and impunity that has allowed Mexico's ruling party, known as the PRI, to govern for over 65 years is now aiding the expansion of the influence of the narcotics trade. Federico Reyes Heroles, editor of the monthly magazine Este Pais, says bluntly that the killing was a deliberate hit by Mexico's powerful drug lords. News reports in the days following the killing included numerous off-the-record comments by government officials confirming the suspicion that the killing was a hit organized and paid for by drug traffickers. Another prominent Mexico City editor, speaking off-the record, says that the Mexican politicians are being killed off because of a power struggle related to money and drugs, not over questions such as democracy and human rights. Beyond the death of Colosio, however, another explanation exists: the need to maintain the appearance of "fighting drugs" to satisfy Washington. Eduardo Valle, former aide to Interior Minister Jorge Carpizo, has given the Mexican government documents and testimony allegedly linking government officials and drug traffickers to the assassination of presidential candidate Colosio. The former official, who is known as "the owl", worked as a senior official directing Mexico's anti-drug efforts. He says that Colosio was murdered by members of the Grupo del Gulfo cocaine cartel, with the involvement of Colosio campaign officials close to Communications and Transportation Minister Emilio Gamboa. Included with the documents provided by Valle during testimony given at the Mexican consulate in Washington was a DEA report about telephone calls last December by cartel members to the offices of the presidency. (Whalen, p.2-4) Assassinations affect exchange rates due to the uncertainty that is caused. Many investors flee from the market if there is a risk of losing their investments. Without these investments, the economy begi...
