La escuela de Ayotzinapa, diez años después de la desaparición de los 43 estudiantes

Por

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26/09/2024

Ayotzinapa (México).- En el décimo aniversario de la desaparición de los 43 normalistas de Ayotzinapa, EFE visitó la escuela para conocer cómo viven allí los actuales estudiantes, herederos de una lucha demasiado cercana para ser olvidada en un caso que conmocionó México y que sigue sin resolver.

Esta pequeña comunidad educativa, ubicada en el sureño estado de Guerrero (sur de México), celebra durante este mes de septiembre las jornadas de protesta en memoria de los compañeros que en 2014 desaparecieron en violentas circunstancias, sin dejar más rastro que el que apunta a unos autores que con el paso de los años permanecen sin ser condenados.

«Con lo acontecido, pues sí es un nerviosismo pensar en qué momento puede volver a pasar. ¿Qué tal si este año soy yo? ¿Qué tal si es uno de mis compañeros? Siempre supone nerviosismo estar aquí, pero es un orgullo pertenecer a esta escuela», afirma el estudiante de primer año Federico Vázquez.

Como él, todos los primerizos lucen sus cabezas rapadas en respuesta a una tradición: en la escuela ingresan todos en igualdad de condiciones y poco a poco su pelo crecerá como crece el caparazón de una tortuga, símbolo de Ayotzinapa, más duro y moldeado que cuando entró.

Los normalistas siguen una férrea disciplina, mantienen unas firmes medidas de seguridad en la entrada y salida del recinto y, además, son instruidos desde el principio en los ideales socialistas y de lucha contra el Estado, al que consideran responsable del destino de sus 43 compañeros desaparecidos.

«A los padres de familia nunca se les va a dejar solos»

Los estudiantes de la Escuela Normal Rural de Ayotzinapa son de origen humilde, en su mayoría hijos de campesinos sin recursos que son acogidos en una institución pensada para su perfil. Allí no tardan en aprender lo ocurrido con sus compañeros desaparecidos, entran en contacto con sus familiares y se les enseña a seguir con una lucha que, según afirman, seguirá hasta que vuelvan vivos los 43.

«A los padres de familia nunca se les va a dejar solos, porque son nuestros hermanos que pertenecieron a esta Normal, aunque no los llegásemos a conocer, nunca se les va a dejar solos, es lo que en Ayotzinapa se nos enseña», cuenta Fernando García, quien tenía tan solo 8 años cuando ocurrió la desaparición.

Todo el recinto está repleto de murales e imágenes que invocan la lucha de las clases más humildes y reivindican un pasado revolucionario en México, como el de Lucio Cabañas, maestro y combatiente guerrerense (del estado Guerrero) cuya imagen está presente en cada rincón de la escuela.

Fotografía de un altar, al interior la escuela normal rural de Ayotzinapa ‘Raul Isidro Burgos’, el 22 de septiembre de 2024, en el municipio de Tixtla, en el estado de Guerrero (México). EFE/David Guzmán

«No hemos estado a favor de ningún gobierno político porque sabemos que son políticos burgueses, que no están a favor del pueblo y hasta que un partido esté a favor de los pobres, un partido que se haga llamar ‘Partido de los Pobres’, hasta ahí», explica Fabián González, uno de los principales líderes del movimiento estudiantil que forma la Federación de Estudiantes Campesinos Socialistas de México.

Es evidente que el presidente saliente, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024), y su Gobierno no son bien vistos en la institución, en la que se leen y ven consignas e imágenes que critican su labor y su supuesta ocultación de la participación de militares en la desaparición de los 43 jóvenes.

«Estos gobiernos no van a hacer nada, simplemente hacen cortinas de humo, inventan esto y lo otro, más no hay ningún caso resuelto, cuando se toca al Ejército (…) ahí paran las investigaciones, por eso no confiamos en ningún Gobierno», expresa Fabián.

Mayor Parker unveils details of new Sixers’ Center City arena agreement

Región

Por

Redacción Impacto / Alcaldía de Filadelfia

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25/09/2024

Between the Sixers’ $1.3 billion private investment & related new tax revenues, this is the best financial deal the City has ever struck for a local arena or stadium

PHILADELPHIA – Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and a team of City officials today shared new details and updates on the arena proposed on East Market Street at a public meeting, following the Parker Administration and the Philadelphia 76ers announcing an historic agreement.

During the evening’s public meeting presentation held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Mayor Parker and City officials also detailed how the arena project will help jumpstart a broader, City-led focus on Chinatown, aimed at ensuring its ongoing vitality and strengthening this historic, treasured community.

The public presentation follows last week’s official announcement by Mayor Parker of a deal between the Philadelphia 76ers and the City to build a new, enclosed arena estimated to cost $1.3 billion. The agreement includes a new 30-year lease with no City funds being used to finance the project, an approach that is unprecedented among local sports facilities, with no burden on Philadelphia taxpayers.

The arena would create over 1,000 construction and operations jobs and is paired with an historic Economic Opportunity Plan (EOP) to help ensure employment and contracting opportunities benefit individuals and businesses reflective of the community.

The agreement includes a $50 million Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) that will support nearby communities while making investments in education and economic opportunity across the city.

The City considered the proposal of a new arena in Center City through a set of principles initially set forth by the mayor which included:

Careful stewardship of City resources, and a focus on the City’s fiscal stability.
Maximizing the potential citywide impact of such a large-scale development project.
Unlocking the long-overdue redevelopment of Market East – attracting investment, generating jobs, yielding new tax revenues, and creating vibrancy on a historic and critically important commercial corridor for our City.
Preserving and enhancing Chinatown, including by responding to long-standing challenges that have developed over decades.

Last month, the City of Philadelphia released four separate reports assessing the arena’s potential impact, including:

A community impact assessment,
An economic impact analysis,
A design consulting; and
A traffic, transportation and parking analysis.

“For 61 years, Philadelphia has been the home of the 76ers, and we look forward to them continuing to call our great city and Commonwealth home for many decades to come,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “I am proud that I have made my decision and negotiated an agreement to ensure that our Sixers are staying home. This agreement presents an unprecedented opportunity to unlock long-needed redevelopment on the historic Market East corridor– creating jobs, generating tax revenue, and bringing vibrancy to a critically important commercial corridor in Philadelphia. Between the numerous commitments in the agreement to expanding economic opportunity, investing in our young people, and supporting adjacent communities, this is the right deal for the City, our residents, and our neighborhoods.”

“I want Chinatown’s rich and vibrant community and proud history to not just survive but to thrive. We have the best Chinatown in the United States, and I am committed to working together to support it. This is a chance for new partnership and growth, based on mutual understanding and respect,” Mayor Parker continued.

The City will also benefit from the Sixers’ unprecedented $50 million community benefits agreement (CBA), the highest ever for a local sports team. The new arena is projected to generate over $700 million in new tax revenues for the City and School District.

