Latest News
March 5, 2012
Applications for the NAMUN 2013 Secretariat are now available here.
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February 24, 2012
NAMUN XXVII closes another great year. Thank you to all staff and delegates who participated!
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February 22, 2012
The Wednesday Edition of The Diplomat is now available online! Printed copies will be available in the afternoon.
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February 21, 2012
NAMUN XXVII
University of Toronto
Conference Schedule available here.
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January 31, 2012
Background guides for committees have been posted.
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Mexican Drug War: 2016 (Joint Crisis)
Delegates are expected to write a position paper outlining their respective country's or character's position with respect to their committee topics. This should be a minimum 500 word paper (not exceeding 1500 words) outlining the relevance of their country/character in the committee. Delegates must send this paper prior to February 20th to the President of the committee.
Ammar Keshodia, President of the General Assembly: ammar.keshodia@namun.org
Liam Salichuk, President of Special Committees: liam.salichuk@namun.org
Patrick Langille, President of the Historical Council: patrick.langille@namun.org
Government Officials:
Guillermo Galván Galván: Secretary of National Defense (Mexico)
A military man by trade, Galván has worked steadily over the last decade to stamp out the drug trade, following mainly traditional doctrines of armed warfare and military intervention to seek and destroy drug cartels and their leaders. He has been the Secretary of National Defense throughout the Drug War, and has seen the rise and of many politicians whose ideas were not successful. His own political career is now at stake as many officials are calling for his resignation due to the continuing lack of results the Drug War has been yielding. He has often been vocal in expressing his interest in continuing the traditional hardline approach to fighting the cartels. It is up to Galván to give legitimacy to any plan for action in the war, as he continues to be one of the top commanders in the country, second only to the president.
Francisco Blake Mora: Secretary of the Interior (Mexico)
Upon taking office in 2010, Mora expressed his concern that the War on Drugs was not being fought effectively. Six years later he continues to voice this belief. He has always been a strong supporter of community or ‘grassroots’ involvement by the government, and as such dissents the policies of certain officials concerning heavy military involvement. His involvement with the policy review will focus mainly on domestic policy action in the interest of the safety of civilians who have been hardest hit by the tragedy of the Drug War. Furthermore, it is his jurisdiction to propose plans on what is to be done with the growing number of refugees in the embattled countryside as millions relocate and attempt to cross the border into the United States to escape the violence.
Genaro García Luna: Secretary of Public Security and Administrator of the Federal Police (Mexico)
Luna has been the Secretary of Public Security since the beginning of the Drug War in 2006. Since then, he has been plagued with accusations concerning his ties to unnamed Drug Cartels and involvement in money laundering schemes. Despite these allegations he remains in charge of the Federal Police, the militarized security force tasked with fighting the growing power of the Cartels. He is an advocate of increased police presence across the country, and in recent years has tripled the size of the police force.
Janet Napolitano: Secretary of Homeland Security (USA)
A former governor of Arizona, Napolitano is no stranger to the problems the United States of America have been plagued with as a result of the Drug Trade. Long considered a proponent of tough border tactics and extreme policy decisions, Napolitano will stop at nothing to ensure the United States border with Mexico is protected from the growing insurgency of Cartels and the Mexican civilians fleeing from them. In this policy review she represents the American government and must work with the Mexican officials to reach an agreement regarding the influx of refugees and the security threat this poses to the American people. As the top official in charge of border services and security, it is her responsibility to ensure the war does not reach American soil.
Earl Anthony Wayne: United States Ambassador to Mexico (USA)
A career diplomat with over four decades of international experience, Wayne has served the United States government in Morocco, France, Argentina and Afghanistan. He was brought into the Mexican ambassadorial position due to his experience working in conflicts and with hostile enemies. His advice has been essential to the Mexican administration since his appointment in 2011, half way through the Drug War. As the top American official working with the Mexican government, his advice must reflect the policies of the United States government in solving the Drug War issue.
