BajaNomad

Mexico anticrime officials killed in air crash

Mango - 11-4-2008 at 10:21 PM

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a30bcde8-aaed-11dd-897c-000077b07658.html

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Mexico anticrime officials killed in air crash

By Adam Thomson in Mexico City

Published: November 5 2008 03:57 | Last updated: November 5 2008 03:57

Two of Mexico�s top crime fighters died in a plane crash Tuesday night, leaving the government�s cabinet in tatters and serious questions hanging over the future of the country�s anti-narcotics strategy.

The victims were Juan Camilo Mouri�o, government secretary and the man responsible for coordinating Mexico�s war against organised crime, and Jos� Luis Santiago Vasconcelos, a presidential advisor on security issues. According to local media reports, several motorists also died after the plane carrying the government officials ploughed into rush-hour traffic in Mexico City.

The cause of the tragedy was still unclear, but there was some concern that it may have been the work of one of the country�s powerful drugs cartels. By late Tuesday night, however, there was still no evidence to support those suspicions.

The news of the deaths will doubtless come as devastating news for Felipe Calder�n, Mexico�s centre-right president. Mr Calderon appointed Mouri�o to the post of government secretary in January this year, and considered him both a personal friend and a close confident.

His death, together with that of Vasconcelos, leaves a huge hole in Mr Calderon�s anti-crime team, and it is not clear how Mr Calderon can fill it. Late Tuesday, Jorge Zepeda, a political analyst, said: �This leaves Calderon against the wall. Mouri�o was the brains behind the anti-narcotics strategy.�

The tragic loss comes as Mexico finds itself embroiled in the bloodiest narcotics war in its history. So far this year, more than 3,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence � a rise of about 50 per cent compared with 2007.

Last night, Mr Calderon lamented Mouri�o�s death. At an impromptu press conference at Mexico City�s international airport, he called on Mexicans to pull together. �This is a powerful reason to work without rest, and now more than ever, for the ideals that we share. I am instructing my team to redouble their efforts.�

Mouri�o was 37 years old. He was married with three daughters aged, nine, six and three.

Woooosh - 11-4-2008 at 10:38 PM

That's too bad. Mexico never seems to catch a break.

Iflyfish - 11-5-2008 at 11:09 AM

Our hearts go out to the Mexican people, these were some of the good guys. A real tragedy. Lo Siento Mucho.

Iflyfish

I guess it's all over

Dave - 11-5-2008 at 12:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mango
His death, together with that of Vasconcelos, leaves a huge hole in Mr Calderon�s anti-crime team, and it is not clear how Mr Calderon can fill it. Late Tuesday, Jorge Zepeda, a political analyst, said: �This leaves Calderon against the wall. Mouri�o was the brains behind the anti-narcotics strategy.�


Mexico just lost the war on drugs.

The guy with the brains got killed. :rolleyes:

LOSARIPES - 11-8-2008 at 04:39 AM

Not over yet. It just got harder but law and order will prevail. Mexico can't lose this battle. Calderon will continue this fight and possibly, tap on new and different resources to escalate it further.
I just hope the next president continues on with the program

from aviation web

Stickers - 11-17-2008 at 11:17 AM

Mexican Officials: Learjet Crash Not Caused By Foul Play

Mexican officials' initial investigation of the Learjet crash in Mexico City that Nov. 4 killed Mexico's Interior Minister, and second most powerful official, Juan Camilo Mourino, along with eight others on the jet and five on the ground, suggests pilot competence and wake turbulence may have contributed, according to Mexican officials. The interpretation of evidence that includes analysis of the aircraft's c-ckpit voice recorder notes "apparent deficiencies in the training and certification process of both pilots," according to Communications and Transportation Minister Luis Tellez.



The Minister said the contract pilots took more than a full minute to slow the jet after being told to do so by controllers and their speech appeared to suggest they were not entirely familiar with the aircraft's c-ckpit instrumentation. As a result, the Learjet closed distance with a Boeing 767-300 that it was following in sequence to landing. According to the Minister, the Learjet encountered turbulence, perhaps the wake turbulence of the Boeing, and crashed. Recent violence against Mexican officials increased the profile of the deadly crash and raised concerns of foul play.