Debate on the legalization of drugs in the American Union of States

Senators call for debate on the issue of drug legalization

The new president of Guatemala, Otto Perez, asked legalizing drugs as well as 19 states in the American union

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 23. – Senators from the PRI, PAN and PVEM demanded to initiate discussions on whether or not to decriminalize drug use involving parents, teachers, doctors and the general public, not just political parties.

In an interview, the senator of the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), Rosario Green, said the debate should be opened as the drug problem is very delicate, but probably will oppose this, “the rights and probably the churches,” he said.

However, the former chancellor said that Mexico has already decriminalized the carrying and use of marijuana “in small amounts for personal use, but many people do not know.”

Even the Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa, said on Wednesday that “she and President Felipe Calderon do not oppose to open a national debate on the issue,” Green said Macias.

Meanwhile, the president of the Public Safety Commission, Senator National Action Party (PAN), Felipe González, said that while the political institution has the position “that the solution is not to approve the use of drugs, this is the time to discuss the issue. “

“We are hearing what they say lawmakers and parties, but this must be open to society to view the topic, and parents are the most authoritative for us to listen and tell us what you think about this issue,” he added.

Gonzalez insisted that this is the time since in 19 states of the American Union already legalized the medicinal use of marijuana, and the new president of Guatemala, Otto Perez, asked to legalize drugs.

In turn, the legislature of the Green Party of Mexico (PVEM), Rene Arce, sued the Senate to approve his proposal to call ‘a great national debate’ to decriminalize certain drugs, like marijuana, and regulate the market of drugs.

“I insist on the issue because this is the time that in Mexico we must give way to reflection and debate on legalizing and regulating drugs,” the legislature by the Federal District.

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Humberto Lazcano, cousin of the leader of Los Zetas captured

PACHUCA, February 23. – The Ministry of Public Security (SSPH) this afternoon presented to state mediachannels, Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano, The Lazca , who was arrested last night in Pachuca.

Along with this suspect 12 others were presented who are linked to the alleged criminal organization responsible for killings, abductions and extortion in various municipalities of Hidalgo.

According to the SSPH, Channels – Lazcano, “The Goat Major” was responsible for the collection of fuel bribes at the base of Mezquital Valley and the highlands of Hidalgo.

Damian Canales Mena, state police chief, said in conference that the arrest of these 13 people came after a series of operations in three colonies of Pachuca, involving only the state police.

In the operations about 200 security and Research Coordination Task Force officers, raided three safe houses.

These apprehensions were made in San Antonio homes, Remove, Perisur Square and near a seafood restaurant on the Mexico-Pachuca border line, where firearms were also confiscated.

Image via Wikipedia

US anti-drug cooperation will continue with whoever wins elections in Mexico

The U.S. government said he did not foresee changes in military strategy against organized crime adopted by Felipe Calderon

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22. – The U.S. government said today that cooperation with Mexico will remain unchanged in the war on drugs, whoever wins the presidential elections in July in that country, while drug violence has been the focus of several congressional leaders.

The fight against drugs in Mexico, since December 2006, has claimed the lives of some 50,000 people in that country, and is a key part of bilateral relations, but has also been a source of friction between the two countries.

However, neither human rights organizations, nor the Washington government and analysts expect changes in military strategy adopted by President Felipe Calderon.

“Since late 1990, Mexico has undergone a major political developments after seventy years of being ruled by a single party. It is a profound change and that we have welcomed,” said William Ostick, a spokesman for the Department of State.

“The interests and American values are the same as in Mexico: a free and fair election decided by the Mexican people. Look forward to working closely with the Mexican government, led by the political party chosen by the Mexicans,” he said Ostick.

For lack of better options on the table, none of the presidential candidates in Mexico has explained what changes would you make in the current strategy, nor have they indicated whether long-term would, for example, more room for maneuver for the agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Mexican soil.

The candidate of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), Enrique Peña Nieto, who leads polls ahead of elections next July 1, leans in favor of a gradual withdrawal of the military displaced in 14 of the 31 states, but has not offered a timetable for achieving it.