The project includes a robust Economic Opportunity Plan to ensure employment and contracting opportunities – during construction and operations – benefit individuals and businesses that are reflective of the community.

«Economic development opportunities related to new stadiums create new jobs and workforce opportunities that could benefit students, and revenue for schools,» said Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D., Superintendent, School District of Philadelphia. »I want to thank Mayor Parker for her leadership and moving this project forward.»

Next Steps

The legislative package is now public for 30 days and can be viewed on the City’s website at phila.gov/arena-bills. During those 30 days, City Councilmember Mark Squilla, whose First District includes the proposed site of the arena, will gather feedback from Philadelphians before officially introducing the legislation.

In 2022, developers proposed a new Sixers arena in Center City. With the support of its partner economic development corporation, PIDC, the City of Philadelphia hired expert consultants to look at potential impacts of such an arena on the local community, economy, traffic, and public areas. These studies were conducted by top national experts in each field.

Growing Support for the Arena from Stakeholders throughout the City & Region

Paul R. Levy, Chair of the Board, Center City District: “Mayor Cherelle Parker made the bold decision to support the Sixers arena on Market East, bringing a new venue for sports, entertainment, and expanded opportunities for conventions to the core of Center City. But this is about more than insuring we have a well-designed arena on one block. This is an opportunity to bring a broad range of economic incentives to preserve and enhance Chinatown, protecting its heritage and affordability, while simultaneously increasing demand for public transit and prompting new investments that reanimate Market East from Independence Hall to City Hall.”

Regina A. Hairston, President & CEO and Jovan T. Goldstein, Chairman, Board of Directors, African American Chamber of Commerce: «We are pleased to acknowledge the recent announcement by the Mayor of Philadelphia, affirming her support for the Philadelphia 76ers’ project to build a new arena at Market East. From the inception of this initiative, we have been steadfast in our support, recognizing the immense potential it holds for advancing Black economic opportunities in our city. The project’s commitment to a robust participation rate across Black-owned concessionaire and other business opportunities is a vital step toward equitable growth and prosperity across the region.

We greatly appreciate Mayor Parker’s thoughtful and diligent approach in reviewing all aspects of this project. Her careful consideration of the broader impact on the city, especially the economic upliftment it promises for all Philadelphians, is commendable. This decision reinforces a path forward that aligns with our shared vision of inclusive economic growth, and we look forward to continuing our engagement to ensure these opportunities are realized.»

Ben Fileccia, Senior Vice President, Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association: “The potential to have so many fans parking and traveling around the arena before and after games and events is exciting for our restaurant and hotel partners in Center City. We have such a variety of venues for visitors to choose. From exciting Asian restaurants in Chinatown, to an eclectic array of spots in Midtown Village, to beer gardens and pop-ups; no matter where you are parking and walking from, you are bound to discover a new restaurant, bar, hotel lounge, or food truck that will only add to a fun experience.”

Ed Grose, Executive Director, The Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association: “76 Place will create over a thousand construction and operations jobs, generate hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenues for the City and School District, and unlock long needed redevelopment on East Market– bringing vibrancy back to a key commercial corridor.”

Anton Moore, President, Unity In The Community: “As President of Unity In The Community, I am fully supportive of the new arena being built in Center City. This project represents a tremendous economic opportunity, not just for the surrounding businesses in the area but for all of Philadelphia. The development of this arena will provide a major boost to local businesses, which will undoubtedly benefit from the increased foot traffic and tourism it will bring.

What truly excites me is the commitment to diversity and inclusion. It is inspiring to know that a significant percentage of the businesses inside the arena will be minority-owned. This is a powerful step toward ensuring that economic growth is shared with communities that have historically been left out of such opportunities. By prioritizing minority businesses, we are investing in the future of our city in a way that promotes equity and uplifts all of our residents.

In addition to the business opportunities, the arena will also create a significant number of jobs for the people of Philadelphia. These new positions will provide income and stability to local families and allow our residents to be a part of the city’s growth and success.”

Colin A. Jones, Executive Vice President, The Goldenberg Group: “We are optimistic that once the Arena has been fully approved, it will be the catalyst that can transform not only Market East from City Hall to the river but that it will spur economic recovery across the city at large. In a city like Philadelphia, and in a corridor like East Market Street, opportunities like this are few and far between and when they present themselves, they just have to be capitalized upon for all the catalytic and synergistic potential they possess!»

Dr. Joseph G. Cacchione, MD, CEO, Thomas Jefferson University: «Jefferson is supportive of projects and investments that will enhance the economic vibrancy of Market East and the surrounding community. We believe the proposed Sixers arena prioritizes public safety, addresses the concerns of local residents, and carefully manages traffic considerations to ensure uninterrupted access to critical healthcare services, including our Level 1 Trauma Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. We appreciate the mayor’s thoughtful leadership on this initiative, and we look forward to remaining engaged in the process as the project progresses.»

H. Patrick Clancy, President & CEO, Philadelphia Works: “The proposed 76ers Arena in Center City offers far-reaching opportunities that the signify economic growth and the need for an expanded workforce. This historic project offers a transformative moment for the Market East area, turning it into an economic engine poised to generate a multitude of job opportunities across all skill levels and industries. We support such endeavors that align with our primary goal of empowering Philadelphia’s labor force and enhancing the economic fabric of the city.”

Mark Lynch, Jr., Business Manager, IBEW Local 98: «76 Place is the single largest development project Philadelphia has seen in the past 50 years. Our members construct buildings for a living and 76 Place will provide thousands of good paying union construction jobs that will last a decade. It will also create more than 1,000 arena jobs upon its opening. Beyond that, 76 Place will bring additional outside investments that will benefit Chinatown and finally revitalize the long-dormant Market East corridor. We are indebted to Mayor Parker for her vision and leadership.”

Dr. Donald Guy Generals, President, Community College of Philadelphia: «Power Up your Business has helped to grow hundreds of small businesses in Philadelphia since 2017 and stands ready to support minority businesses in every corner of the city today.»

Harold T. Epps, Chair, Community College of Philadelphia, former Chair of PRWC Services and former City Commerce Director: «Based on my years of public and private experience, I am fully supportive of this project’s focus on our local Black and Brown employees and its emphasis on capital, contracts, workforce and education. The compliance built into this agreement is critical.»

Craig Williams, Founder, Pride Enterprises, Inc.: «The new Sixers arena, located in the heart of the city, will have a tremendous economic impact and elevate the experience and quality of life that Philadelphia has to offer.»

Catherine Hicks, President, NAACP – Philadelphia Branch: “This is an opportunity we cannot afford to pass up. The NAACP supports the economic opportunity presented by this arena agreement.”

Benjamin J. Connors Esq., CAE, President & CEO, General Building Contractors Association: “The General Building Contractors Association (GBCA) represents nearly 350 member companies working in the union commercial, industrial, and institutional construction. As the voice of union contracting in Philadelphia, GBCA supports the 76 Place development project. The arena will revitalize the Market East corridor, create union construction jobs, and will generate over $700 million in tax revenue for the City of Philadelphia and School District. As our members continue to grow the city, we know the importance and impact of this nearly $1.3 billion investment in Philadelphia.”

