Willy Ochoa, a candidate for the Senate in Mexico’s Chiapas state, is facing grave threats and imminent danger from organized crime groups as he campaigns for the upcoming June 2 election.
The perilous situation has forced Ochoa to take extraordinary measures to ensure his safety, including traveling with a heavily armed security detail comprising national guard troops, state police, and his own bulletproof SUV.
In a sobering statement, Ochoa described the constant risk he faces while running for office in Mexico, saying, “You’re at risk every minute.” The cartels’ sinister objective is to install friendly leaders in local offices, enabling them to better exploit Mexican communities and maintain tight control over smuggling operations, extortion rackets, and lucrative government contracts.
Ochoa’s personal brush with danger occurred in February when gunmen on motorcycles charged after him following a campaign stop in a tense town.
The harrowing experience served as a stark reminder of the ever-present threats and prompted him to bolster his security measures to avoid leaving himself vulnerable to future attacks.
The alarming situation in Mexico has seen more than two dozen candidates killed in the lead-up to the June 2 vote, while hundreds have been forced to withdraw from the race due to the pervasive climate of fear and intimidation.
The gravity of the situation is underscored by the fact that more than 400 candidates have requested federal government protection in the form of security details. This campaign of terror and assassination poses a severe threat to the very foundations of democracy in Mexico, as the will of the people is being subverted by the ruthless actions of organized crime.
