State Department UAP Cable 5, Mexico, September 16, 2003
Agency: Department of State
Incident date: 9/12/03
Incident location: Mexico

On September 12, 20023 the Mexican Congress heard testimony on UAP from experts related to the debate about an Aerial Space Protection Law, which, if approved, would make Mexico the first country to formally acknowledge the presence of alien life on earth. Experts asked legislators to recognize UAP, guarantee airspace security, and allow UAP to be studied.  They presented to alleged alien corpses and videos of Mexican pilot’s encounters with fast-moving flying objects during flight. Disagreement about the efficacy and validity of the purported alien corpses.

UNCLASSIFIED 
UNCLASSIFIED 
set! 
MRN: 
23 MEXICO 2544 
Date/DTG: 
Sep 16, 2023 / 160150Z SEP 23 
From: 
AMEMBASSY MEXICO 
Action: 
WASHDC, SECSTATE Routine 
E.O: 
13526 
TAGS: 
PGOV, PREL, ASEC, TSPA, KJUS, KCRM, MX 
Captions: 
Reference: 
A) 23 MEXICO 2468 
B) 23 MEXICO 2166 
C) 23 MEXICO 2346 
Subject: 
(U) Mexico: Weekly Political Blotter, Sep 11-15 
(U) Mexico: Weekly Political Blotter, Sep 11-15 
1. ~ 
This edition of Mission Mexico's Political Blotter features: 
• 
Ebrard Challenges MORENA Election, Threatens to Leave Party 
• 
INE Names Commission Members Ahead of 2024 Election 
• 
Mexico City Security Secretary Steps Down, Might Run for Mexico 
City Head of Government 
• 
Pablo Vazquez Becomes Mexico City's New Security Secretary 
• 
Former MORENA Senate Leader Ricardo Monreal Will Not Run for 
Mexico City Head of Government 
• 
Criminals Targeting and Killing Prosecutors in Guerrero 
• 
Guadalajara Mayor Launches Gubernatorial Campaign 
• 
Mexican Congress Hears Testimony on Alien Life 
fS8¼::ij Ebrard Challenges MORENA Election, Threatens to Leave Party 
2. ~ 
Former Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard announced September 11 he 
would challenge the results of MORENA's presidential contender selection 
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process, alleging irregularities. On September 10, Sonora Governor and MORENA 
National Council President Alfonso Durazo formally certified the results of the 
party's selection process; while Durazo indicated he would continue to examine 
Ebrard's complaints, he also indicated he did not assess that the end results 
would change in light of Ebrard's allegations. Ebrard said he expected the 
MORENA Honesty and Justice Committee (responsible for solving intra-party 
conflicts) to hear his challenge, but also added he would "not be interested in 
remaining in MORENA" if the party rejected his allegations. He announced he 
would travel across the country starting September 18 to meet with supporters 
and formalize the creation of a new national political movement. Some outlets 
reported Ebrard created a new political party, but electoral laws would not allow 
this until 2026. 
3. ~ 
Comment: Having moved on from its contender selection process, 
MORENA is unlikely to validate any of Ebrard's challenges and therefore his 
options seem limited: he could join Citizen's Movement (MC) as its presidential 
candidate (despite some strong opposition within MC, especially from the party's 
Jalisco wing), remain with and create a new "Ebrardista current" within MORENA, 
or join the opposition Broad Front alliance. He cannot form a new party in time 
for the June 2024 elections, and the last day to register as an independent 
candidate (September 8) came and went without his taking action. His latest 
statements and attacks on MORENA's leadership however, increasingly make it 
impossible for him to remain in the party: the party has certified Sheinbaum as its 
candidate, Sheinbaum has embarked on a nationwide tour, and there is no sign 
whatsoever that there will be a do-over of the poll, as Ebrard desires. Ebrard 
retains the support of dozens of MORENA and allied party legislators, but even 
they seem reluctant to leave the party, which limits his leverage. End comment. 