James Hocker, Regional Manager, Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters: “Good paying jobs that will be sustainable. Fight together and work together and put people to work! And keep our hometown Sixers playing in Philadelphia! An unprecedented opportunity to bring new economic life to Market East corridor in Philadelphia.”

Rick Young, Founder, Urban Developers Association: “The new 76ers arena will positively impact Philadelphia by creating jobs for minority, Black and Brown men and women as well as revitalizing business in Center City. The Arena will significantly boost the city’s economic revenues and tax revenues.”

Daisy Cruz, SEIU District Leader, SEIU 32BJ: “We clean the skyscrapers. We protect these buildings. We fought to make our jobs good Union jobs. We’re from here! We support building this amazing arena. We’ve watched Market East lose jobs! A project of this magnitude is what the working class of our City desperately needs.”

Angelo Perryman, President & CEO, Perryman Construction: “Since the birth of our nation, Philadelphia has been on an exhilarating journey of transformation and growth, embracing a future where everyone belongs. The new home of the Philadelphia 76ers is a bold step forward, right in the heart of this vibrant city. Get ready for the future of champions!”

Dawud Bey, President, Fine Print Construction: “As President of Fine Print Construction, a Certified Minority Business Enterprise, I am thrilled to hear of Mayor Cherelle Parker’s approval of the Philadelphia 76ers’ state-of-the-art arena in the Market East area. This $1.3 billion investment is just the beginning of a transformative economic opportunity that will benefit the entire City of Philadelphia. If we play our cards right, we can leverage this $1.3 billion project into a $20 billion economic impact. The new 76ers arena will not only bring excitement and economic growth to the Market East area but will also create lasting benefits throughout the entire city.

This project represents a historic opportunity for economic inclusion, particularly for Black and Brown communities. Through a comprehensive community impact agreement, we can ensure that the benefits of this development reach those who need it most. I look forward to the opportunities this arena will bring, and the role Fine Print Construction will play in helping to shape the future of our great city.”

Mo Rushdy, President, Philadelphia Building Industry Association & Managing Partner, The Riverwards Group: “I can’t even start to explain how much of an impact the Arena will have on our city, both during construction as well as during operations. The construction of this $1.3 billion project using private investment will mean over 10,000 good paying jobs for years. It means an opportunity to train and employ a significant and diverse construction workforce. It means reviving a dead Market East corridor and bringing it back to life. It means thriving businesses surrounding the Arena. It means more accessibility for residents of our neighborhoods to come downtown for games and events. It potentially means the start of a real entertainment district where people can attend events, walk to restaurants and cafes and spend money in our city. The economic impact of this Arena on our city will be felt for decades to come.”

Daniel Killinger, President, National Real Estate Development: “National and the East Market Team are grateful for the Mayor’s support of the 76ers’ proposed new arena. We believe that 76 Place has the potential to serve as a major economic catalyst, revitalizing the Market East area by driving investment in new developments and much-needed streetscape improvements. We are optimistic that 76 Place will enhance neighborhood connectivity, improve visibility and access to public transportation, create significant job opportunities, and contribute to the future vibrancy, safety, and security of Market Street.”

Mark P. Merlini, Managing Partner, Brickstone Realty: “As owners, developers and preservationists in Market East and Midtown Village for almost four decades, including The Lits Building, Wanamaker’s, City Hall Annex, 1234 Market Street, The Hale Building, The Collins, Baum’s and The Steele Building, among others, we strongly believe that 76er Place is required to take these wonderful neighborhoods into the future and once again make them the thriving, vibrant, economically-viable destinations that Philadelphia deserves. We applaud Mayor Parker’s decision and thank her for her insight, determination and strong support of this bold and brilliant development.”

Cory Scott, EVP Asset Management, Macerich: “While Center City Philadelphia is one of the greatest urban neighborhoods in the country, there is still a need to enhance the shopping, entertainment and dining. Bringing the 76ers new arena to Fashion District Philadelphia is a key catalyst for adding new energy to Center City and will help to ensure that this one-of-a-kind area remains a vibrant neighborhood and destination for people across the region. We’re excited to be a part of the journey to give all Philadelphians something they can be proud of for years to come.”

Robert A. Zuritsky, President & CEO, Parkway Corporation: “Next year will be Parkway Corporation’s 102nd year of being in business and proudly headquartered in center city Philadelphia. Through those years we have seen the city win and lose terrific opportunities to positively impact its residents and economy. We believe Mayor Parker’s decision to proceed with a new entertainment arena that will be home to the Sixers is one of those rare opportunities, so we applaud the Mayor! If the planning and implementation, over the next 6 1/2 years, is handled well it could be the impetus for more office workers, residents, hotel jobs, retail and entertainment that would positively impact all of center city and thousands of citizens! “

Jerry Sweeney, CEO, Brandywine Realty & Chairman, Center City Rejuvenation Task Force, Mayor’s Business Roundtables: “Revitalizing Market Street East is essential to the full rejuvenation of our Center City business corridors. The Investment by the 76ers, accompanied by their thoughtful community benefits agreement, will be a powerful catalyst to spur both additional investment and community engagement. That investment is also the impetus to develop a Market Street master plan that will position the corridor to generate significant economic growth for generations to come.”

Rich Lazer, Executive Director, Philadelphia Parking Authority: “While the 76 Place arena has the potential to be a transformative economic vehicle for many, should City Council ultimately approve the project, the PPA stands ready to partner with the City and all stakeholders to help address any quality of life or other issues that may arise during construction and after.”

Michael Schulson, CEO & Founder, Schulson Collective (Sampan, Harp & Crown, Double Knot, etc.): “In our commitment to Midtown Village’s growth, we unite as residents, business owners, and advocates to amplify our support for 76 Place at Market East—the proposed Philadelphia 76ers arena. Positioned to rejuvenate Market Street East, this development promises a vital boost post‐COVID, benefitting both our community and the entire City of Philadelphia.”

Irving Azoff, Chairman & CEO, Azoff Company; Rock of Fame Inductee: “There’s plenty of room in the Philly market for two arenas. Philadelphia is an underserved entertainment market and I expect there could easily be another 50 in the city in a new arena was built with a schedule, design and programing made to cater to both concerts and events.”

Andreina Perez Hein, Executive Director, Everybody Builds: “Everybody Builds, a construction industry initiative with the mission to facilitate economic growth for our underrepresented Philadelphia communities through access to equitable opportunities, supports the commitment of the 76ers to build a new arena in our city that will act as a catalyst for job creation and business growth for these communities. In collaboration with our workforce partners and stakeholders, we are utilizing their investment in our city to facilitate the preparation and connection of a diverse labor workforce and contractor businesses that can participate in the construction of the arena and other large-scale projects in Philadelphia.”

