involves USD 5.5 billion to build an additional 4,500 kilometers of pipelines,
four storage terminals and 14 pumping stations by 2015. Another USD 5.6 billion would be used over 10 years for
maintenance of 47,000 kilometers of existing pipelines that have an average age of 25 years. The integration of
automated pipeline systems among the oil company's four operating divisions—planned for completion in 2012—
would cost another USD 1 billion. The pipeline upgrade initiative is part of a broader USD 18.9 billion investment
program to take advantage of recent energy reforms that will help Pemex take steps to catch up to world-class oil
firms.
CFE Officials: Upgrades For LyFC's Network To Cost MXN 5 Billion
November 12, 2009
Spokespeople from state-run energy firm Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) who are involved in the
replacement process of defunct power utility Luz y Fuerza del Centro (LyFC) said that the electricity-distribution
network of the latter requires upgrades that will cost an estimated MXN 5 billion. President Calderon decreed the
shutdown of LyFC in October, saying the company's costs were almost twice its income from energy sales and that it
lost about a third of its power to inefficient distribution and theft in 2008.
Mexico's GSEER Orders 70 Turbines From Siemens
November 12, 2009
German conglomerate Siemens' energy unit announced that Mexican wind energy developer Grupo Soluciones en
Energias Renovables (GSEER) awarded it an order for 70 wind turbines worth over USD 270 million for the Los
Vergeles wind farm in the state of Tamaulipas. With a total installed rated capacity of more than 160 megawatts
(MW), the Los Vergeles wind farm is expected to provide clean power to 200,000 households, making it Mexico's
largest wind farm. This is the first order received by Siemens for wind turbines in Latin America. Each turbine has a
rated capacity of 2.3 MW. In a related matter, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) said that Mexico can
develop up to 5% of its electricity-generating capacity through renewable resources in the next decade, led by longoverdue
wind farm projects starting up this year coming online by the end of the year, will boost that capacity by about
300 MW.
Fired Workers From LyFC Protest One Month Since Closure; Rehiring Starts
November 12, 2009
Thousands of electrical workers and supporters marched in Mexico City to mark one month since President Calderon
dissolved Luz y Fuerza del Centro (LyFC), a power utility that served the country's capital and surrounding areas.
Protesters blocked tollbooths around the city and held up traffic as they marched toward Los Pinos, Mexico's
presidential residence. Telecommunications workers, miners, steelworkers and university employees turned out in the
capital and other cities around the country to support former employees of LyFC. Police used tear gas in one location
to disperse demonstrators, at least ten of whom were detained. Meanwhile, another state-run electricity firm Comision
Federal de Electricidad (CFE) said it has officially started rehiring former LyFC workers.
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Mining
Grupo Mexico Gets Favorable Ruling In Asarco Case
November 14, 2009
U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen in Brownsville, Texas, issued a ruling in favor of Mexican mining conglomerate
Grupo Mexico's (GMex's) USD 2.5 billion bid to take U.S. copper giant Asarco LLC out of bankruptcy and ending a
long battle over the firm. Judge Hanen wrote in a 141-page ruling that "the case is now in the fifth year of bankruptcy
proceedings," and that "the end, barring appeals, is now in sight." Judge Hanen also ordered GMex to present a
"comprehensive proposal" to Asarco's United Steel Workers union by November 24. Grupo Mexico has been battling
India's Vedanta Resources for control of Asarco since last year. In August, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Richard Schmidt
approved Grupo Mexico's USD 2.4 billion offer to repay Asarco's creditors and take it out of bankruptcy.
Grupo Mexico (GMex) Readies USD 1.5 Billion Facility
November 10, 2009
According to IFR, a Thomson Reuters company, Mexican mining conglomerate Grupo Mexico (GMex) is expected to
launch a USD 1.5 billion facility in two tranches as soon as it prepares to take control of bankrupt U.S. copper miner
Asarco. IFR said that the facility is expected to be launched into retail syndication over the next couple of days. GMex
seeks to place a three-year tranche at Libor+375 and another five-year tranche at Libor+425bp.
