Claudia Sheinbaum became the first female president of Mexico a couple months ago; however, some note that her decisive stand against cartels may have led to the violent murders of several high-standing officials, such as Alejandro Arcos, Francisco Tapia, and Yolanda Sanchez.
Alejandro Arcos was the mayor of Chilpancingo, the capital of the state of Guerrero, for less than a week before his murder. An image of a decapitated head, rumored to be Arcos’, on top of a pickup truck had spread for a couple hours before an official confirmation of death was sent out. Leading to the hundreds marching in Chilpancingo, Sheinbaum’s policy of fighting cartel violence with ‘hugs not bullets’ has come under scrutiny by the masses as many fear what could happen to those close to them. López Obrador, her predecessor and mentor, shared a similar policy; on the other hand, the extremely public assassinations lead many citizens to think that its impact is not enough and a harder stance must be taken.
Three days prior to Arcos’s murder, Francisco Tapia, the city’s new government secretary was shot and killed, also within a week of being taking office. Mexican senator Alejandro Moreno has described both men as “young and honest officials who sought progress for their community”. Guerrero remains an extremely divided and affected state due to its prized location on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Similarly, turf battles between rival gangs Ardillos and Tlacos make Chilpancingo a dangerous area to live in and a difficult one to retain control in.
Only a day after Sheinbaum was elected, the mayor of Cotija, Yolanda Sanchez, was assassinated in broad daylight. Nineteen bullets hit both her and her bodyguard. Previously kidnapped for three days, the mayor had been a staunch adversary to cartel groups. In fact, her kidnapping had been due to her opposition against the cartel’s take over of her municipality’s police force. This brazen show of rebellion and justice had made her such a threat that apparently the only solution was nineteen bullets. Many citizens are calling for harsher methods of prevention.
The high steady rate of homicides even after Sheinbaum’s inauguration showcases the lack of impact of her policies, infuriating countless Mexican citizens as cartel violence grows unafraid of any consequences.