Angelo Perryman, President & CEO, Perryman Construction: “Since the birth of our nation, Philadelphia has been on an exhilarating journey of transformation and growth, embracing a future where everyone belongs. The new home of the Philadelphia 76ers is a bold step forward, right in the heart of this vibrant city. Get ready for the future of champions!”

Castellanos homers as the Phillies beat the Cubs 9-6 and clinch first-round bye in playoffs

Por

Associated Press

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25/09/2024

PHILADELPHIA— Nick Castellanos, Trea Turner and Kody Clemens homered, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs 9-6 on Wednesday night and clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Castellanos had three hits and scored three times. Bryson Stott also had three hits and Brandon Marsh drove in three runs for the Phillies, who claimed their first NL East title in 13 years on Monday night.

Coupled with Milwaukee’s 2-1 loss to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia secured the bye and home-field advantage in the NLDS. The Phillies owned the tiebreaker with the Brewers after winning the season series against the NL Central champions.

Philadelphia will host Game 1 of the NLDS on Oct. 5.

“We just have to take it one step at a time and take care of business,” Marsh said. “There’s nothing like it. This is why we show up. This is the stuff we dream about.”

Nico Hoerner homered twice for Chicago, and Isaac Paredes hit four singles. The Cubs lost two of three in the series to finish with a 39-42 road record.

Philadelphia closed out the home portion of its regular season with a 54-27 mark, though one of the home games was a loss to the Mets in London. A crowd of 42,438 was on hand for the 47th sellout of the season, running the home attendance at Citizens Bank Park to 3,308,638 on the year.

The Phillies finish with three games at Washington, beginning on Friday. Philadelphia can clinch home-field advantage through the NL Championship Series by ending the season tied with or ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Manager Rob Thomson said he will sub some of the regulars in the final three contests.

“I think it’s huge to get these guys some rest,” he said.

Turner put Philadelphia in front with a one-out solo shot in the first. Stott added a two-run double against Javier Assad (7-6), lifting the Phillies to an early 3-0 lead.

Castellanos added another solo shot in the third, but Hoerner responded with a three-run shot off Cristopher Sánchez in the fourth.

Marsh gave Philadelphia an 8-4 lead with a three-run double off Keegan Thompson in the fifth. All three runs were charged to Assad, who surrendered eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.

“We got into a jam in the fifth, and they got a big hit,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.

Sánchez was charged with four runs, three earned, and five hits in 4 2/3 innings. José Ruiz (5-1) got four outs for the win.

Kevin Alcántara, one of Chicago’s top prospects, started in right field and singled in the ninth for his first major league hit.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: 1B Michael Busch (right triceps contusion) was not in the lineup, one night after being hit by a pitch in the second. … OF Seiya Suzuki (ankle) also was sidelined after getting injured running the bases on Tuesday night.

Phillies: Austin Hays started in left field for the second straight day after returning Monday from a stint on the injured list since Sept. 1 due to a kidney infection. He went 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

UP NEXT

Cubs: Following an off day, RHP Jameson Taillon (11-8, 3.41 ERA) starts on Friday against Cincinnati in the opener of a three-game home series.

Phillies: LHP Ranger Suárez (12-7, 3.15 ERA) starts on Friday against the Nationals.

Philadelphia police exhume 8 bodies from a potter’s field in the hope DNA testing can help ID them

Por

Associated Press

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25/09/2024

PHILADELPHIA— Investigators in Philadelphia are exhuming samples from eight bodies buried in a potter’s field this week in the hope that advances in DNA-based sleuthing can help them identify the long-ago victims and perhaps learn how they died.

The victims include a 4- to 6-year-old girl found dead in 1962, an infant boy found in 1983 and three men and three women found between 1972 and 1984.

“When there is an ID, it is satisfying to be able to give that information to the family, to give that closure to the family. Your loved one is now identified,” said Ryan Gallagher, assistant director of the Philadelphia Police Department’s forensics unit.

The dig is the latest task in the city’s long-running effort to identify its unknown dead, who were buried at the small field in northeast Philadelphia through the late 1980s. Detectives will now work with genetic genealogists, the city Medical Examiner’s Office, the FBI and others to piece together the mystery of who they are and how they died. Some of the work, in Philadelphia and elsewhere, is being funded through federal grants.

And they have cause for optimism, after scientific breakthroughs in recent years led them to identify the city’s most famous unclaimed victim, long known as “America’s Unknown Child” or “ The Boy in the Box.” The small child, whose battered body was found inside a cardboard box in 1957, was identified in late 2022 after decades of work as 4-year-old Joseph Augustus Zarelli. Investigators have some theories on how he died, but so far have not announced any conclusive findings.

That case followed a string of cold cases that were re-examined and sometimes solved around the country, including the Golden State Killer, through advancements in genetic genealogy.

Joseph’s body had also been buried in the city-owned potter’s field until those devoted to the case moved him to a featured spot just inside Ivy Hill Cemetery, under a weeping cherry tree. Last year, they dedicated a new headstone with his name and picture on it on his 70th birthday.

Police hold out hope they can do the same one day for the eight victims included in their current project, who all died in violent or suspicious ways. If they can find family members through DNA tracing, they will ask if they can help piece the story together.

Homicide Lt. Thomas Walsh, speaking from the potter’s field Tuesday, said it’s rewarding to see “the relief on the people’s faces when you can sit down in their living room and tell them, ’Hey, this is your loved one, that’s been missing for 30, 40 years.’”

“Of course, it’s tragic, the way it ended, but the relief is there, that they finally know this is my loved one and this is where they’re at,” he said.

Solving cold cases is a yearslong pursuit that mixes art with science.

“There’s always that eureka moment,” Walsh said.

“Not everything’s cellular devices and video cameras,” he said. “Sometimes it takes good old-fashioned police work to bring a case in.”

EE. UU. destinará otros 685 millones de dólares para frenar migración irregular en las Américas

Por

VOA

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25/09/2024

EEUU-destinará-otros-685-millones-de-dólares-para-frenar-migración-irregular-en-las-Américas — La migrante venezolana Nelsy Zavala, abraza a Yeikel Mojica, a quien conoció mientras cruzaba el Tapón del Darién y dijo que es como un hermano pequeño para ella, en un campamento temporal en Lajas Blancas, Panamá, el 27 de junio de 2024. (Foto: VOA)

El nuevo aporte millonario de EE. UU. por solucionar la seria crisis migratoria que afecta a las Américas fue anunciado durante una reunión con los países firmantes de la Declaración de los Ángeles e incluye fondos para atención a inmigrantes venezolanos en Colombia, Ecuador y Perú.

El secretario de Estado de Estados Unidos, Antony Blinken anunció este miércoles que su país destinará unos 685 millones de dólares adicionales para asistir a los países de la región que cooperan en la estrategia regional contra la migración irregular bajo el plan establecido en la Declaración de Los Ángeles firmada por 25 naciones de las Américas.