fS8¼:ij INE Names Commission Members Ahead of 2024 Election 
4. ~ 
The INE council approved the designation of presidents and members of 
key INE commissions September 9 who will oversee the 2024 elections. After a 
contentious session where some councilors seemed at odds on the designations 
(pro-MORENA councilors opposing anti-MORENA councilors, according to 
analysts), INE agreed on the makeup of the commissions that will be in place until 
September 2024. Analysts considered the designations a defeat for MORENA 
because, although its bloc obtained the presidency of key commissions (for 
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example the auditing commission, tasked with reviewing party expenditures), the 
pro-MORENA bloc still does not have a majority in them. Notably, the complaints 
committee (tasked with analyzing electoral violations and which previously had a 
pro-MORENA majority) now has an anti-MORENA majority. 
fS8t:li Mexico City Security Secretary Steps Down, Might Run for Head of 
Government 
5. ~ 
After expressing interest in a possible run for Mexico City head of 
government last week (ref A), Mexico City Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch 
resigned September 9, saying in a video he would "collaborate with Claudia 
Sheinbaum, who with her vision and leadership will give continuity to the 
country's transformation." Mexico City's constitution requires officials with a role 
in police forces to step down before the electoral process begins (September 10) 
if they intend to run for public office in the city. Garcia Harfuch leads potential 
MORENA and opposition candidates in almost every poll. 
fS8t:li Pablo Vazquez Becomes Mexico City's New Security Secretary 
6. ~ 
Mexico City Head of Government Marti Batres announced September 9 
Under Secretary of Citizen Participation and Crime Prevention Pablo Vazquez 
Camacho would replace Garcia Harfuch as Security Secretary. Vazquez has 
worked four years for Mexico City's Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC). In his 
role as Under Secretary, Vazquez implemented and coordinated violence 
prevention and reintegration programs, including the "Cease Fire" program to 
reduce gun violence and homicides and the "Reconnect" program to prevent 
recidivism in first time criminal offenders, according to media outlets Milenio and 
La Silla Rota. Prior to SSC, Vazquez worked for the federal Security Secretariat 
(SSPC) and in the then-Prosecutor's General Office. Outside of government, he 
has been a guest criminology professor at the National Institute of Criminal 
Sciences in Mexico City. Vazquez has a bachelor's degree in international 
relations from the Mexico Autonomous Institute of Technology and a master's 
degree in criminology from the London School of Economics and Political Science, 
according to press reports. La Silla Rota reported Vazquez also studied organized 
crime in Sicily and Macedonia. 
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~ 
Former MORENA Senate Leader Ricardo Monreal Will Not Run for Mexico 
City Head of Government 
7. ~ 
After finishing last in the MORENA presidential contender selection 
process and after Omar Garcia Harfuch's resignation and potential entry to the 
Mexico City head of government race, former MORENA Senate Leader Ricardo 
Monreal announced September 12 he would not run for Mexico City head of 
government. Predicting the candidate selection would come down to either 
Garcia Harfuch or lztapalapa Mayor Clara Brugada and noting he had no chance of 
winning the MORENA nod, Monreal said he did not want to cause divisions within 
the party. In a series of interviews, Monreal also said he had no interest in 
serving as a cabinet member in a potential Sheinbaum administration and would 
now focus on teaching, writing, and "hop[ing] for better times." Yet on the same 
day Sheinbaum announced Monreal as her campaign's organization and territorial 
coordinator, and former Interior Secretary Adan Augusto Lopez as her political 
coordinator. 
8. f5ffi:fl Comment: Monreal went from being one of the most powerful figures in 
the ruling coalition to an outcast in only a few years, mostly because of his open 
disagreements with Lopez Obrador. His addition to Sheinbaum's campaign 
despite having a close relationship with her shows he is willing to collaborate, 
although likely in exchange for positions for his close advisors. On September 12, 
media reported Monreal's daughter would run for mayor of Cuauhtemoc, the 
Mexico City borough where Monreal served 2015-2018. Meanwhile current 
mayor of Cuauhtemoc Sandra Cuevas (PRD), who reportedly also has close ties 
with Monreal, is trying to secure the opposition's candidacy for Mexico City head 
of government. End comment. 
