Mexico Politics

The article by William Schneider (Opinion, June 26) on Carlos Salinas de Gortari, the ruling party candidate for president of Mexico, is blatantly biased and supportive of Salinas’ economic policies of austerity, which he has set for the past six years as secretary of budget and planning. Schneider seems indifferent or ignorant of the poverty and hunger these policies have inflicted upon the Mexican people. Witness the increasing number of immigrants (“illegals”) crossing the U.S. border.

Salinas wants Mexico to become independent economically, to provide jobs and exports, yet, he has allowed Mexico’s wealthy citizens to abandon the economy and invest in the United States. Last year 900 Mexican professionals immigrated to the United States; they are the administrators of these investments. The exports coming out of Mexico are foreign produced and owned, foreign investment in Mexico is booming. Salinas welcomes foreign investors. This will create a dependency that will lead to a loss of freedom, as foreigners gain political and economic control over Mexico. As an example, U.S. creditor banks have demanded austerity measures in order to ensure their payments by Mexico, Salinas has complied.

Schneider claims Mexican-American activists pressured the Democratic Party to pass a resolution asking the United States to put pressure on Mexico to ensure fair elections. This is not true. At no time was there a need to pressure. I first presented the resolution to the Chicano Caucus on Jan. 8, 1988; it was adopted unanimously. I then presented it to the L.A. County Central Committee on Jan 12; it was adopted unanimously. After acquiring 200 signatures from delegates to the Democratic Party platform convention in Palm Springs, the response from the platform committee was, “It’s time we spoke out on the corruption in Mexico.” The 1,000 delegates then voted to adopt the resolution as an amendment to the state platform on March 19, unanimously.

Schneider also states Salinas will win the election on July 6. He may not. Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, the son of Mexico’s most beloved past president, Lazaro Cardenas, is also a candidate and the response of the Mexican people has the PRI worried. The campesinos and the poor are saying they will not be cheated at the polls any longer.

VIRGINIA READE

South Gate