Drug trafficking statistics and the climate of hostility have positioned Sinaloa as the capital of violence, resulting from a phenomenon triggered by organized crime and that has expanded throughout the country.
Visible events, such as the presence of the leaders of some of the most powerful drug cartels and the recurring criminal incidents that have resulted in murders and intimidation against various individuals, have their epicenter in that state. Beyond that, in recent years, the evident connection between organized crime and the political sphere has gained prominence, as was notably demonstrated during the elections held to choose the governor of Sinaloa in 2021 through popular vote.
Only from a perspective associated with impunity can one ignore or overlook the events that took place during the 2021 elections, as they clearly featured the deployment of a criminal structure intended to generate and secure the victory of the then-Morena candidate. The process was characterized by the kidnapping of activists and supporters who opposed Morena’s candidate, Rubén Rocha Moya. It involved a robust intimidation scheme designed to ensure a predetermined victory through a wide range of actions, including ballot box theft and the proliferation of threats against operators and promoters of opposition candidates.
Within such a clear framework of intimidation carried out through criminal organizations, a paradox emerged: there was ample evidence of criminal interference, but at the same time, significant difficulty in obtaining testimony because of the fear instilled by those responsible for the climate of violence established in the state. Electoral crimes were widely known, yet bringing them into the legal arena proved particularly difficult.
Acts such as the 2021 kidnapping of current PRI local congresswoman Paola Gárate, carried out through a striking operation that deprived her of her liberty for more than nine hours until Election Day on June 6 of that year, while other PRI figures were also kidnapped, demonstrate what was described as a convergence of interests between criminals and the party that ultimately won the election.
For his part, Mario Zamora, the gubernatorial candidate of the PRI-led coalition, experienced and suffered what was described as a clear operation aimed at obstructing his campaign and preventing a possible victory. The incidents were repeated with the apparent intention of undermining those who opposed Morena’s candidates: kidnappings of campaign supporters and operators, intimidation and threats, and ballot box theft on Election Day. All of this created a powerful deterrent against providing testimony to challenge the election results, as the events demonstrated that violence had become a political weapon that could openly be used by those carrying out the intimidation campaign through kidnappings (“levantones”). Even so, current Congressman Zamora was able to file an appeal before the local electoral authority. Although it was almost automatically dismissed, it remains significant as testimony and a point of reference despite having been legally rejected.
Local congresswoman Paola Gárate has continued her criticism and denunciations from the floor of the Sinaloa State Congress regarding the climate of violence prevailing in the state. Her voice has been described as brave and incisive, reflecting a commitment to political representation that requires raising social issues, pointing out government omissions, denouncing what she considers government complacency toward criminal activities, and suggesting a possible alignment between the administration and criminal organizations.
Just as she was kidnapped during the 2021 elections, the congresswoman continues to face harassment in various forms. Only a few days ago, a funeral wreath was delivered to her private residence. The warning is considered serious and deliberate, clearly intended as a message for her to stop her activism and public statements from the legislative podium.
For some time, Congresswoman Gárate has requested protection from security forces, but the response she has received has been described as indifferent, evasive, and insufficient. Authorities have acted as though the issue she raises were trivial or part of a politically motivated dispute. However, according to the account, the intimidation against the Sinaloa legislator is real and longstanding, forming part of an ongoing pattern of threats against her. These threats are also described as attacks on democratic life, freedoms, and justice within the state.
She is under threat, and along with her—though in different ways—the article argues that society as a whole is affected.
Source: sdpnoticias
