Page 12 - ATD12March2016

A12 Brazil’s embattled
head Rousseff says
WORLD NEWSSaturday 12 March 2016 she will not resign

Mexico: SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil-
ian President Dilma Rous-
Cartel’s unusual recruitment ads indicate expansion seff Friday said she will not
resign despite mounting
MARK STEVENSON course featuring paintball Raul Benitez, a security spe- In 2008, a cartel in the bor- pressure to do so and that
Associated Press fights. cialist who teaches politi- der city of Ciudad Juarez there is no legal justifica-
MEXICO CITY (AP) — A While prosecutors did not cal science at the National placed newspaper ads tion backing efforts to im-
public recruitment drive name the gang, experts Autonomous University of for drivers who were unwit- peach her.
said Friday it is without tingly used as drug couri- Rousseff faces impeach-
ers. But in the intervening ment proceedings over
Soldiers stand guard outside the Altiplano maximum security prison near Toluca, Mexico state, years, no cartel had adver- alleged fiscal mismanage-
Mexico. A public recruitment drive by a Mexican drug cartel using fliers promising high wages tised openly for recruits. ment,
and good benefits reflects the expanding power of the gang, experts said Friday. Almaguer said a U.S. wom-
an led the effort to hand while the Supreme Elec-
(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) out fliers on the streets of toral Court is considering
Jalisco cities like the beach possible campaign fund-
by a Mexican drug cartel doubt the Jalisco New Mexico, said the Jalisco resort of Puerto Vallarta. ing irregularities that could
using fliers promising high Generation Cartel. cartel, far from on the The U.S. embassy could not end up annulling her 2014
wages and good benefits Almaguer tried to depict ropes, is clearly expanding. confirm the name of the re-election.
reflects the expanding the recruitment as a sign of “They are penetrating all woman, Rousseff spoke to reporters
power of the gang, experts the success of government the areas where the Knights but did say it was aware at the end of a meeting
said Friday. raids against the gang. Templar and Sinaloa cartel of reports that a U.S. citi- with rectors of federal uni-
The recruitment fliers ad- Speaking of the recruits — are leaving a vacuum,” zen has been arrested in versities.
vertised jobs as security about a dozen were ar- Benitez said. Jalisco. She said people shouldn’t
guards or bodyguards un- rested earlier this week — “Sinaloa is leaving the area After recruiting the people demand the resignation
der the name of a fake Almaguer said “these peo- because of (the arrest of) — many of whom had pre- of an elected president
company, and promised ple said they had been El Chapo,” Benitez said, viously worked as informal like her without concrete
good benefits, a Christmas taken to Lagos de Moreno referring to drug lord Joa- parking valets or clean- evidence that she violated
bonus and “growth in the to substitute for people quin Guzman, captured in ing motorists’ windshields the constitution.
short term,” according to who had been retiring, or January. Jalisco “is the only at stoplights — they were She said that “if there is no
Jesus Eduardo Almaguer, who had been fleeing from cartel that can be said to told they had to sell meth- reason to do so, I will not
the chief prosecutor in government raids.” be in expansion.” amphetamines and other step down.”
western Jalisco state. However, Hope said the In the past, Almaguer drugs. Asked about recent press
Those recruited were, how- recruitment reflected how said that “normally what The plan was discovered reports that said she may
ever, employed as street- openly the gang dared was done was recruiting after one of the recruits name former President
level drug dealers, not to act. “This speaks of the through friends or acquain- tried to back out of the Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to
guards. impunity, of their operat- tances. Now they are do- scheme, and was kid- a ministerial post to shield
They were sent to the town ing almost openly,” said ing it openly, deceiving napped and held by the him from possible imprison-
of Lagos de Moreno for Alejandro Hope, a security people, obviously, but gang, who demanded a ment on corruption and
a quick 10-day training analyst in Mexico City. openly.” ransom of 1 million pesos money laundering charg-
($55,500). His family called es, Rousseff said she would
authorities. be “extremely proud” to
The recruitment fliers them- have Silva in her govern-
selves played on the re- ment.
cruits hope for advance- “But, I will not discuss with
ment. It listed as require- you if he will or will not be
ments “initiative and desire part of the government.”
to advance,” and offered Under Brazilian law, only
a salary of about 3,000 pe- the Supreme Court can
sos ($166) per month. authorize the investigation,
Tellingly, the flier listed imprisonment and trial of
“ability with guns” as a re- cabinet members.
quirement, and hinted that Last week,
“if you are an ex-govern- federal police questioned
ment employee, or ex-po- Silva in an investigation
liceman, traffic officer, de- into a sprawling corruption
tective or ex-soldier... the case involving state-run oil
salary is higher.” company Petrobras that
has ensnared some of the
Cuba and Europe sign deal normalizing relations country’s top lawmakers
and wealthiest business-
Associated Press driguez attended the Fri- trally planned economy. ness ties between the two men.
HAVANA (AP) — Cuba and day signing, which allows “The deal marks a new countries in the wake of And on Wednesday Sao
the European Union have cooperation between Eu- phase in bilateral relations, their 2014 declaration of Paulo state prosecutors
signed a deal normalizing rope and Cuba on projects a historic demonstration detente. charged Silva with money
their relations after years ranging from environmen- of mutual trust and under- U.S.-Cuba normalization laundering,
of tensions spawned by tal protection to modern- standing,” Mogherini said. and the promise of eco-
disagreement over human izing Cuba’s tax-collection The agreement came nomic growth on the island in a separate case. A
rights on the island. system. EU policy had pre- nine days before President has prompted renewed judge must accept the
Federica Mogherini, the vented a normal relation- Barack Obama becomes interest by European coun- charges in order for that
EU’s High Secretary for ship with Cuba until the is- the first U.S. president to tries in maintaining their case to move forward.
Foreign Affairs and Cuba land opened its single-par- visit Cuba in 88 years, a trip position as trading partners Silva governed from 2003
Foreign Minister Bruno Ro- ty political system and cen- meant partly to spur busi- with Cuba. to 2010.