Latest news with #Oaxaca
The Guardian
7 hours ago
- General
- The Guardian
Indigenous lawyer to head Mexico's supreme court after direct election
An Indigenous lawyer from the state of Oaxaca is set to become the president of Mexico's supreme court following the country's unprecedented elections to appoint its entire judicial system by popular vote. Activists hailed the election of Hugo Aguilar, a member of the Mixtec Indigenous group, as a symbolic victory – while noting that Aguilar, who topped the poll of candidates for the supreme court – had long since shifted from his own roots as an activist to a figure much more closely aligned with the state, and involved in controversial mega-projects such as the Maya Train. '[Aguilar] is a brilliant lawyer,' wrote Joaquín Galván, a defender of Indigenous rights in Oaxaca, on X. 'But while they say we the Indigenous are represented in him, in reality he has spent almost 20 years operating for the government, not for [Indigenous] peoples.' Sunday's vote was the result of a radical reform by the governing Morena party, which said it would reduce corruption and impunity in the judicial system by making it more responsive to popular opinion. But the concept was challenged by critics who said it would destroy the separation of powers and could flood the judicial system with unqualified candidates backed by opaque interests. Many career judges chose not to run. Roughly 2,600 posts, from local magistrates to supreme court justices, were up for grabs. Given the sheer number of positions and candidates involved, critics had warned that a low turnout was likely. Parts of the opposition also called for a boycott. In the event, just 13% of Mexicans voted, a record low in a federal election. 'The turnout was frankly meagre,' said Javier Martín Reyes, a constitutional law professor at Mexico's Unam university. 'The government has tried to argue that voters were demanding this reform. But this has been proven false.' Sheinbaum described the process as 'a complete success', adding: 'Mexico is the most democratic country in the world.' There was evidence of illegal party interference in the elections through the distribution of cheat sheets telling people how to vote, largely with the names of the government's favoured candidates. All nine of the new justices on the supreme court were included on such cheat sheets. Most have ties to the governing party, meaning it may no longer act as a check on Morena's executive power, as it has in the past. Aguilar is among them, having served as a senior official at the National Institute for Indigenous Peoples during the government of Sheinbaum's predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. One of Aguilar's campaign promises was to promote justice for Indigenous communities and the environment – yet under López Obrador he coordinated consultations for mega-projects such as the Maya Train and the Interoceanic Corridor, a train-and-port system to connect trade between the Pacific and the Atlantic, that were riddled with irregularities. Two other candidates with previous ties to Morena are María Ríos, who served as legal counsel to López Obrador when he was president, and Irving Espinosa, who was an adviser to Morena lawmakers. Three sitting justices who decided to run were all re-elected: Lenia Batres, Yasmín Esquivel and Loretta Ortiz. All three were initially nominated by López Obrador and have largely voted in favour of Morena governments. It is not certain how justices with past ties to Morena will vote, but if they band together they could give Sheinbaum a decisive majority on Mexico's highest court. Even those with more independent profiles might fear to go against the executive, said Martín Reyes. 'Morena and its allies have a supermajority, they can change the constitution at any moment, start political trials, remove [the justices'] immunity,' said Martín Reyes. 'These people will live under the threat of sanction.' The National Electoral Institute will continue to release results over the next week, including for the powerful new disciplinary tribune, tasked with supervising judges, and the top electoral court. Preliminary results suggest Morena may have significant influence in the first of those, too. 'These elections were a failure and a success,' said Martín Reyes. 'A failure in terms of democratic participation – but a success in terms of political capture.'