Blinken dio la noticia durante la Reunión Ministerial de la Declaración de Los Ángeles sobre Migración y Protección en Nueva York, acompañado por Luis Gilberto Murillo, canciller de Colombia, que asume el liderazgo dentro del grupo para coordinar los programas intergubernamentales en pos de afrontar la crisis migratoria que sacude a la región.

En la cita, dentro de la agenda colateral de la 79 Asamblea General de la ONU, Blinken destacó que los fondos incluyen unos 369 millones de dólares para ayudar a refugiados, poblaciones migrantes vulnerables y países de acogida, “así como 228 millones de dólares en asistencia alimentaria de emergencia para migrantes venezolanos y personas desplazadas en Colombia, Ecuador y Perú».

«Con este anuncio, Estados Unidos ha destinado –solo en 2024– más de 1.200 millones de dólares para promover los objetivos de la Declaración de Los Ángeles», agregó Blinken.

El secretario de Estado explicó que la reorientada estrategia también involucra a organismos multilaterales de financiamiento como el Banco Mundial para utilizar fondos que promuevan el desarrollo económico en grupos de refugiados y sus comunidades de acogida, para la que se destinan 10 millones de dólares.

Explicó que todo se gestionará desde una Secretaría Técnica que coordinará el trabajo intergubernamental, con Colombia a la cabeza, que además asumirá un rol protagónico en buscar soluciones ante las masivas llegadas de venezolanos desplazados a su territorio.

Blinken también añadió que dos años de trabajo después de la Cumbre de las Américas en Los Ángeles, a iniciativa del presidente Joe Biden, hay “un claro impacto de nuestros esfuerzos colectivos”, aunque señaló que existen grandes desafíos ante un fenómeno de migraciones globales sin precedentes.

“Confío en que juntos podemos avanzar hacia un hemisferio donde la migración sea una elección, hecha libremente, llevada a cabo legalmente, y donde las personas –todas las personas– puedan vivir con seguridad, dignidad y oportunidades”, acotó.

El reto de absorber la diáspora venezolana

Por su parte el canciller Luis Gilberto Murillo indicó que Colombia sigue afrontando como una política de Estado “la respuesta al desafío de la migración”, aunque es claro que el fenómeno sobrepasa en muchas ocasiones las capacidades para dar respuesta.

“Colombia ha acogido a casi 3 millones de venezolanos. De ellos, 2,5 millones ya han sido regularizados. Y nos complace anunciar que estamos trabajando en la regularización de 500.000 más que ya están en Colombia, pero que necesitan estar en situación legal en nuestro país con la posibilidad necesaria de integrarse a la sociedad colombiana si ese es el caso”, dijo Murillo.

Entre otros retos en ese frente, el país suramericano se ha convertido en territorio de tránsito para cientos de miles de migrantes que intentan cruzar la región con rumbo a la frontera sur de Estados Unidos.

El canciller colombiano explicó que su país se ve sobrepasado al tener grandes cantidades de recursos para “responder a las necesidades de los migrantes”, sobre todo al dar servicios de salud y educación.

“Y lo hacemos porque ese es nuestro compromiso de responder al desafío del hemisferio. Colombia en eso demuestra el principio al que nos comprometimos en la Declaración de Los Ángeles. Sin embargo, necesitamos ampliar las formas de responder a los migrantes que ya están en tránsito”, aseguró.

Este trabajo se enfoca sobre todo hacia la ruta de la selva del Darién, donde Colombia ha afianzado la cooperación con Panamá y Estados Unidos “para responder al desafío”. Se estima que unos 500.000 migrantes cruzan cada año la peligrosa selva con rumbo a EE.UU.

“Estamos reduciendo esa cifra. Y estamos trabajando con nuestros socios en Panamá para tener un mayor control migratorio en esas áreas. Además de eso, estamos trabajando para proporcionar algunas Oficinas de Movilidad Segura que acordamos con Estados Unidos para facilitar el proceso de los migrantes que están dispuestos a venir a EE. UU. por vías legales”, explicó el ministro de Exteriores colombiano.

La cooperación también se amplía a miles de kilómetros de distancia con el país convertido en embudo de los llegados, México, Murillo explicó que esa cooperación bilateral es clave para hacer frente al problema al detectar también migraciones de otras regiones del mundo que buscan utilizar los países sudamericanos como punto de entrada al continente.

“Tenemos el desafío de responder a esos migrantes extracontinentales que están pasando por nuestro país”, puntualizó el canciller Murillo.

Pennsylvania high court asked to keep counties from tossing ballots lacking a date

Por

Associated Press

-

25/09/2024

HARRISBURG, Pa.— Left-leaning groups and voting rights advocates asked Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court on Wednesday to stop counties from throwing out what could be thousands of mail-in ballots in November’s election in a battleground state that’s expected to play a critical role in picking the next president.

The lawsuit, filed directly to the state’s highest court, is the latest attempt by the groups to ensure counties don’t reject mail-in ballots that have an incorrect or missing date on the ballot envelope.

The suit was filed six weeks before the presidential contest and comes as mail-in voting is just beginning in the state. It is at least the third election-related case now pending before the state Supreme Court.

Pennsylvania law states voters must date and sign their mail-in ballot. Voters not understanding that provision has meant that tens of thousands of ballots lacked an accurate date since Pennsylvania dramatically expanded mail-in voting in a 2019 law.

But the lawsuit’s plaintiffs contend that multiple courts have found that a voter-written date is meaningless in determining whether the ballot arrived on time or whether the voter is eligible. As a result, rejecting someone’s ballot either because it lacks a date or a correct date should violate the Pennsylvania Constitution’s free and equal elections clause, the plaintiffs said.

The parties won their case on the same claim in a statewide court just four weeks ago over Republican opposition. But it was thrown out by the state Supreme Court on a technicality before justices considered the merits.

Democrats, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, have sided with the plaintiffs, who include the Black Political Empowerment Project, Make the Road Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh United, League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and Common Cause Pennsylvania.

Republicans contend that requiring the date is an election safeguard and accuse Democrats of trying to change the rules of elections at the 11th hour.

The court, with five justices elected as Democrats and two as Republicans, is playing an increasingly important role in settling election disputes in the lead up to the presidential election in Pennsylvania, much as it did in 2020’s presidential election.

Issues around mail-in voting are hyper-partisan: Roughly three-fourths of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania tend to be cast by Democrats. Republicans and Democrats alike attribute the partisan gap to former President Donald Trump, who has baselessly claimed mail-in voting is rife with fraud.

Justices still must vote on whether or not to take the case filed Wednesday.

Justices also do not have to take another case brought to it last week by the Republican National Committee and the state Republican Party that seeks, in part, to settle cases emerging from lower courts that involve similar issues.

