Police scene after the bomb attack on Mexico’s electoral authority
Source: Reuters, via Yahoo! News

Today, violent thugs launched a new attack directed explicitly at Mexico’s democracy. Someone doesn’t like the results of Mexico’s elections and is trying to destroy Mexico’s democracy, not through the power of reasoned ideas, but by blowing things up. That’s his solution.

Two new bombs went off in Ixtapa, hours before the arrival of President-elect Felipe Calderon who had been planning to take a few days off. Clearly, some leftwing terrorist barbarians know Calderon’s schedule and are willing to make terror attacks based on it. I wonder if the Cubans helped them? Whether they were or not, it’s clear these thugs were trying to kill Calderon. Security has been stepped up at the resorts.

The attack immediately follows three huge bombings that went off in Mexico City yesterday. The attacks, directed at the electoral authority, a bank, and a political party headquarters were carried out by the leftist insurgents who’ve been active in Oaxaca and Atenco. Today they claimed “credit.” These leftists so fringe and so extreme that they consider Mexico’s PRD presidential candidate, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, too rightwing for their tastes. Naturally, they didn’t vote for anybody in the July 2 election. They don’t do voting. They bomb.

These dirtbags are associated with the Chiapas rebels of several years back, and their group is called ‘La Otra Campagna.’ Their leader is blue-eyed Subcommandante Marcos. They are all over Mexico right now and have plenty of presence even in Tijuana. The only place they really belong is jail.

When I went to the Hollywood ANSWER rally ten days ago, I met a bunch of these Otra Campagnas there, passing out leaflets. They said they were out for revolution and hated all political parties in Mexico. So get cheery, they’re over here in East Los Angeles, too. Very dangerous people.

Clearly, this is an attack on Mexico’s democracy. These thugs don’t want Calderon to be their president. With Calderon the president-elect until he takes office on Dec. 1 and Fox a lame duck, they clearly see opportunities for havoc.

Goldman Sachs views this with alarm and doesn’t see one good thing about it. Mexico’s stock market is tanking right now over this. Goldman writes:

A Looming Test for President-elect Calder????n

Yesterday, three bombs went off in Mexico City, while five other explosive devices did not explode. Five guerrilla groups took the responsibility for the terrorist attacks, adding that they were protesting the repression and political crisis in the State of Oaxaca. Reforma reports that, three weeks ago, several guerrilla groups had threatened to set off a bomb to protest against the repression in Oaxaca. These groups are known to operate in the States of Oaxaca, Hidalgo, Morelos, Guerrero, and Mexico.

Despite material damage, there were no casualties or injuries, suggesting that the purpose of the bombs was to send a strong destabilizing message during these politically fluid times in Mexico. Most likely, the political crisis in Oaxaca is behind the bombings.

We believe that more important than the bombs is the fact that Mexico is undergoing a delicate and trying political transition. President-elect Calder????n is scheduled to take office on December 1. Therefore, there may be groups willing to cloud the transition, in light of the disputed and tight Presidential elections last July. Meanwhile, the Fox administration has been unable to resolve the political crisis and restore law and order in the State of Oaxaca. The manifestations have spilled over to Mexico City, while Oaxaca’s Governor Ruiz (PRI) refuses to resign.

It is possible that extremist groups seeking the use of force to solve Oaxaca may be behind the bombings. The attacks on the TRIFE was to protest the elections, while the attacks on the offices of the PRI were to protest the unwillingness of the party to oust Governor Ruiz.

In our opinion, the main lesson from the Oaxaca, Atenco, and the bombing affairs is that since before the presidential elections in July, there has been a crescendo of political conflicts and instability in certain areas of Mexico. Given the somber experience of Mexico with excessive use of force by the state in the 1960s and 1970s, it is possible that the Fox administration may be unwilling to use the full repressive power of the state to enforce law and order. This reluctance has opened the space for minority groups to grow bolder and become more defiant. We worry that the security situation will remain fluid at least until we reach the inauguration, on December 1.

Another delicate angle behind the conflicts in Oaxaca is the threat to the hegemony and independence of fiefdoms governed by the old guard of the PRI. Governor Ulises Ruiz was instrumental in supporting the nomination of Roberto Madrazo to become the presidential candidate of the PRI. Whoever is behind the attempt to destabilize Oaxaca, may be also aiming at removing from power part of the old guard of the PRI, which continues to enjoy much leeway in the way in which it governs the states it controls. This in part could explain why the government has been so chary to intervene in the state. In addition, it may also suggest why the crisis in Oaxaca is much more delicate than simply removing a few protestors from the streets. In fact, federal government interference in a PRI-dominated state may hamper efforts by the PANista leadership to forster the political support which Calder????n will need to legislate in the next sexenio.

In light of these events, we conclude that one of the most crucial Cabinet appointments by President Calder????n will be the Secret????rio de Gobernaci????n (responsible for political negotiations and internal security), the Attorney General (PGR), and security forces. This is because there is a risk that Calder????n will be tested as soon as he takes office. If he is firm and balanced, he will gain authority and respect thast gives him the credibility required to undertake even more complex negotiations during his presidential term. In turn, this would open the political space for a competent economic team to continue much needed structural reforms. If he does not succeed in this endeavor, the prospects for reforms will become uncertain.

While they were at it, these asshats blew up a Burger King in Oaxaca, denouncing multinational corporations, and putting 30 Mexicans out of work. Mark in Mexico heard the whole thing happen and has nothing but scorn for these violent thugs as do I. Mark has the whole account, plus some very descriptive destruction pictures of what they did, in this post here.