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Trade & Investment
DOC: Mexico's Trade Surplus With The U.S. Falls 11%
November 13, 2009
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), Mexico's trade surplus with the U.S. in September was USD
4.56 billion, 11.23% less than the like-2008 results. Mexican exports to the U.S. amounted to USD 16.15 billion while
imports were USD 11.59 billion in September. The DOC said that Mexico's total annual exports to the U.S. as of
September were worth USD 125.06 billion while imports amounted to USD 92.4 billion.
USITC Allows Probe On China And Mexico Regarding Copper Pipes
November 13, 2009
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) agreed to launch a new probe on China and Mexico over
alleged disloyal practices in the commercialization of copper pipes. The USITC said it will investigate whether both
countries are selling seamless copper pipes in the U.S. at prices below standards.
Mexico, Singapore Sign Trade Promotion And Protection Agreement
November 12, 2009
Mexico and Singapore signed an agreement for the reciprocal protection and promotion of investments within the
framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, attended by the leaders of 21 APEC
economies, that sets a new growth paradigm and an expanded trade and investment agenda that will strengthen
regional economic integration (REI) in the Asia-Pacific region.
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Banking, Insurance & Finance
Press Reports: Delinquency Rates Continue To Rise For Mexican Credit Card Holders
November 10, 2009
According to recent press reports, debt restructuring programs in Mexico have begun lowering credit card
delinquency rates on bank balance sheets, but overall delinquency has continued to grow for cardholders struggling
to make payments in an unfavorable economic environment. According to Mexico's central bank (Banxico) and the
National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV), delinquent accounts made up 8.2% of banks' total credit card
portfolios in August, down from the 9.5% figure recorded in May. Banks consider accounts more than three months
overdue as delinquent. Critics say those numbers merely reflect the fact that banks are writing off overdue accounts
and shifting responsibility to collection agencies.
SCJN: SHCP Has 30 Days To Explain Controversy On Citi-Banamex Case
November 10, 2009
The Supreme Court (SCJN) has agreed to work on a constitutional controversy plea that the Senate submitted
against the Executive Branch as it allowed Banamex, the Mexican subsidiary of U.S. banking group Citi, to operate in
the country after the U.S. government acquired a share in that financial institution, and since Mexican law forbids
foreign governments' participation in the domestic banking system. Under the current circumstances, the SCJN will
be in charge of defining the legal status of foreign financial institutions that operate in Mexico and that receive funds
from their governments. SCJN gave the President's Office, the Finance and Public Credit Ministry (SHCP), the central
bank (Banxico) and the National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV) 30 days to defend the case and explain
the government's authorization for Banamex to operate in the country.
AMIB: National Mutual Fund Industry Rebounds With Markets In 2009
November 10, 2009
According to the National Securities Industry Association (AMIB), Mexico's mutual fund industry has enjoyed a surge
in assets under management this year as low interest rates and stable financial markets spur demand for higheryielding
investments. AMIB said that mutual fund assets reached MXN 954.49 billion as of October 31, a 12.5%
increase from the MXN 848.65 billion a year earlier. AMIB data indicates that at the end of October there were 482
mutual funds—284 fixed-income and 198 equity funds—down from 501 in October 2008.
Profuturo To Acquire Bank Of Nova Scotia's Pension Unit
November 9, 2009
Mexican financial services giant Grupo Profuturo announced that it has agreed to acquire the local pension fund
business of Canada's Bank of Nova Scotia for an undisclosed amount. The deal, which involves the assets and client
base of Scotia Afore, is expected to close in January, pending regulatory approval. The acquisition consolidates
Profuturo's position as the country's fourth-largest pension fund company. In a related matter, a top executive for
Grupo Profuturo said the firm is preparing for a new round of market volatility when governments start to wind down
economic stimulus policies put in place during the crisis.
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Business & Industry
INEGI: September Industrial Output Seen Down 5.7%
November 10, 2009
According to the National Statistics Institute (INEGI), September industrial production fell 5.7% from the year-ago
month; in seasonally adjusted terms, industrial production rose 0.15% from August. The annual decline was led by an
8.4% drop in manufacturing output; construction output contracted 7.3%, extraction industries grew 3.1%, while
utilities —water, electricity and gas—rose 3.7% from a year ago, posting their strongest growth since May 2008.
