Puerto Escondido, one of the most emblematic destinations in Oaxaca, is facing a security crisis that threatens to collapse tourism and seriously affect the local economy. If before the concern was common crime, now tourists must also be wary of the municipal police.
The most recent case occurred last week, when a group of visitors from Mexico City was surrounded, handcuffed and subdued by municipal police. Their fault: an administrative infraction on the beach. Instead of receiving a fine, they were treated like criminals, until a radio call alerted them about the abuse and they were released. It was not an isolated incident. Last December, another family had a similar experience, with the same modus operandi and the demand for money to be released.
The new municipal agent of Puerto Escondido, Iván Mijangos Peña, took office on January 26 and faces the challenge of cleaning up the image of the police before tourism collapses. The question is whether he will take steps to curb these abuses or allow his administration to join in the corruption that plagues the area.
If Puerto Escondido remains a haven for criminals and police abuses, tourism will plummet and the local economy will take a devastating hit. Merchants, hoteliers and restaurateurs depend on a safe and reliable environment to receive visitors. The question is: who will protect tourists if the police themselves are part of the problem?
A blow to organized crime in Edomex: the murder of “El Kastor”
While Puerto Escondido faces its own security crisis, a significant blow against organized crime was carried out in the State of Mexico. Mario Alberto Jiménez Castro, alias “El Kastor,” identified as the operator of Los Chapitos, was murdered in Calimaya, State of Mexico.
The DEA was offering up to a million dollars for his capture, which underlines the relevance of this event in the panorama of organized crime in Mexico.
This murder occurs in a context where the government of the State of Mexico, in coordination with federal authorities, has intensified its operations against criminal organizations. In addition, it coincides with recent commitments between Mexico and the United States in the fight against drug trafficking.
The question is whether this blow represents a sustained strategy against crime or whether, as on other occasions, it will be an isolated event without real impact on the structure of drug trafficking.
Veracruz: political ruptures and betrayals in the opposition
The political panorama in Veracruz has become a battlefield. The alliance between the PRI and the PAN fell apart before it even began. Both parties announced that they will compete alone in the municipal elections, which leaves the opposition divided and weakened.
The PAN argues that there were no conditions for an effective coalition, while the PRI accuses the PAN members of being “two-faced,” claiming that many of them are operating in favor of Morena. Adolfo Ramírez Arana, leader of the PRI in Veracruz, said that within the PAN there are people who are already working to favor the party in power.
As if that were not enough, the Labor Party (PT) left Morena and the PVEM hanging by not coming forward to sign the electoral alliance. Officially, the disagreement is due to the distribution of candidates, but in political circles it is said that the PT is seeking to “sell its support dearly.”
With this scenario, Morena and its allies arrive fragmented to the electoral contest, while the opposition is weakened by the lack of unity. The June 1 election promises more internal conflicts than strategic agreements.
Security, politics and organized crime crisis in Mexico
Puerto Escondido faces a critical moment. Insecurity and police abuses are driving away tourists and generating a crisis that could seriously affect the local economy. Iván Mijangos Peña has the challenge of regaining the trust of visitors and preventing corruption from taking deeper root in the region.
On the other hand, the murder of “El Kastor” in Edomex reflects the ongoing fight against organized crime, but leaves the question of whether it will be a strategic blow or an isolated case.
In Veracruz, politics is crumbling with betrayals, breakups and a fragmented opposition that could benefit Morena in the next elections.
Mexico faces challenges in security, politics and economy. The question is: will the actors involved be able to solve them before it is too late?
Source: laverdadnoticias
