nd on the day of the murder he was driving for Gen. Domiro Roberto Garcia Reyes, who was in charge of the official security for Colosio. One of the videotapes held by the attorney general's office reportedly shows De la Sota and another member of the private security team, Hector Javier Hernandez Thomassiny, guarding Colosio's left side. Cortes Vazquez suddenly "replaced" the two experienced bodyguards just before he and Aburto shot the candidate, according to people who saw the tape. As soon as Colosio fell, De la Sota and Hernandez Thomassiny allegedly seized Aburto and let Cortes Vazquez escape. The uprising in Chiapas and the murder of presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio are two examples of how Mexico's social and civic institutions are crumbling under the pressure of drug-related lawlessness and corruption, factors that are making Mexico a very dangerous place even for members of the ruling elite. Indeed, the same environment of lawlessness 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 docum...