Calderon Accuses Entrepreneurs Of Lobbying Against His Fiscal Reform Plan
November 13, 2009
President Calderon accused some entrepreneurs of engaging deliberately in a campaign and lobbying to stop his
fiscal reform proposal. Calderon accused some businessmen without citing their names of weakening and eroding the
original fiscal package he submitted to Congress. Calderon added that limiting fiscal consolidation in Mexico was the
most unpopular item in his proposal among entrepreneurs.
Senate Demands That President Calderon End Monopolies In The Country
November 11, 2009
Senators from the three major political parties—the National Action Party (PAN), the Institutional Revolutionary Party
(PRI) and the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD)—demanded that President Calderon end monopolies in Mexico,
mostly those existing in the telecommunications sector. Legislators said Calderon's actions must be consistent with
his declarations during the latest Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, where he pledged to boost
competition in Mexico.
Federal Competition Commission Opens New Soft Drink Probe
November 9, 2009
The Federal Competition Commission (CFC) announced that it launched a new investigation into alleged monopolistic
practices in the nation's soft drink market. The CFC is investigating charges that major players were offering perks to
merchants on the condition that they sell only their soft drink products, among other allegations, according to a notice
published in the official gazette (DOF). Large Mexican companies have been largely successful in using legal
injunctions to avoid most charges of monopolistic practices. In 2008, the Supreme Court (SCJN) upheld fines that had
been handed out by CFC totaling almost USD 15 million, against 15 Coca-Cola bottlers and distributors in Mexico on
charges similar to the new investigation.
Nestle To Invest USD 175 Million In New Plant In Mexico
November 9, 2009
French food maker Nestle said that it will keep its 2010 investment plans for Mexico unchanged and that it will invest
USD 175 million to build a plant in the State of Mexico (Edomex) to produce coffee and to bring part of a powder
cream plant it has in the U.S. Nestle's coffee plant is expected to be the world's largest. The facility is scheduled to be
ready by 2011.
Analysts: AB InBev Readies USD 7 Billion For Grupo Modelo
November 13, 2009
According to analysts and comments by firm executives, U.S.-Brazilian-Dutch brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev might
be preparing as much as USD 7 billion to purchase the 50% share it does not already own in Mexican brewer Grupo
Modelo (GModelo). AB InBev said it is interested in GModelo as competitors SABMiller and Heineken are negotiating
a merger with GModelo's rival FEMSA that would enhance their operations in the Americas. In a related matter, a
recently published study indicated that the Corona beer brand, by GModelo, is the country's most valuable brand.
Herdez Invests USD 15 Million In 2009; Will Keep Prices Steady
November 9, 2009
Mexican food maker Grupo Herdez announced plans to invest USD 15 million to conclude some projects before the
end of the year and added that it will keep its product prices steady during 2010 to prevent a decline in consumption.
Herdez also said that it has plans to acquire a ship to fish tuna and conclude the construction of a new distribution
center, for which it has entailed USD 35 million.
Prominent Businessman Bernardo Garza Sada Dies
November 8, 2009
Prominent Mexican businessman Bernardo Garza Sada, founder and former president of conglomerate Grupo Alfa,
passed away at age 79 in Monterrey, in the state of Nuevo Leon, where he resided. Grupo Alfa was the most
powerful business conglomerate in Mexico during the seventies. Garza Sada was among the main supporters of the
prestigious Monterrey Superior Studies Technologic Institute (ITESM).
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Automotive
AMIA: Auto Output, Exports Show Recovery In October; Domestic Sales Fall
November 10, 2009
According to the Mexican Automotive Industry Association (AMIA), Mexican auto production posted its fourth monthon-
month increase in a row in October as the sector bounces back from a deep slump. AMIA said automakers
produced 184,769 vehicles in October, up 26% from September and the highest level since late last year. Production
was still down 13.9% year over year. Mexican auto exports of 145,711 units were also up in October compared to the
previous month and were at their highest level since late last year. Year on year, exports were down 13%.
