By Richard N. Baldwin T. /HispanicVista.com

   October 1, 2006

  From Mexico
   

 

By Richard N. Baldwin T. /HispanicVista.com
Where Did The Money Come From? 

     On 15 September it certainly looked like a major confrontation was imminent between the federal government and the followers of the narrowly defeated presidential candidate, Andres Manuel López Obrador (AMLO). 15 September, of course is the eve of Mexican Independence Day, which is called the Grito, the cry for independence. This commemorates the night in 1810 that Miguel Hidalgo, a Mexican priest who made the call at 11:00 that night in the town of what is now known as Delores Hidalgo. It is a short and inspiring speech ending with Viva México three times. It is tradition that on the evening of the 15th the oldest member of the family gets up and reads the Grito to the family in households. This proceeds Independence Day on the 16th.

     Traditionally, the president of México delivers the Grito to a packed Zocalo of the capital (Main City Square) to hundreds of thousands of people below the balcony where he speaks and rings the bell at the end. On the following day, a parade comes into the Zocalo and the president reviews the troops.

     This year, there was a problem. AMLO had organized a massive protest that had been in process for 45 days in central Mexico (City). Tens of thousands of people had occupied not only many of the main thoroughfares but also the Zocalo. It was a massive camp out with the protesters who felt that AMLO should have won in the streets and Zocalo. These people were prepared to stay as long as necessary to prevent Felipe Calderón, the actual winning candidate from taking office. Both President Fox and AMLO took immovable stands to do their thing. Then, a few days before the 15th, President Fox decided to deliver the Grito in Dolores Hidalgo and not in the capital. (The Dolores Hidalgo location has been used from time to time in the past.) Then, at about the same time, AMLO decided to clear the Zocalo and the streets by the 16th for the parade. He did want to use the Zocalo in the afternoon of the 16th in order to hold a rally (which he called a "convention") that would declare him as the "legitimate" president of México.

     The confrontation was avoided. The Grito was held, the parade was held and reviewed by the president, and AMLO was "elected" by his convention. And the bonus was that traffic has returned to its normal jam in the central city.

     But the consider this: Where did the money for this massive protest come from? Where did the well made tent city come from? Where did all of the food to feed these people come from? And more important, these people were receiving pay for their camp out. Most say that the protesters were getting about $20.00 USD a day. In fact, I have heard of some that quit well paying jobs to "work" at the camp out. Yes, most of these people strongly believed in their leader, AMLO. But we wonder where all the money to finance this protest came from?

     I am reminded by "Deep Throat" in All the President's Men who tells the reporter to "follow the money". Conspiracy theory devotees are having a field day. Some point out that Carlos Slim, the third richest man on the planet, was a supporter of AMLO. Some say that the disgraced past president Carlos Salinas is a hidden supporter. And there are those that see Hugo Chávez mixed up in this.  Personally, I doubt the Chávez theory. But the rumors keep going on.

     And for that matter, why did AMLO gracefully compromise at the last minute? Did he run out of money?  But maybe Fox realized that a hard confrontation would probably work against the stability of México. Maybe AMLO will just "fade away" on his own accord, but using the military on the campers would only entrench the protest. If so, Fox was wise.

     But make no mistake. AMLO has made a mark on México that will be with us for quite some time. He has attracted attention to the vast poor of México and has made many realize why so many Mexicans are fleeing México for the North. México desperately needs some changes, and the near win of AMLO may just make some of these changes possible. It is of note that Calderón has already incorporated some of AMLO's points in his proposed agenda for his administration.

     Now it is up to AMLO as to whether he will be a positive "loyal opposition" that proposes instead of just opposing as the trounced PRI did. After all, a democracy must have a loyal opposition to function as such. And with only about a half percent less votes than the winner, AMLO has a bully pulpit if he uses it wisely. 
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Richard N. Baldwin T., a HispanicVista.com (http://www.hispanicvista.com/) contributing columnist, lives in Tlalnepantla, Edo de México. E-mail at: R1041643422@aol.com
16 October 2006