Reuters
a day ago
- General
- Reuters
Indigenous lawyer Aguilar leads race to head Mexico's Supreme Court
MEXICO CITY, June 3 (Reuters) - Indigenous rights defender Hugo Aguilar is leading in the race to head Mexico's highest court following the country's first popular election to appoint judges and magistrates, according to electoral authority data on Tuesday. With 87% of votes counted from Sunday's election, Aguilar had some 4.94 million votes - 5.2% of the total. Lenia Batres, who is close to the ruling Morena party, was behind him at 4.69 million votes, or 4.9%. President Claudia Sheinbaum celebrated Aguilar's lead in the vote count, saying the court had not had an Indigenous leader since Benito Juarez, a Zapotec Oaxacan who led the court during the mid-19th century before becoming Mexico's first Indigenous president. "He is a very recognized lawyer, he has the credentials to join the court," she told a press conference. "This is the goal: equal access to justice for all Mexicans. How would this have happened under the previous process?" Aguilar, a Mixtec lawyer from the southern state of Oaxaca, is currently lead rights coordinator for the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI), having been appointed in 2018 by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. He studied constitutional law and has worked in various government offices as a coordinator and advisor for Indigenous rights, as well as land and agrarian affairs. Voting on Sunday, for some 2,600 judges and magistrates, attracted an estimated 13% turnout. Critics denounced the process as too complex and said the vote could undermine the independence of the country's judicial system.
CTV News
5 days ago
- General
- CTV News
A Saskatoon man reported missing from a Mexican beach has been found dead
A Saskatoon man reported missing from a beach in Puerto Escondido, Mexico over the weekend has been found dead. Authorities began their search for 31-year-old Braydon Bretzer on Sunday evening after he failed to return from a swim. According to several Mexican media sources, witnesses saw Bretzer and a 40-year-old American named Chris Ankele enter the water on Sunday afternoon at Zicatela Beach, which authorities say is known for its strong currents and is not suitable for swimming. Oaxacan state officials spent several days searching the area. Bretzer's body was reportedly found on Tuesday. The other swimmer, Ankele, has not yet been recovered. Global Affairs Canada told CTV News it was aware of the death and said consular officials are in contact with local authorities to provide help where they can. Here in Saskatoon, a friend of Bretzer's has launched a GoFundMe to support the family's expenses as they arrange to return his body. Graeme Bouvier, who started the fundraiser, says Bretzer 'lived life to the fullest.' 'He had a contagious energy, and a heart that made space for everyone. He was loved by many — he made people feel seen, valued, and cared for,' Bouvier wrote. He says Bretzer's family has pledged to donate any funds in excess of their $30,000 goal to his favourite local charities, like SCAT. Over $22,000 had been raised by Friday afternoon.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
American man VANISHES and Canadian friend washes up dead in popular Mexico beach
A Canadian man has been found dead and an American remains missing after the pair disappeared from a popular tourist beach in Mexico. Authorities said Braydon Bretzer, a 31-year-old resident of Saskatoon, Canada, and Chris Ankele, 40, from the United States, were seen in waters considered unsafe for swimmers in Oaxaca, on Mexico's southern Pacific coast about 600 miles from the border with Guatemala. At one point, Bretzer and Ankele were seen pulled away by a current and drifted out into the sea before vanishing off Zicatela Beach in Puerto Escondido, authorities said. An Oaxaca Civil Protection unit and lifeguards initiated a search and rescue mission but were unable to locate them. Video footage filmed Monday afternoon showed the moment Bretzer's body was spotted floating in the water as a search and rescue boat approached. Bretzer is thought to have drowned, while Ankele's body had not been recovered as of Thursday. 'Search efforts continue to determine the whereabouts of the second tourist, following the protocols established in the sea search plan,' the San Pedro Mixtepec mayor's office said in a statement. 'The municipal government reiterates its commitment to addressing this emergency and maintains ongoing coordination with state and federal authorities.' San Pedro Mixtepec called on tourism businesses to remain vigilant about the weather conditions. It also warned locals and tourists to keep their distance from the sea and to adhere to the instructions of the city's lifeguards. Although Zicatela Beach is widely considered one of the best beaches in Puerto Escondido. It's not ideal for swimming but is a favorite spot for surfers because of its massive waves. In April, 22-year-old Miguel Robles drowned at the beach and his brother Benjamín Robles, 26, was rescued. In May 2023, Andra Kitsu, a 33-year-old visiting from Romania, drowned at the beach despite warning flags that reminded visitors not to enter the water. The body of Canadian national Braydon Bretzer (pictured) was recovered Monday afternoon, a day after he and his American friend, Chris Ankele, were swept by a current while swimming at Zicatela Beach. Authorities have yet to locate Ankele Bretzer, who used to coach youth soccer, had been working as a freelance marketing consultant, according to his LinkedIn page. His friend, Graeme Bouvier, set up a fundraiser via Go Fund Me to help his family repatriate his remains to Canada. 'Braydon's sudden passing has left a deep hole in the hearts of all who knew and loved him,' Bouvier wrote. 'Braydon lived life to the fullest. He had a contagious energy, and a heart that made space for everyone. He was loved by many — he made people feel seen, valued, and cared for.'