Nevertheless, domestic car sales fell 18% in October to 67,881 from 83,306 in the like-2008 month.
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Housing, Real Estate & Mortgaging
Mexican Mortgage Company Hipotecaria Total Places MXN 3 Billion In MBS
November 13, 2009
Mexican mortgage company Hipotecaria Total (HiTo) said it placed MXN 3 billion in mortgage-backed securities
(MBS) granted by state workers' housing fund Fovissste. The sale was the first public offering of the Bonhito
standardized mortgage bonds to be backed by Fovissste loans. The securities, rated AAAmx on a local scale by
Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings, are backed by around 16,000 Fovissste mortgage loans.
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Construction & Infrastructure
Cemex Pays USD 1.5 Billion With Funds From Sale Of Swiss Operations To Holcim
November 9, 2009
Mexican cement maker Cemex announced that it paid a part, or USD 1.5 billion, of its large debt load with the USD
1.7 billion it secured from the sale of its Swiss operations to rival Holcim. Cemex's debt would now amount to USD 16
billion, according to analysts, and the firm is regaining liquidity. Executives from the company declined to provide
further details.
Cemex Reactivates Lawsuit Against Hugo Chavez
November 11, 2009
Mexican cement maker Cemex announced that it is continuing legal procedures against Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez as he decided last year to expropriate the company's assets in Venezuela. Cemex said that the World Bank's
(WB's) International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) restarted procedures against Venezuela for
the expropriation of its operations there. Recent information suggested that Cemex and the government of Venezuela
had agreed to negotiate payment for the company's assets under Chavez's terms.
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Retail
ANTAD: Retailers' October Same-Store Sales Rise 3% On Year
November 12, 2009
The Mexican Retail Association (ANTAD) said that same-store sales at its member establishments grew 3% in
October compared with the same month a year ago, the biggest increase since April. ANTAD said total sales at the
more than 17,000 stores it represents grew 9.8% from October 2008 to MXN 67.5 billion, bringing the year-to-date
total to MXN 662.1 billion. Same-store sales at supermarkets rose 2.3% in October, led by growth in groceries sales,
while clothing and footwear sales fell 2.9% and general merchandise sales rose 2%.
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Transportation
Mexicana Seeks To Become Leading Airliner After Entering One World Alliance
November 12, 2009
Mexican airliner Mexicana de Aviacion is seeking to become a leading player in the air transport industry and has
taken the first step toward achieving its goal by entering the One World airliners' alliance earlier this year. By joining
One World, Mexicana extended its destinations portfolio and increased it by 944%. One World is formed by American
Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malev, Qantas, Royal Jordanian and
now Mexicana.
Mexico City's Metrobus Receives Award By Harvard University
November 13, 2009
Mexico City's bus rapid transit system (Metrobus) received a prestigious award from Harvard, as the country
announced plans to expand the system. Harvard, in awarding Mexico City's system its Roy Family Award for
Environmental Partnerships, said the system has reduced carbon dioxide emissions from traffic by an estimated
60,000 to 80,000 tons a year by removing hundreds of polluting minibuses from the road, encouraging residents to
leave their cars at home, and stimulating greater use of sidewalks and bicycles. The World Bank (WB) helped Mexico
City develop its Metrobus system, which makes an estimated 450,000 trips a day, by providing the municipality with
USD 8.2 million. The country also expects USD 380 million in low-cost loans from the WB in December, which will be
used to develop 18 other projects in other cities.
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Telecommunications & Technology
Senate Approves Measures To Boost Competition In Mobile Telephony Sector
November 6, 2009
The Senate approved a measure that will exempt winners from the tender for the 1.7GHz frequency spectrum, which
includes the tenders of 90MHz in each one of the country's mobile telephony regions, from paying some related rights
during the first two years of operations in a bid to boost competition in the sector and ease costs on new players. With
the ruling, firms that win a 20MHz segment of the 1.7GHz spectrum could save as much as USD 57.7 million in
operational costs.