“Whoever is elected in Mexico will largely continue the current strategy, but the next president may seek a greater focus on strengthening institutions and prosecuting the most violent groups,” said Andrew Selee Efe, director of Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson Center.

“The general policy will not change, but may change the way it is applied there,” said the expert.

During a hearing last week, Arizona Sen. John McCain, questioned the commitment of “at least one candidate” to continue the fight against drug traffickers, but declined to say whether he was referring to Peña Nieto.

Through the Merida Initiative, a regional security initiative, 400 million, U.S. aid to Mexico to fight the drug cartels to prevent a “contagion” of drug violence in its territory.

Last Thursday, during a ceremony in Ciudad Juarez, across from El Paso (Texas), Calderón again requested U.S. assistance to curb the flow of arms to his country, which nourishes “the terrible violence” afflicting the country.

“No more weapons to Mexico (No more weapons to Mexico),” Calderon cried in English, after a ceremony where he witnessed the destruction of nearly seven thousand weapons, including assault rifles and grenades, seized organized crime.

The Spanish group President of Congress, Charlie A. Gonzalez said today that in the next two weeks will review with representatives of the various proposals Mexican presidential candidates in the drug war in Mexico.

“They asked us to submit proposals and recommendations. I do not know how different can be a focus (of the war on drugs) than it has been doing the government of Felipe Calderon … whoever is in front of the next government will have to get the full support of the Mexican people, their commitment, their participation, “he said.

In these ideas Mexicans “are those who risk their personal safety. The task is not easy. The United States must be a partner, an ally and we have to find how we can help the Mexican people to engage in their own future, “stressed the Texas legislature.

Without giving details, Gonzalez said the meetings will be held in Texas.

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Riots at Apodaca, Nuevo Leon

The PGR reported this morning that the prisoners aka, The Junior, Jose Angel Vega and Francisco Gámiz Raul Hernandez, The Stranger were transferred to Puente Grande.

The Attorney General’s Office, in conjunction with the Army finalized the transfer of three inmates from the prison in Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, Puente Grande, Jalisco, whose operating triggered yesterday a violent day in and out of prison Monterrey.

These are internal Quiroga Marcos de Leon, Commander Chabelo, Mario Andres Rios Alcorta, The Junior , and Jose Angel Vega and Francisco Gámiz Raul Hernandez, The Stranger.

At a press conference to read a statement, Assistant Attorney General Criminal Process Control of the PGR, confirmed that the transfer operation of the three defendants was in compliance with the order of a judge.

She explained that at about 1:30 am this morning was received by Apodaca to the above internal and already in Puente Grande.

He explained that yesterday, at the edge of 19:00 hours, arrived at the penitentiary Apodaca employees involved in the transport of prisoners, at the time when violence was at its peak inside and outside the prison.

He indicated that the cars that make up the criminal 216/2011-V, the Third District Judge in Criminal Matters in Nuevo Leon instructed trial of these persons for offenses of possession of firearms and possession of cartridges for the exclusive use of the Armed Forces.

The official of the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) said they were also charged with drug crimes in the form of drug dealing, in its variant of possession for purposes of trade.

He explained that pursuant to the execution made by the Seventh Circuit Court of the Third Assistant Center Region based in Guadalajara, Jalisco, on 16 February this year the reference judge issued an arrest warrant them for the crime of crime organized.

He said that on day 20 of the case the judge ordered the transfer of the three defendants to any of the Social Rehabilitation Centres Maximum Security, declining jurisdiction in favor of any of the judges of crime where there is a Federal Center for Social Rehabilitation ( Cefereso).

This, he said, arguing that it lacks jurisdiction to continue hearing the facts, so the judge instructed the Federal Public Ministry staff to carry out the transfer of the accused.

Jimenez Pacheco said that for this reason on 20 February, the representative office of the federation established the links of coordination with government authorities of Nuevo Leon that have responsibility for the Centre for Social Reintegration of Apodaca.

Nevertheless, he said, was not achieved the transfer of three death row because the PGR was informed that there was a riot inside the prison, so that federal forces had to provide perimeter security at the request of state authorities .