In its lawsuit, the GOP wants the high court to restrict counties from telling voters if it will reject their mail-in ballot. Shapiro’s administration has put procedures in place to notify those voters to give them time to fix a garden-variety error or cast a provisional ballot in its place.

The GOP also wants the court to prevent counties from giving voters the opportunity to fix an error on their mail-in ballot — like a missing signature or date on the envelope — and bar counties from letting voters cast a provisional ballot in its place.

Republicans say state law doesn’t allow it.

Democratic-controlled counties typically do more than Republican-controlled counties to notify voters that their ballot will be rejected and to help them fix it or cast a provisional ballot in its place.

In recent weeks, lower courts have ordered two Republican-controlled counties to let voters cast a provisional ballot if their mail-in ballot was to be rejected.

Those decisions, if applied to all counties, could mean hundreds or thousands more votes are counted in November’s election.

Así viven los periodistas la Asamblea General de la ONU: “Es el Mundial de la política”

Por

VOA

-

25/09/2024

Vista general de la sala de prensa habilitada durante la Asamblea General de la ONU para que los periodistas puedan seguir los discursos.

En el corazón de la Asamblea General de la ONU, la sala de prensa ofrece a los periodistas un espacio para seguir los discursos y realizar sus reportes. Con pantallas de televisión y áreas para transmisiones en vivo, el trabajo se complementa con el apoyo de los gabinetes de prensa.

NACIONES UNIDAS — Como cada año, la ciudad de Nueva York acoge estos días la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas, que se convierte en el principal foro internacional con la participación de jefes de Estado y de gobierno de los 193 países miembros de este organismo con el objetivo de abordar las problemáticas actuales y que tienen un impacto global.

Este evento moviliza también a cientos de periodistas que viajan expresamente desde sus países de origen hasta Manhattan para cubrir, de primera mano, el principal pleno de la ONU.

Marian Basso es una de las reporteras de la Televisión Nacional de Chile que se ha desplazado desde la capital, donde trabaja, hasta Estados Unidos para seguir de cerca el desarrollo de la Asamblea General.

“Esta es la tercera vez que venimos a la Asamblea General de Naciones Unidas, así que ya conocemos más o menos cómo se trabaja”, explica a la Voz de América la joven periodista mientras observaba uno de los discursos.

Su compañera Daniela Tirsch, de la estación Televisión Noticias, asegura que, aunque es una gran experiencia y “muy entretenida”, lo importante es tener una buena planificación ya que hay muchas cosas que ocurren en paralelo a la Asamblea General que también se debe cubrir informativamente para la audiencia.

Poner el foco de atención en lo que interesa

“Hay que saber bien qué es lo más destacado, dónde vamos a ir poniendo los focos de atención, pero por supuesto, lo más interesante de todo, especialmente nosotros que nos dedicamos a esto, es como un Mundial de la política, donde uno ve a todas las grandes personalidades”, dice al respecto, entre risas.

A pesar de las jornadas maratonianas, “se sabe cuando se empieza pero nunca cuando se termina”, ambas esperan seguir cubriendo los discursos de los principales mandatarios con una mirada “a la guerra en Medio Oriente, a Rusia, Ucrania”, pero también en Venezuela. “Sobre todo porque nuestro país fue uno de los primeros en la región en señalar que no se iban a reconocer los resultados hasta ver las actas”, explica Basso.

Por su parte, el periodista Pedro Castro, enviado especial del periódico El Nacional de República Dominicana, confiesa que en cualquier maleta de un periodista que vaya a cubrir la Asamblea General no puede faltar “un celular inteligente, una grabadora, un mini portátil y un internet eficiente para poder transmitir la noticia”.

La sala de prensa

En la sala de prensa situada en medio del jardín de las Naciones Unidas, decenas de periodistas se pasan horas y horas visionando los discursos de los mandatarios internacionales. Ahí, el equipo de prensa de la ONU dispone de varias pantallas de televisión para que la prensa pueda seguir el avance de la Asamblea General.

En ese mismo lugar, también hay una sección de refrigerios para que los profesionales de la información puedan tomarse un descanso durante estas largas jornadas de trabajo.

Afuera de la sala, también se disponen varios espacios para que los periodistas puedan salir en vivo para sus respectivos países. Con la imagen de fondo del edificio principal de las Naciones Unidas o con los imponentes rascacielos de Manhattan, los reporteros hacen sus crónicas diarias sobre lo que ocurre en este lugar.

En los exteriores de las instalaciones de la ONU se instala lo que se conoce como Press Island, un lugar donde los periodistas realizan sus crónicas en vivo, pero también es el lugar idóneo para captar la entrada de los mandatarios e, incluso, poder tomar alguna declaración.

El papel de los gabinetes de prensa

Los gabinetes de prensa de los gobiernos acaban siendo indispensables para obtener detalles antes de tiempo sobre los discursos. Según cuentan algunos reporteros, muchas veces se entregan los textos embargados para que los periodistas sepan con antelación el contenido de la alocución, pero con la condición de no publicarlo hasta la fecha y la hora acordada.

El trabajo de los equipos de prensa de los presidentes también es de gran ayuda para los periodistas que se desplazan hasta este lugar. Así lo explica Andrea Nacimba, que trabaja directamente para la presidencia de la República del Ecuador.

“Básicamente manejamos una estrategia para generar material para los medios tradicionales, pero estamos enfocados también en las redes sociales”, dice la funcionaria que admite estar “ilusionada” porque es la primera vez que está en la Asamblea General de la ONU, “lo mejor para conocer gente y periodistas” de todo el mundo.

Pero también, a pesar de llevar pocas horas en el lugar, confiesa entre bromas, que ya ha aprendido a que en estos eventos se tienen que ir calzado con “zapatos bajos, cómodos, porque si llevas tacos te van a doler los pies”.

Trump promete eliminar los permisos humanitarios para Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua y Haití

Por

EFE

-

25/09/2024

Trump promete eliminar los permisos humanitarios para Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua y Haití — (Foto: EFE/ERIK S. LESSER)

El expresidente de Estados Unidos y candidato republicano a la Casa Blanca, Donald Trump, prometió este miércoles que si gana las elecciones eliminará el programa ‘parole humanitario’ que concede permisos temporales de trabajo para migrantes provenientes de Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua y Haití.

En una entrevista con la cadena Fox News, el republicano también dijo que cerrará la aplicación de teléfono CBP One que utilizan los migrantes para solicitar citas para presentarse ante un puerto de entrada fronterizo de Estados Unidos.

«Lo revocaría», afirmó Trump, quien dijo que CBP One es «malo» pero el ‘parole’ es «todavía peor» porque permite a los beneficiarios llegar a Estados Unidos en avión.

A pesar de que las personas con ‘parole’ cuentan con estatus legal para estar en Estados Unidos durante dos años, Trump dijo que son «inmigrantes ilegales» que no deberían estar en el país.