The Sun
6 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
American tourist, 40, missing in Mexico after being dragged out to sea as Canadian man, 31, found dead
THE body of a missing tourist has washed up on a popular Mexican beach as fears grow for a fellow holidaymaker who vanished alongside him. Canadian Braydon Bretzer, 31, and American Chris Ankele, 40, both disappeared after being pulled away by a strong current while swimming in notoriously dangerous waters. 5 5 Authorities said the pair were last seen off Zicatela Beach in Puerto Escondido on Mexico's southern Pacific coast. Both were caught being pulled away by the choppy waters and drifted out into the sea before vanishing without a trace, investigators said. A local Oaxaca Civil Protection unit and a team of lifeguards desperately launched a search and rescue mission but couldn't find either of the men. Tragic footage was later recorded on Monday afternoon showing Bretzer's body floating in the water. An emergency boat rushed out to bring the man to safety but he was pronounced dead due to drowning, according to initial reports. Ankele's body is yet to be recovered. Tributes to Bretzer, a former youth football coach and freelance marketing consultant, have been paid by his friends back home in Saskatoon. Graeme Bouvier said: "On the night of May 25th, we lost a very special friend, brother, son and teammate. "Braydon's sudden passing has left a deep hole in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. "Braydon lived life to the fullest. He had a contagious energy, and a heart that made space for everyone." A GoFundMe page has also been set up by Bouvier to help fly Bretzer's body back home to Canada and to give his family any additional support. It has raised over $8,500 so far. The San Pedro Mixtepec mayor's office said in a statement on Thursday evening: "Search efforts continue to determine the whereabouts of the second tourist, following the protocols established in the sea search plan. "The municipal government reiterates its commitment to addressing this emergency and maintains ongoing coordination with state and federal authorities." Zicatela Beach is known as a bustling tourist hotspot and is popular with surfers due to its massive waves. But due to the dangerous conditions and often fast flowing waters, holidaymakers are urged not to swim for their own safety. Braydon lived life to the fullest. He had a contagious energy, and a heart that made space for everyone Graeme Bouvierclose friend of Braydon Bretzer A number of deadly trips to the beach in recent years have resulted in these warnings being constantly repeated to travellers. In April, a 22-year-old Miguel Robles drowned at the beach with his brother Benjamín Robles, 26, having to be rescued by horrified onlookers and lifeguards. And in May 2023, Romanian holidaymaker Andra Kitsu, 33, drowned despite warning flags reminding visitors to stay out of the water. Last month, another missing tourist was also found dead just days after desperately trying to save his friend from a riptide during their vacation in Mexico. Alejandro Gonzalez, 20, vanished while swimming in the ocean after he managed to save his female friend who was in difficulty. His body was found after a three-day search. A loving mum was also killed in a Mexican beach horror story after a shark tore off her leg while she lifted her five-year-old to safety. Maria Fernandez Martinez Jimenez, 26, was just 65ft from the shore when she was savaged by the beast at Melaque Beach in the state of Jalisco. 5 5
