By Ann M. Augherton
Herald Managing Editor
(From the issue of 11/20/03)

CENCOS, the National Center of Social Communications, organized the Mexico part of the tour. They call themselves a witness of Mexico’s evolution to a democracy and of the struggle of civil society to participate in making political, economic, social and cultural decisions. They also promote the use of communications.

Among the speakers they arranged for the group of journalists were representatives from human rights organizations, groups concerned with social communications, peace and democracy, the Action Network against Free Trade, and several NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations).

Speaker after speaker talked about Mexico’s problem of poverty, the struggle for human rights and indigenous rights, the political system, the negative effects of NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement), the proposed highway Puebla Pan American Project, the recent WTO (World Trade Organization) meeting in Cancun and the protests, emigration to the United States, the media, and the prevalence of sweatshops.

Emilio Alvarez-Icaza, ombudsman for human rights in Mexico, said the country is in a period of transition following 70 years of rule by one party, the PRI (Revolutionary Institutional Party). Vincente Fox, from the PAN (National Action Party), was elected in 2000, but reviews on his administration are mixed depending on who you ask. Icaza said that 55 percent of the population lives under the poverty line, and the largest concentration of riches lie with very few people, which results in uneven distribution of resources, "maybe one of the worst in the world," he said.

In the nearly 10 years since NAFTA was passed, Icaza said, "people on both sides of the border lose, and only the companies win."

He believes NAFTA has resulted in increased worker exploitation, especially in the maquiladoras, or sweat shops. Young women, known for the agility needed for hand work, are hired short-term at lower wages. According to Icaza, the women are often given pregnancy tests, and if they are pregnant they are fired so the employer doesn’t have to pay social security.

The unexplained killings and disappearances of 500 women over a 10-year period in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, is an ongoing concern, according to Icaza. The International Day of Solidarity with Women Killed in Juarez, a rally held in cities throughout the world and in 21 American cities, held a rally Nov. 1 in Washington to call attention to this situation and to urge the Mexican government to respond to inquiries (ACH 11/6/03). The border town is known for the sweatshops that employ young women who have left their homes and families for work.

Icaza said young people believe their future is in the U.S. and with the illegal emmigration to the U.S., ghost towns are becoming a new phenomenon, where the only people in these towns are women, children and the elderly. Young people can’t find jobs in Mexico. Icaza said his nephew told him he was going to college and he might not find a job, but at least he would know why.

The Church has a very aggressive youth program, "that’s why the pope loves Latin America," he said. Young people think of themselves as Catholic, "but they don’t care about what their bishop says, especially regarding sexuality." Sixty percent of couples use birth control, he said, adding "They have a cultural identity with the Church, but they don’t act with the moral attitude that the Church dictates."

According to Icaza, 90 percent of the country is Catholic, "at least historically, if not in practice."

He believes that the Catholic Church still plays an important role in Mexico, especially in politics and society. When the Mexican bishops’ conference meets twice a year it is national news.

Icaza said that 21 million people, or 20 percent of the country’s population, live in urban areas, with a total population of nearly 100 million. Because over the past 50 years, the majority of construction has taken place in the city, "people in the country don’t have a chance to take part in the economy," he said.

Icaza said that 10 percent of the population is officially indigenous, they live in the countryside and dress in traditional attire. Racism is a big problem in Mexico and calling someone "Indian" is derogatory. "Most of the poor people on the streets look like Indians, the decision-makers are not exactly that kind of person," he said.

He alluded to the machismo culture and the struggle women have for equal rights. Women in the indigenous communities are not allowed to own property, according to Icaza. Of the 32,000 complaints that come in to the Human Rights Commission each year, 7,000 have to do with authorities, and 25,000 are private complaints, mostly domestic violence issues.

Icaza said corruption persists and the police on the streets and the secret police still practice torture. He said it is not a question of the government, but rather the behavior of certain public servants. He said some of the reasons for this are greed, the need to have guilty people so they often arrest innocent people, and the lack of quality investigations.

Speaking about freedom of the press and the role the media plays, he said that although 100 million people live in Mexico, only 1 million copies of the daily paper are sold. The impact of the media is on the administration only, he said, especially the broadcasting companies, who are "close to the government."

Some journalists play an important role and make a difference personally, but not the media as a whole.

Icaza believes that any transition needs to include a process to review the past. He said many of the government’s attempts to make changes are like "giving aspirin to treat cancer."