MÉXICO,
D.F.(SUN)
President Felipe Calderón said in an interview
with the American newspaper The New York Times
that many members of the Institutional Revolutionary
Party (PRI) think that deals of the past with organized
crime might work now and that it would be disturbing
if that view prevailed.
He said that many in the Tricolor are in accordance
with the policy of combating drug cartels undertaken
by his Government, at least in private, but pointed
out that "there are many in the PRI who think deals
of the past would work now".
"I do not see what treatment could be done [with
criminal gangs], but that is the mentality of many [of
the PRI]."
"If that view prevails, I worry", said the
federal executive, according to extracts from a conversation
with the correspondents of the New York journal.
When asked if he believes that he will be remembered
as the President responsible for the irruption of violence
in his country, Calderón replied, "It is
possible that some will remember me for that, or wish
that I be remembered for that.
"But if Mexico succeeds, as I am sure it will,
if Mexico has new institutions in the future, if Mexico
defeats the criminals, if Mexico reconstructs its social
fabric, there will also be those who will remember me
as the President who challenged the criminals and marked
the long road for the institutional reconstruction of
the country."
In response to what was said by the President, the
National President of the PRI, Humberto Moreira, told
a newspaper with national circulation that statements
by Calderón reflect "the electoral security
policy use".
He challenged the federal executive to name who it
was who had made a pact with organised crime and said
that the position of the PRI is to combat crime with
intelligence and absolute respect for human rights.