~ 
Criminals Targeting and Killing Prosecutors in Guerrero 
9. ~ 
Criminals killed two Guerrero prosecutors within a week's time mid­
September following attacks against two other prosecutors in July (ref B) and 
August. Criminals assassinated the state delegate of the Federal Attorney 
General's Office (FGR) in Guerrero, Fernando Garcia Fernandez, while he drove his 
vehicle to his office in Chilpancingo September 12. First reports noted armed 
men appeared to coordinate the attack as they shot at Garcia from two 
vehicles. In addition, criminals kidnapped from his home and then killed the 
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recently appointed Guerrero state attorney general's office (FGE) regional 
prosecutor for the Tierra Caliente region, Victor Manuel Salas Cuadras, in Coyuca 
de Catalan September 9, according to Proceso. Security officials found Salas' body 
with approximately 50 gunshot wounds. In a separate late August incident, media 
reported 20 armed commandos kidnapped Patricia Jacqueline Salgado, recently 
appointed as head FGE prosecutor in Coyuca de Catalan. Authorities later located 
Salgado alive but have made no arrests thus far. Interior Secretary Luisa Maria 
Alcalde said during the September 11 presidential press conference there was a 
pattern of attacks against prosecutors in Guerrero in recent months, which was 
related to recent law enforcement arrests and seizures. 
fS8t:ij Guadalajara Mayor Launches Gubernatorial Campaign 
10. f5i:H::li Guadalajara Mayor Pablo Lemus (MC) launched his campaign for Jalisco 
governor during his second annual mayoral address on September 12. "I want to 
ask for your support to build a social and collective project," Lemus announced. 
He called for party unity, and specifically welcomed MC national coordinator 
Dante Delgado's representative despite the rift that emerged in August between 
Jalisco MC and the national party (ref C). Jalisco Governor Enrique Alfaro, Nuevo 
Leon Governor Samuel Garcia, Monterrey Mayor Luis Donaldo Colosio, and other 
MC leaders from Jalisco and Nuevo Leon (the two states MC governs) all attended 
the event. Lemus highlighted the presence of former Jalisco Governor Emilio 
Gonzalez (National Action Party - PAN) and University of Guadalajara (UdeG) 
Rector Ricardo Villanueva (Hagamos, affiliated with UdeG). Polls show Lemus 
holds a commanding lead over rivals from across the political spectrum. 
(U) Mexican Congress Hears Testimony on Alien Life 
11. (U) Congress heard testimony on unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) 
September 12, from experts including from Mexican journalist Jaime Maussan 
and former U.S. Navy pilot Ryan Graves, who previously testified before the U.S. 
Congress. The hearing was to debate language on UAP in the Aerial Space 
Protection Law which, if approved, would make Mexico the first country to 
formally acknowledge the presence of alien life on Earth. Experts asked 
legislators to recognize UAP, guarantee airspace securit y, and allow UAP to be 
studied. Experts also presented to Congress two alleged alien corpses and videos 
of Mexican pilots' encounters with fast-moving flying objects during flight. After 
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the hearing, Graves lamented the display took away from his and other pilots' 
experiences with UAP and expressed disappointment with Maussan's 
"unsubstantiated stunt." Scientists have discredited previous alleged alien 
corpses Maussan presented as evidence of alien life. 
(U) Figure 1: Mexican journalist Jaime Maussan presented t he alleged remains of non-human beings to 
Congress. (Photo credit: Reuters) 
Signature: 
SALAZAR 
Drafted By: 
Cleared By: 
Approved By: 
MEXICO:Moreno, Sergio A 
POL:Cortazar, Eduardo 
POL:Karimi, Amanda 
EXEC:Tejeda, Maria de los Angeles 
POL:Naranjo, Brian 
POL:Karimi, Amanda 
ECON:Conlon, Steven 
PD:Harder, J 
INL/PROG:Okwuje, lfeoma 
CONS/AG:Bernsteen, Gregory 
EXEC:Johnson, Mark 
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WASHINGTON DC Routine; HQ USNORTHCOM Routine; DEPT OF 
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