Cofetel: Televisa Continues Taking Clients Away From Telmex
November 6, 2009
According to figures from the Federal Telecommunications Commission (Cofetel), Mexican broadcaster Televisa has
been benefiting from the recently implemented portability rules in Mexico as it reported 8,067 new clients last month
while Telmex lost as many as 15,332 lines. Cofetel said the worst results were those of Axtel, as it reported the lowest
number of new clients in the same period. Cofetel added that portability requests fell 1.9% to 97,507 during 3Q when
compared to the whole period's average requests.
Mobile Telephony Firms: Wireless Subscribers Up 7.5% To 81.4 Million
November 12, 2009
According to data from the country's four mobile phone companies, Mexico's wireless subscribers rose 7.5% year on
year to 81.4 million at the end of September, as the industry continued growing despite the recession. The wireless
industry added 947,000 new subscribers during the third quarter, down from 1 million new additions the previous
quarter and 2.3 million in the same period of 2008, as the worst recession since the 1995 crisis and rising
unemployment limited consumer spending.
EchoStar Committed To Mexican Satellite TV Venture; To Invest USD 112 Million
November 12, 2009
U.S. satellite TV provider EchoStar said that it remains committed to its satellite TV venture in Mexico, in which it
plans to invest USD 112 million over a ten-year period. EchoStar formed a joint venture with Mexican
telecommunications firm MVS Comunicaciones in November 2008 to sell pay-TV packages for as little as MXN 149 a
month to low-income consumers. EchoStar holds a 24% indirect stake in the venture, called Dish Mexico. Dish
Mexico competes directly with the cable and satellite TV subsidiaries of media giant Grupo Televisa.
Telmex Internacional To Sell Five-Year Bonds By End Of November
November 10, 2009
Mexican Telco Telmex Internacional (Telint) said it plans to make its second issuance of five-year bonds under a
MXN 20 billion program at the end of the month. Telint said it plans to issue the floating rate bonds by the end of the
month. The terms of the issuance were not disclosed. The proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes,
including debt refinancing. Telint, which provides telecommunications services in six South American countries as
well as yellow-page services in four nations, including Mexico and the U.S., was spun off from Mexican fixed-line
carrier Telefonos de Mexico (Telmex) in June 2008. Meanwhile, Telmex said that it will ask shareholders on
December 1 to approve an extraordinary cash dividend of MXN 0.40 per share. Telmex said that if approved at the
shareholders' meeting, the dividend will be paid on December 17.
Cofetel: Axtel Calls To Mobile Phones Fail Due To Interconnection Problems
November 11, 2009
The Federal Telecommunications Commission (Cofetel) ratified that calls made from devices sold by Mexican telco
Axtel to mobile telephones fail or cannot be completed due to interconnection problems. Cofetel and executives at
Axtel said that the Communications and Transport Ministry (SCT) will provide an answer to the issue within two to
three weeks.
Infosys Opens Second IT Services Facility In Mexico
November 9, 2009
Indian IT Services company Infosys Technologies announced that it has opened its second IT services facility in
Mexico. The center, which will offer services such as consulting, business process outsourcing and technology
infrastructure management, will serve clients primarily in Latin America, North America and Europe. Indian
outsourcing firms such as Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services are expanding their presence in Latin America,
Europe and elsewhere.
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Media & Entertainment
Televisa To Invest USD 450 Million In Cable Network; To Propose Dividend
November 9, 2009
Mexican media conglomerate Grupo Televisa said it will invest USD 450 million on upgrades to its cable network in
Mexico City. The spending, which is designed to improve Internet speeds in order to attract more customers, will
happen over three years. Televisa's cable TV division Empresas Cablevision hopes to reach an additional million
potential customers by 2012. In the upgrades, Cablevision plans to use fiber-optic lines to provide customers Web
speeds of up to 6 megabits per second. In addition, Televisa said that it will ask shareholders to approve the payment
of about MXN 4 billion in cash dividends next month. Televisa said it will host a shareholders' meeting December 10
to vote on a proposal to pay a dividend of MXN 1.35 per local CPO share.
