Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi, bishop emeritus of San Cristóbal de Las Casas and responsible for the Doctrine of Faith at the Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM), offers readers of Exaudi his weekly article.
FACTS
It is annoying that a foreigner claims that organized crime rules in our country. Although our authorities maintain the opposite, there are facts that confirm that this is what is happening in some places and sectors. I know first-hand data on this matter; now I will list some related only to extortion, which, in my region, is the biggest business, more than the production, processing or transport of drugs.
Groups of different groups dedicated to extortion set the price of almost everything, from tortillas and eggs to construction materials. This makes everything more expensive, and there is no one who can prevent or control it. Those who suffer the most are the poor.
Those who sell beef, pork or lamb, by the kilo, in tacos, in carnitas, in chicharrones, or in other forms, must buy the animals from whom these leaders order and at the price they impose. Those who have a commercial establishment must pay them a fee; otherwise, they expose themselves to all kinds of reprisals, such as the burning of their businesses and the murder of those who refuse. We see this all the time and everywhere.
In my town, many had surveillance cameras outside their houses. They ordered them to be removed, and that is what has been done; they only keep them inside their homes. In this way, they avoid evidence of what they do and undo freely in the streets.
In the felling of forests, they are the ones who determine which trees should be cut down, and they are the ones who sell the wood, which passes freely on our roads. This has been discussed with various authorities, but they have not been able to prevent it; the felling does not stop. They give any amount to the peasants and ejidatarios, to shut them up.
Local authorities, such as municipal delegates, ejido commissioners or presidents of communal properties, must collaborate with them to collect the fees that they impose on farmers, fruit growers and flower growers. A peasant must pay them one peso per square meter each year, and it is the lower authorities who keep the register, collect the fee and give it to them. Woe to anyone who does not obey them! They are not accomplices, but slaves.
It is popular belief that, in the elections last July, they were the ones who authorized who could compete. And once their candidates are chosen, they demand a million-dollar monthly fee, or occupy strategic positions; they have to negotiate with them. Municipal presidents, local police and other lower authorities must submit to their orders. They are not collaborators or accomplices, but oppressed by those who govern the region. Sometimes the judicial authorities arrest and imprison some of these officials as if they were involved in these crimes, but most are innocent. They do not arrest the heads who are governing our regions, and everyone knows who they are and where they live. No one dares to denounce them, for fear of reprisals.
Taxi driver organizations are under their orders. They demand that they set up roadblocks, so that the army or the police who are pursuing them cannot pass through. If they ask a taxi driver to take a package to a place or a person, he does not know the content; it could be drugs, money or a weapon. If they arrest him, he is charged and goes to jail, without considering him to be an innocent victim. They do not arrest the bosses, but those who are forced to do something illegal.
And like these cases, there are many others, which many of you know and which no one reports to the courts, not because they are collaborators, but for fear of the consequences. It is true that there seems to be a change in the federal strategy to combat these crimes; it is true that the causes of this violence must be attacked by offering education, work and social support, but these criminals are not interested in that; what matters to them is to make as much money as they can. They do not care about good advice, hugs, or our preaching and advice. They are not very afraid of the military and police, because a short distance from police or army checkpoints, they walk around as if they were at home. Likewise, they care about political power, not to serve, but to enrich themselves at the expense of the people, who put up with their extortion because they have no other option to survive.
ENLIGHTENMENT
Pope Francis says about this empire of money: “We have created new idols. The worship of the ancient golden calf (cf. Ex 32:1-35) has found a new and ruthless version in the fetishism of money and in the dictatorship of the economy, without a face and without a truly human objective” (EG 55). “A new invisible tyranny is being established, sometimes virtual, which imposes, unilaterally and implacably, its laws and rules. The desire for power and possessions knows no limits” (EG 56). “Behind this attitude lies the rejection of ethics and the rejection of God” (EG 57).
ACTIONS
If possible, inform the authorities of what we are experiencing, so that they know the reality better and stop saying that the country is doing very well; but do it confidentially and only with those who you trust that the criminals will not find out, so as not to expose yourself. May children and young people be educated in respect for others, in honest work and in community solidarity. And let us pray to the Lord to enlighten our authorities and to do something more effective for social peace.