The official said that, to fulfill the agreement, ministerial staff, accompanied by federal forces, was presented Tuesday at Apodaca criminal inmates to receive and carry out the shipment ordered by the judicial authority.

Jimenez Pacheco stated that the delivery of the three defendants found at 1:30 am on Wednesday and were taken to the Federal Center for Social Rehabilitation of Puente Grande, Jalisco, where they were interned!

Anonymous has signed-off their online assaults Image via Wikipedia

It’s the calling card that Anonymous has signed-off their online assaults with since the start of their Internet crusades. As the hacktivists continue to come down hard on the websites of corrupt corporations and governments, they’re offering the warning once more.

Anonymous is cautioning future targets something that they think should have been clear of awhile ago: they’re serious. Following a series of highly-publicized attacks on the websites and computer networks of government and private sector entities across the globe, operatives allegedly involved in the hacking collective Anonymous announced that their ruthless assaults and raids will not cease. Campaigns will continue, says the group, and they will carry on with revealing the results of their handiwork every week.

In a post published to the AnonOps Communications website over the weekend, a spokesperson for the group insists that the attacks that have come every Friday during the last few months will continue for the unforeseeable future.

“Each and every Friday Anonymous will be launching attacks… with the specific purpose of wiping as many corrupt corporate and government systems off our Internet,” reads the message.

Although the group cites no leader, affiliation or organizational structure, the AnonOps Communications blog has served as a central hub for communiqué of sorts for the group. In addition to tweets and postings from individual operates, the AnonOps site has detailed, discussed and confirmed Anonymous-related attacks in the past. According to the recent posting, those assaults will only continue despite the group becoming a household name as of late due to their attacks on international governments.

Even with warning targets in the past that they will be victimized with online assaults, Anonymous has still remained at large. An alleged member speaking on condition of anonymity to Wired.com says, “We are already sitting on dozens of unreleased targets” and that assaults will continue until things change.

In recent weeks, the group has gone after a wide-range of targets across the globe, which they say have engaged in unethical, immoral or otherwise downright devious activities. Websites affiliated with the US government in one form or another have become popular targets, and during 2012 the group has rehashed a campaign used previously called FuckFBIFriday, or FFF. As part of the campaign, the group has gone after different federal entities and released their damage at the end of the workweek.

Targets in 2012 alone that have been comprised due to Anonymous-engaged activities include the CIA, the US Copyright Office, the police department of Oakland, California, Universal Music Group and the FBI. Even after crippling those sites and, in some instances, defacing them and hacking into private data on their servers, the group seems all but unstoppable.

In their latest FFF installment, Anonymous infiltrated the servers of several sites affiliated with the US Federal Trade Commission over opposition to the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, or ACTA — an in-the-works agreement between more than a dozen major nations. On Friday, the group warned that “If ACTA is signed by all participating negotiating countries,” the world can expect a “war that [will] rain torrential hellfire down on all enemies of free speech, privacy and internet freedom.”

To Wired, the Anonymous member confirmed that the collective shows no sign of stopping.

“We’ve been saying it for the longest (time),” the member explained. “This is war.”

Though the group has remained active in the underground for several years, they received notoriety in early 2012 for helping expose a congressional legislation in waiting, the Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA. Although the act has since gone into hibernation, Anons have said that they intend on fighting the US government if they continue to try to keep the Internet from being an open medium for communication and innovation.

“This is a war they plan on fighting until the end and so do we,” Project PM founder and occasional Anonymous collaborative Barrett Brown told RT.

Responding at the time to SOPA and the federal raid that shut-down online file sharing site Megaupload, the group ravaged the websites of the US Department of Justice and others. With the in-the-works ACTA legislation causing concern from Internet activists only weeks after SOPA was stopped, the group is once again ready to engage in a battle with whomever it must take on.

“ACTA is a downright shitty act. We must kill it. With fire,” the group explained in a message placed on the defaced Federal Trade Commission last week during the latest FFF mission. “We will systematically knock all evil corporations and governments off of our Internet.”