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Economy
IMF: Mexico To Grow 3% In 2010; Recovery Will Be Slow But No Further Drops In Sight
November 10, 2009
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that Mexico's economy will grow at an average rate of 3% next year and
added that the country's recovery will be slow, although no further contractions are expected soon. The IMF also said
that Mexico's current fiscal reforms are the best thing to do under the current economic circumstances, and added
that the tight trade relation with the U.S. was a key element that enhanced the country's economic slowdown.
PRI Legislators Negotiate Expenditures Reassignment For 2010 With SHCP
November 10, 2009
Legislators from the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) negotiated with the Finance and Public Credit Ministry
(SHCP) a minimum threshold of MXN 85 billion for the reassignment of the 2010 federal budget expenditures. The
funds will be equally distributed among local governments in states ruled by the PRI for investment and infrastructure
projects as well as for agricultural programs.
Mexico's Unemployment Rate Among OECD Members' Lowest
November 9, 2009
According to a recently issued report by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD),
Mexico's unemployment rate is among the lowest within the organization's 30 member nations. Mexico's rate stood at
6.1%, 2.5 percentage points below the 30 countries' 8.6% average. According to the report, Mexico's unemployment
rate was only higher than in the Netherlands, Korea, Austria and Japan.
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Border & Migration
Janet Napolitano: U.S. Meets Immigration Reform Benchmarks
November 13, 2009
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that the U.S. has dramatically improved security along its
border with Mexico and met other requirements set by lawmakers in 2007 for passing immigration reform. Napolitano
said improvements, including a big decline in illegal border crossings, have altered the political climate that existed in
2007 when Congress last failed to overhaul immigration laws. President Barack Obama says he wants legislation to
restructure immigration by early next year. Obama supports the idea of offering citizenship to illegal immigrants in
good standing while getting immigration enforcement to crack down on employers who hire undocumented workers
and hardening the porous border with Mexico.
Hispanics Celebrate Lou Dobbs' Resignation From CNN
November 13, 2009
Hispanics and Latinos in the U.S. celebrated the resignation of CNN host Lou Dobbs, who said that he has been
urged by political and business leaders to leave his television platform to "engage in constructive problem-solving" on
national issues. After a recent history of controversial comments on immigration, among other topics, Dobbs drew
heated protests from liberal groups and created friction within the cable network. Dobbs was a CNN original, signing
on when the cable network started in 1980. For much of that time, he hosted a nightly business broadcast that
became one of the most influential shows in the corporate world, and CNN's most profitable show for advertising
revenue.
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Politics
Forbes: Slim Is World's Sixth Most Powerful Man
November 12, 2009
According to Forbes magazine's list of the 67 "World's Most Powerful People," Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim Helu is
the world's sixth most powerful man, only below U.S., China's and Russia's Presidents Barack Obama, Hu Jintao and
Vladimir Putin, respectively, who are followed by Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed), and by
Google's founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page. Meanwhile, Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman has
reached a new level of fame—or infamy—by being included on the list at the 41st spot, considered more powerful
than Venezuelan and French Presidents Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Sarkozy, respectively.
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Justice, Safety & Crime
Binational Task Force Seeks Ban On Assault Weapons; Group Wants Overhaul Of Mexican Border Agencies
November 13, 2009
A binational task force on U.S.-Mexico border issues announced it will call on the Obama administration and the U.S.
Congress to reinstate an expired ban on assault weapons and for Mexico to overhaul its frontier police and customs
agencies to mirror the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The recommendations are among a broad set
of security, trade, development and environmental proposals that come as U.S. President Barack Obama and
Mexican counterpart Felipe Calderon move to deepen engagement on issues, including economic recovery, climate
change, illegal immigration and narcotics trafficking. The private task force includes several former senior government
officials from both countries.