«Que se preparen para irse, especialmente si son criminales», amenazó Trump en caso de ganar las elecciones del 5 de noviembre a la vicepresidenta y candidata demócrata, Kamala Harris.

El ‘parole’ concede la entrada a Estados Unidos de hasta 30.000 personas de Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua y Haití cada mes, y les permite obtener un permiso de trabajo por un periodo de dos años.

El programa, instaurado por la Administración de Joe Biden a finales de 2022, ha permitido la entrada de 530.000 personas.

Para pedir el permiso, los migrantes necesitan tener un patrocinador en Estados Unidos que tenga ya un estatus legal y demuestre tener suficientes ingresos para apoyar financieramente al beneficiario del programa.

El Gobierno de Biden diseñó este programa, junto con la implementación de nuevas restricciones en la frontera, para intentar reducir la cifra de llegadas de migrantes indocumentados a Estados Unidos.

Trump ha puesto la migración en el centro de la campaña de las elecciones presidenciales y ha intensificado su retórica antiinmigrante al difundir el bulo de que los haitianos de un pueblo de Ohio se comen las mascotas de los vecinos.

El presidente más popular de México en décadas se retira ¿Qué deja detrás?

Por

Associated Press

-

25/09/2024

CIUDAD DE MÉXICO— Muchos mexicanos sentirán una profunda sensación de pérdida cuando el carismático y nacionalista presidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador, deje el cargo el 30 de septiembre, y eso no es una sorpresa.

El propio López Obrador ha pasado una cantidad excesiva de tiempo hablando de su legado —y de su lugar en la historia— durante su mandato de seis años, algo que saca a relucir en casi todas sus maratónicas sesiones informativas diarias que inician a las 7 de la mañana.

Pero, ¿qué legado dejará el arrugado y sonriente López Obrador? Es quizás la pregunta principal para un hombre obsesionado con la historia, y una cosa parece clara: ha cambiado la forma en que se hace política en México, tal vez para siempre.

A diferencia de décadas de presidentes reservados y distantes, López Obrador ha construido una profunda conexión personal con muchos mexicanos. Ha despojado a la oficina de los miles de guardias presidenciales, limusinas y recintos amurallados que alguna vez la caracterizaron, diciendo que “no puede haber gobierno rico con pueblo pobre”.

“Es un político cercano, que recuerda al padre, al tío, al abuelo”, dijo Carlos Pérez Ricart, analista político del Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE), en México. Tampoco es una coincidencia. López Obrador elogia constantemente a la familia tradicional y dice que ha salvado al país.

“Sí añora digamos un tipo de estructura social de los años de la década de los 70 en México, también añora el sentido de familia”, agregó Pérez Ricart.

¿Será su legado como el del presidente estadounidense Franklin D. Roosevelt, cuyo “New Deal” o nuevo pacto creó instituciones duraderas como la Seguridad Social y los programas de hipotecas para viviendas que dieron como resultado una clase media enorme y estable?

El líder mexicano apostó por los programas de beneficios sociales en efectivo, le gusta compararse con Roosevelt y muchos mexicanos piensan en él con el mismo cariño que el más patricio Roosevelt inspiró en su día.

“Yo creo que se va a recordar como un presidente que empezó un gran cambio, que pensó en el pueblo”, dijo Armando López, de 60 años, quien trabaja limpiando las calles.

Marina Fiesco, una oficinista que se toma un descanso en un parque de la Ciudad de México con su hijo de 11 años, expresó sentimientos similares.

“Siento que él sí pensó en el pueblo”, dijo Fiesco. “No es de derecha ni de izquierda, el presidente tiene que ver por el pueblo”.

Parte de esa conexión es de la que él habla más, y plantea más preguntas, que probablemente cualquier otro líder en el mundo.

Durante su sexenio, ha realizado unas 1.400 sesiones informativas matutinas televisadas que duran en promedio dos horas y media cada una. Cuenta chistes, habla de sus comidas favoritas, arremete contra los periodistas críticos, se burla de la oposición y, a veces, reproduce sus videos musicales favoritos. La mayoría de las “mañaneras” las termina diciendo: “Ya vámonos a desayunar”.

Con frecuencia dice cosas que no son ciertas. Afirma que México no produce fentanilo —el opioide sintético que mata a unos 70.000 estadounidenses cada año— a pesar de que sus propios funcionarios lo han contradicho. Cuando los homicidios se dispararon este año —a pesar de sus afirmaciones de haber logrado una reducción del 18%— simplemente ignoró las cifras.

Muchos mexicanos parecen dispuestos a tolerar las falsedades, en parte porque López Obrador, de 70 años, ha dominado un dicho clave del pueblo mexicano: “El que se enoja, pierde”. Resta importancia a las contradicciones y problemas reales con una risita, una negativa pétrea a discutirlos o con su frase de siempre: “Yo tengo otros datos”.

Es probablemente el político más hábil que jamás haya gobernado México y parece disfrutar de una fuerza motivadora imparable: en sus miles de horas de conversación, ni una sola vez se ha sentado, tomado un sorbo de agua o ido al baño.

Influenciado por los presidentes mexicanos del siglo XX, a AMLO le hubiera gustado dejar su huella con grandes proyectos de infraestructura —está obsesionado con los ferrocarriles y las refinerías— y grandes empresas estatales como las que dominaron la economía de México en la década de 1970, los años de formación de López Obrador.

Pero sus proyectos de construcción a menudo están mal planificados y estarán sujetos a las tendencias fulminantes de la transición económica y energética. A diferencia de sus héroes del pasado, no pudo nacionalizar ninguna industria, y sólo ha sido capaz de luchar en la retaguardia para defender a las endeudadas y endeudadas empresas estatales de petróleo y energía eléctrica que heredó.

Tampoco ha sido capaz de dejar mucha huella en política exterior, aparte de algunas disputas no resueltas y sin resolver con España, el Vaticano, Ecuador y Perú. Ante la presión de Estados Unidos, ha utilizado la Guardia Nacional de 120.000 miembros que creó no para enfrentar a los cárteles de la droga, sino para evitar que los migrantes lleguen a la frontera norte.

Y sus programas sociales —como el pago equivalente a 150 dólares al mes a los mayores de 65 años— podrían desvanecerse, quedar sin financiamiento o verse devorados por la inflación.

Entonces, ¿podría López Obrador convertirse en una figura como el presidente de Argentina en las décadas de 1940 y 1950, Juan Perón, quien dejó un legado ideológicamente amorfo que fue disputado por alas dispares de su movimiento durante décadas?

“Creo que lo que vamos a ver es la ‘balcanización’ del obradorismo”, dijo Pérez Ricart, “una disputa entre la izquierda y la derecha por adueñarse del término, un poco como lo que pasó con el peronismo en Argentina”.

O podría pasar a la historia como la persona que, aunque sea brevemente, revivió la tradición mexicana de casi un siglo de un “partido de Estado”, como el antiguo PRI, donde López Obrador comenzó su carrera política. El PRI gobernó México durante 70 años, antes de que la corrupción, las disputas internas y las crisis económicas lo derribaran.

