Protesters claim Mexico's election was fraudulent


By ALEJANDRO CANO

Published: Thursday, August 2, 2012 10:05 AM PDT

Calling on Mexican authorities to invalidate the July 1 presidential election on the grounds of alleged fraud, leaders from several Inland Empire organizations gathered outside the Mexican Consulate office in San Bernardino on July 30.

The protesters, comprised of members of the "Movimiento Progresista en California," delivered a letter to the Mexican consulate, signed by hundreds of people, claiming the elections were fraudulent.

The group alleges the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) wants to establish Enrique Pena Nieto as the winner by buying a million votes, laundering money and illegally manipulating Mexico's election via the media.

"Because of the fraudulent election results orchestrated by the corrupt Old Guard PRI, Mexico today has a struggling democracy and is at a dangerous political juncture. If the election is not nullified, high levels of chronic discontent could produce major civil unrest, destabilizing Mexico," said Armando Navarro, professor of political science at the University of California Riverside (UCR). "Should PRI's presidential candidate Enrique Pena Nieto become Mexico's next president, not only would he be illegitimate, but this travesty would have serious ramifications for Mexico, the United States' 33 million 'Mexicanos' and U.S./Mexico relations."

The letter was received by alternate consul Fernando Valdez, who assured protesters it will be directed to the right department in Mexico.

In summary, the letter urges President Felipe Calderon and his administration, specifically Mexico's attorney general and secretario de hacienda, to investigate the evidence of money laundering, buying of votes, and other irregularities that demonstrate the alleged fraudulent nature of the election.

The letter incorporated various articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Mexico's Constitution's Articles 39, 40, and 41, which all accentuate the holding of free, open, and authentic democratic elections.

The protest was done to support a national rally that will be held in Mexico on Aug. 5, which would take place in all 32 states of the Mexican Republic.

The protest is being spearheaded by Mexico's Movimiento Progresista, Yo Soy 132, Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas and other movements with the idea of invalidating the "fraudulent" presidential election.

"This stealing of this election should not be constructed in the abstract, it impacts real lives. Millions upon millions of women, men and children are calling for legitimate elections because their lives and welfare are at stake," said Maria Anna Gonzales, a local activist. "They understand that Mexico is on the brink of chaos, but not because of them but because of the criminals who stole the election victory away from the people of Mexico."

Protesters, including Rosa Martha Zarate, coordinator of MORENA Sin Fronteras, support Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), candidate of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD). Zarate said she not only was fighting for AMLO but for the entire nation; therefore, she urged Mexicans living abroad to unite in the fight for democracy.

"It is time once and for all for us to assume our place in the struggle to make good on our constitutional rights. Mexico does not end at the border," she said.

The protest brought together various leaders, including Emilio Amaya and Homero Lobato, from the pro-immigrant organization Immediate Response Network, Richard and Esther Macias, from MORENA Los Angeles, and Mario Lazcano, from Comite Latino del Valle de Coachella, among others.

"For the Mexican migrant in the United States, this perhaps is the only opportunity for the government of Mexico to be honest with its people; it could help end the corruption and the poverty in Mexico, the principal cause of the migration abroad and principally in the United States," said Amaya.

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