Insecurity Polling

From BGC, here's some data published in today's Excélsior: 42 percent of those polled think the drug gangs are defeating the government, while 32 percent the government is winning. Similarly, 53 percent said that federal and state authorities are making little or no progress in combating drug traffickers, compared to 44 percent who said that they are making progress. Despite that, 75 percent of those polled support the present anti-drug policy, owing to the belief that bit by bit, the drug gangs are becoming weaker. Adding to the incongruent picture: 48 percent of those polled say that Calderón retains the ability to control the country, against 45 percent who say that he has been overtaken by organized crime. 

As far as the recent human rights violations, 50 percent of those polled said that protecting against abuses should follow putting traffickers behind bars on the list of priorities, while 20 percent should preventing abuses should be the highest priority. When given a chance to select between the different governmental entities principally behind the abuses, only 16 percent of those polled said that soldiers were the most responsible, compared to 35 percent who said state police and 31 percent who blamed federal police. 

The poll also covered perceptions of security in Chihuahua and Michoacán. In the former state, 41 percent said that the recent bouts of violence show that drug runners are in control, compared to only 35 percent in Michoacán. Fifty six percent say that the federal operations in Michoacán are logical and justified given the context, compared to 50 percent in Chihuahua. Fifty-six percent of those polled think that Michoacán governor Leonel Godoy knew of the links between his half-brother and La Familia, and 48 percent say he should resign.