Algunos de los seguidores más devotos de López Obrador parecen sorprendentemente dispuestos a arriesgarse con otro PRI.

“Si después de 70 años nos arrepentimos, pos, ni modo”, dijo Fiesco.

López Obrador puede ser parte de un resurgimiento en toda la región de los viejos modelos populistas de partidos de Estado, tanto de izquierda como de derecha.

Una partidaria del presidente mexicano Andrés Manuel López Obrador sostiene un muñeco con su imagen mientras lo escucha dar el grito anual del Día de la Independencia desde el balcón del Palacio Nacional en el Zócalo en la Ciudad de México, el 15 de septiembre de 2024. (AP Foto/Eduardo Verdugo, Archivo)

Por ejemplo, el presidente de El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, subraya que su administración, que obtuvo márgenes de reelección aún mayores que el partido Morena de López Obrador, es un “partido hegemónico, no un partido de Estado”.

Así es casi exactamente como los partidarios de Morena describen su movimiento, pero en el instante en que cualquier partido comienza a usar el poder del gobierno para mantenerse en el poder, esa distinción desaparece.

La mayoría de la gente piensa que es poco probable que Morena dure tanto en el poder como las siete décadas del PRI.

“Ya no es posible, el mundo ya cambió”, dijo Armando López, el barrendero. “Ya no se le va a seguir ciegamente”, en referencia a los 70 años priistas.

López Obrador formó al partido Morena a partir de exintegrantes del PRI como él y personas de orígenes más izquierdistas. Él es la estrella de Morena, su guía, su autoridad moral. Cuando se vaya, las tensiones dentro del partido, ya palpables, probablemente se harán más fuertes.

López Obrador es muy consciente de eso, y desde el principio ha construido conscientemente estructuras para proteger su legado, que considera suyo, no del partido. Ha entregado más poder económico y policial a las fuerzas armadas que cualquier otro presidente mexicano, porque el ejército le obedece sin cuestionamientos y él confía en ellos.

Su legado más duradero pueden ser esos cambios estructurales: la militarización de la aplicación de la ley y de grandes franjas de la economía, la eliminación de todas las agencias reguladoras y de supervisión independientes, los frecuentes ataques a los medios de comunicación y una reforma judicial que, según los críticos, debilitará los controles y equilibrios democráticos.

Las fuerzas armadas de México ahora administran aeropuertos, trenes, instalaciones aduaneras e incluso una aerolínea.

“La verdad es que hay un legado muy importante, y ese legado es la militarización”, dijo Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, profesora asociada de la Universidad George Mason.

Speaker Johnson demands Zelenskyy remove Ukraine’s ambassador to US after Pennsylvania visit

Región

Por

Associated Press

-

25/09/2024

House Speaker Mike Johnson is calling on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to fire his country’s ambassador to the U.S. as Republicans criticize the war-torn leader’s visit to a swing-state Pennsylvania site producing munitions for the Russia-Ukraine war as a political stunt.

The Republican Johnson’s demand Wednesday came as Zelenskyy addressed the United Nations in New York on the eve of his visit to Washington, D.C., where he has plans Thursday to brief lawmakers on Capitol Hill about the war effort before meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House.

“The tour was clearly a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats and is clearly election interference,” Johnson wrote in a letter to Zelenskyy.

Johnson, who is close to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, said no Republicans were invited to the plant tour arranged by Ambassador Oksana Markarova to Scranton, Pennsylvania, which is Biden’s hometown.

Johnson called the visit an “intentionally political move” and said it “has caused Republicans to lose trust in Ambassador Markarova’s ability to fairly and effectively serve as a diplomat in this country. She should be removed from her post immediately.”

The speaker’s stern demand for the swift removal of Markarova, a well-received diplomat in Washington who has been a fixture on Capitol Hill since the outset of the war — even sitting as a guest in the House visitor’s gallery during pivotal speeches — comes at a daunting time for Ukraine as Zelenskyy works to ensure U.S. support for the war effort in an election year.

While Biden and Democrats in Congress have largely stood with Ukraine since the outset of the Russian invasion in 2022, sending billions in U.S. aid to buy weaponry and support services, Republicans have split deeply. Trump has turned the GOP toward a new America First movement that generally prefers to limit U.S. involvement overseas, and he often speaks admirably of Russia and its president, Vladmir Putin.

Johnson said that support for ending Russia’s war against Ukraine “continues to be bipartisan, but our relationship is unnecessarily tested,» noting comments from the Ukraine government about the top of the Trump-Vance presidential ticket.

Trump in his own speech Wednesday lashed out at Zelenskyy and said the people of Ukraine are “dead” and the country itself “demolished,” raising fresh questions about the level of U.S. support the former president would provide to help Ukraine fight Russia if he returns to the White House.

Later Johnson, who said he won’t be meeting Thursday with Zelenskyy at the Capitol, said the ambassador “crossed the line” and the situation requires “immediate attention and action.”

Zelenskyy on Sunday visited the Pennsylvania ammunition factory to thank the workers who are producing one of the most critically needed munitions for his country’s fight to fend off Russian ground forces.

The Scranton plant is one of the few facilities in the country to manufacture 155 mm artillery shells and has increased production over the past year. Ukraine has already received more than 3 million of them from the U.S.

Joining for the visit were the state’s leading Democrats, Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. Bob Casey and the area’s Rep. Matt Cartwright, but it is not clear if any Republicans were invited.

“It is in places like this where you can truly feel that the democratic world can prevail,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.

“Thanks to people like these — in Ukraine, in America, and in all partner countries — who work tirelessly to ensure that life is protected.”

The visit sparked swift reprisals from the Republicans.

Rep. James Comer, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, announced Wednesday he was opening an investigation into whether the Biden-Harris administration used taxpayer-funded resources to fly Zelenskyy to Pennsylvania as a campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the Democratic nominee for president.

«The Committee seeks to determine whether the Biden-Harris Administration attempted to use a foreign leader to benefit Vice President Harris’s presidential campaign and, if so, necessarily committed an abuse of power,” he wrote in letters to Biden, the White House counsel and others in the administration.

Senate Republicans, even those who had supported aid for Ukraine, roundly criticized Zelenskyy on Wednesday. “He really messed up,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican.

However, Sen. Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee and a firm backer of Ukraine, suggested that Zelenskyy’s visit was not as partisan as it appeared. Wicker was also planning to meet with the Ukrainian president at the Capitol Thursday.

“If President Zelenskyy came to Mississippi, he would be accompanied by Republican officials because that’s who the people in their wisdom elected,” he said.

Next Steps

Growing Support for the Arena from Stakeholders throughout the City & Region

El reto de absorber la diáspora venezolana

Poner el foco de atención en lo que interesa

La sala de prensa

El papel de los gabinetes de prensa

Mas Vistas

En tendencia