Confrontations Between Soldiers, Corrupt Police Increase In Monterrey
November 9, 2009
Confrontations between soldiers and corrupt police officers are happening with increasing frequency in the city of
Monterrey, in the state of Nuevo Leon, as the army has engaged in a battle against police officers helping drug cartels
and drug dealers themselves. This year alone, police and soldiers have confronted one another more than 65 times
and the general in charge of army operations in northeastern Mexico said that he has warned police chiefs that
soldiers are ready to open fire on police if it happens again. General Guillermo Moreno, who commands troops in the
states of Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas, along the Texas border, said that the moment police shoot at soldiers, get in
their way or use their guns to protect criminals, they become criminals themselves.
Ciudad Juarez Businessmen To Call For The U.N. To Send Troops There
November 12, 2009
Entrepreneurs from Mexico's most violent city—Ciudad Juarez, in the state of Chihuahua—said they will ask the
United Nations (UN) to send troops there to help calm down the crime wave that has left over 2,000 casualties and
the emigration of as many as 6,000 businesses. However, UN representatives in Mexico said that UN troops only
intervene in war zones and since Ciudad Juarez has not been declared as such, it is not likely that soldiers could be
sent there.
Clergy Seek Global Help As Violence Grows
November 10, 2009
Mexico's Roman Catholic clergy, increasingly caught in the middle of the nation's drug war, are meeting shortly to
draft a strategy for coping with the violence, aided by advice from colleagues who faced similar threats in Colombia
and Italy. The Vatican spokesman, the Reverend Federico Lombardi, lauded the Mexican bishops for taking action,
saying it is good that the Catholic Church is involved with the major social issues in a country. Mexico trails only
Colombia as the most dangerous place for priests in Latin America, with two out of every ten priests facing serious
risks, according to an August study by the Mexican Council of Bishops.
Authorities: Gunmen Kill Police Commander In Ciudad Juarez
November 7, 2009
Authorities announced that gunmen killed Noe Martinez, the police commander in Ciudad Juarez, in the state of
Chihuahua, becoming the second senior police official gunned down in northern Mexico in recent days. Drug violence
has killed more than 2,000 people in Ciudad Juarez this year. Meanwhile, authorities have arrested at least 20
people, most of them police officers, for their alleged role in an ambush that killed retired Mexican army General Juan
Arturo Esparza, the police chief of a suburb in the city of Monterrey, in the state of Nuevo Leon.
Police, Angry Residents Clash Over Kidnapping Suspects
November 11, 2009
Police rescued four suspected kidnappers from a town hall surrounded by hundreds of angry residents who wanted to
punish them themselves. The four men, some of whom had been beaten, were hustled out of the town hall in
Cuijingo, in the State of Mexico (Edomex), on the outskirts of Mexico City, amid a hail of rocks tossed by residents.
Earlier, townspeople had tossed gasoline at the building in a bid to get at the men. Edomex police said people in
Cuijingo claim the men were caught trying to kidnap a local businessman. Police took the suspects to the town
offices, but hundreds of townspeople gathered outside to demand they be handed over. Meanwhile, prosecutors in
the state of Baja California said they freed a 21-year-old U.S. woman who was kidnapped near the border. The
woman, whose name was not released, was found bound and beaten.
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Health & Science
Mexican Drug Cartels Start Smuggling And Controlling Illegal Sales Of Medicines
November 1, 2009
According to a study by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Mexican drug cartels have started to smuggle and
control the illegal sales of controlled medicines in the U.S., shipping them into the country through regular illegal drug
transportation practices. The report indicated that the number of deaths related to overdoses of opiates increased
twofold in four years and that health insurance companies have been losing an average USD 70 billion per year for
that reason.
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Other
Mexico Declares Flood Emergency In Two Cities
November 9, 2009
The government has declared parts of the Gulf coast state of Tabasco disaster zones due to flooding from days of
heavy rains, freeing up federal relief funds for the area. The decree issued by the Ministry of Interior (SEGOB) covers
the cities of Cardenas and Huimanguillo, where the government is handing out food and household goods to some of
the estimated 200,000 people affected by high waters. Some areas were underwater for about ten days. Tabasco
Governor Andres Granier says some victims lack food and drinking water. About 40,000 people remain in emergency
shelters, but others are waiting out the floods on the roofs of their homes.
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