DR. JOSE MANUEL MIRELES IS FREE… NOW THE TEST!

Nearly three years and Dr. Mireles is out of political prison. For those of you that know me, I’ve followed this man since the day his Autodenfensa came up on the radar. Back then, my discussions on his movement and what it might mean for Mexico could not be talked about. Back then, opinions on what his group indicated for Mexico was…………let’s just say sensitive. But that was over five years ago and a great deal has changed in Mexico. The Drug Lords have been rounded up. The Mexican Government is in full control of the countryside. Mexico is no longer a cousin to Afghanistan, where the government only rules in small areas and only during the daylight. Mexico…..the land of Vampires……maybe Tarantino was on to something? Okay, enough of the literary comedy.   The new and improved Mexico…what a joke!

Refresher:

For those of you who never read my post about the good Doctor, here is a quick, cheat sheet version of what took place…………………a way………….simplistic review.  Mexico’s history of unrest and revolution had and it seems still has a point of origin. Dr. Mireles’ Autodefensa originated in that same, general area. No one knew this better than the Mexican government. At first the government ignored the Autodefensa groups, much like they did the drug gangs. It wasn’t taking place inside the gated communities of Mexico City so why did the government care. The “outlands” were for the common folk. Funny, somewhat the same way the coastal Elitist in the US look at the “flyover country”.  Think about that for a minute. Anyway, as time went on, the status of these groups began to grow and grow quickly. Before they knew it, the Mexican Government was potentially facing a 21^st century version of Poncho Villa. Dr. Mireles was beginning to worry them. He was beginning to rally the common poor and that would not be tolerated. Simply put, the good Doctor was seen as more of a threat to the Mexican government that the Drug Lords.  The problem seemed to grow worse by the day. Soon, it was obvious the Mexican Government could no longer just kill him, although they did see the value in letting the Drug Gangs doing so. That didn’t happen and that didn’t make Mexico City happy. Mireles’ popularity even grew to the point that taking him into custody for a trumped up charge seemed too risky. His stature was growing by the day and the folks in Mexico City became more and more worried. Finally, a breaking point was reached. The risk taking the good Doctor into custody outweighed where is popularity might take him. The Drug Gangs were attempting to mimic the Autodefensa concept in hopes of destroying the public’s trust in them. To some extent this worked and several of the lesser known Autodefensa groups were infiltrated. Even the good Doctor’s organization had its Traders. To the Mexican government it seemed like the ideal time to make their move. Charges were made, and the primary mission of the Mexican government became the capture of this new Poncho Villa. Oh..Ya.I forgot the crashed aircraft attempt on him, but that’s okay as it didn’t work.  Off to prison goes the Doctor and then a very detailed disinformation program was launched to destroy this growing legend. His wife even became part of the program against him, but that was the Doctor’s fault. He should have kept his pants on. Doc! A Woman Scorned!! There you have it. The down and dirt, snapshot of the good Doctor.

Now the big test:

What happened? What made the Mexican government release him? Was it social pressure? I don’t think so. If that amount of social outcry was still out there, then the Mexican government, who feared him three years ago, would still fear him to the point of not releasing him. What else could have convinced Mexico City to turn lose the one man who could bring about a revolution in Mexico? Did the Mexican government convince themselves Dr. Mireles was no longer a threat? Has his allure with the Mexican Farmers and poor fade away? By the way, please don’t feed me that line about how the Mexican Legal System was at work here. Please don’t try to paint this as Mexico’s version of “blind Justice”. Come up with rational counters to what I say or just go read the sports page. Now, back to my point. If the Mexican government came to the conclusion it was “safe” to release him, that still doesn’t answer the question of why? Why Release him if his appeal really has dissipated with his base? If that’s true, why not just keep him in prison until he dies from natural causes? Well, that statement might just be the reason he was released. Anyone who has followed the good Doctor knows his overall health condition. Perhaps the Mexican government realized his death in prison would be spun as the government killing him. Perhaps he is less dangerous on the streets than becoming a Martyr in Prison? As important as it is to understand why Dr. Mireles was released, it’s more important to contemplate what happens next.

Can Doctor Mireles reinvigorate his old base? Can he light the flame of resistance? Will the people rally around him once again? If there is any one question the Mexican government must worry about, it’s the issue of, “now what”? Where does he go? Who does he link up with? Just how close will the government keep tabs on him?

Two years before Doctor Mireles’ movement became a reality, I was one of those who warned some of my cohorts in DC what might take place in Mexico. I was one that watched the Arab Spring and stated, “What will trigger the Mexican version of this event”? The day the Mexican government announced the Mexican military would take to the streets of Mexico to battle the violence tearing the nation apart, I made the announcement Mexico was now on the road to revolution.

Are the people of Mexico no longer willing to stand up to a totally corrupt government? Are they unwilling to fight for what is left of simple lives? If the government of Mexico believes this and they decided to put the new Poncho back on the streets, they have made a deadly mistake. A mistake that might set into motion the next round of real fear in Mexico City. The fear of their own people….the people who live beyond the walls around Mexico City.

Doctor Mireles. I have some advice for you. Stay away from government invitations for meetings. Be careful who approaches you, seeking your support. Last but not least…..keep you pants on man! Leave the lovely revolutionary girls alone.

Mireles is out and everyone should be paying attention.