Michele Leonhart: Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA, USA)
A major policy maker in the War on Drugs, Leonhart believes in traditional conservative policies. She supports the controversial argument that the ongoing violence in the War on Drugs is justified as being part of a greater good to eventually bring stability to Mexico. All of her decisions are of course made from an American policy perspective, one that is not always found favourable by more liberal members of the Mexican government. Leonhart’s role as DEA Administrator gives her considerable sway in this committee.
Bruno Ferrari García de Alba: Secretary of the Economy (Mexico)
While not directly concerned with the warfare in Mexico, de Alba is faced with growing concerns of his own. The volatile Mexican economy has been damaged almost beyond repair from the war with the Drug Lords. While the government continues to spend beyonds its means fighting the war, the Cartels have wrought destruction upon the Mexican countryside, creating food shortages and loss of economic opportunity. Ongoing violence and the targeting of foreign business has chased many foreign investors out of the country, increasing the unemployment rate to nearly fifteen percent. As the Secretary of the Economy, de Alba must convince the other members of the government review panel to examine the impact of the War on Drugs in another perspective before the Mexican economy is damaged irreversibly.
Mexican Drug Lords:
Joaquín Guzmán Loera
As leader of the Sinaloa or Pacific Cartel, Loera continues to be one of the most powerful drug lords in the world. He is regarded by he FBI as the most wanted criminal in the world, yet still continues to effectively operate his organization, controlling large areas of trade along the Gulf of Mexico. The death of his son at the hands of the Beltran-Levya and Los Zetas cartels initiated a violent turf war which lead to the deaths of hundreds of civilians, and the Sinaloa Cartel’s fractured relations with the Los Zetas. Loera remains a powerful figure, having secured alliances with the Gulf Cartel and the Knights Templar. While a powerful and controlling figure, Loera must work closely with the other drug lords amidst accusations of his alleged collusion with Mexican State officials to destroy rival cartels.
Heriberto “El Lazca” Lazcano
Lazcano is the leader of the Los Zetas Cartel, known by DEA officials as the most violent paramilitary organization in Mexico. Formerly a Mexican soldier, Lazcano was brought into the drug world to as a bodyguard to the founder of the Los Zetas Cartel, which he quickly rose to lead in his own right. Under his leadership, the cartel has recruited and trained many former Mexican police officers to fight for their militarized wing. With territory bordering on the United States, Lazcano has a vested interest in the cross border trade with America. Any attempts by the United States to strengthen border security will be met by the stern opposition of Los Zetas.
Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sánchez
Costilla Sánchez became familiar with the drug trade after working as a Police Officer in Tamaulipas State. He now leads one of the most famous and formidable drug cartels in Mexico, the Gulf Cartel. In the past he was responsible for the ongoing conflict with the Los Zetas throughout most of Northeastern and Central Mexico. He is unrelenting and known for his extreme tactics which often result in direct attacks on government forces. Costilla Sánchez must decide whether it is better for his cartel to make peace with his former enemies, or continue the bloodshed to increase his cartel’s prestige.
Luis Fernando Sánchez Arellano
As leader of the Tijuana Cartel, Arellano values his monopoly on the Pacific imports of drugs into the United States. He must face down the uncomfortable truth of his situation however, knowing that the Tijuana Cartel has been unable to expand its’ sphere of influence beyond the city for which it is named. Arellano must work either with his traditional allies the Los Zetas and Juarez Cartels, or attempt to make peace with his past foes, the Sinaloa, Gulf and La Familia Cartels. The ground held by Arellano and his organization might just make the difference in the fight for any cartel’s survival, so he must act swiftly if he wishes to survive.
Servando Gómez Martínez
At one time proclaimed extinct by Mexican officials, the La Familia Michoacana Cartel has reemerged as a power in the drug wars. Martinez himself has played a significant role in his cartel’s rebirth, paving the way for the exportation of meth amphetamines into the United States. He is known as being the most public figure in the drug trade, having acknowledged his role in the war on national television, and frequently calling for dialogue with Mexican officials. He often portrays himself as a proponent of social justice in his home state of Michoacana, claiming his cartel works for the good of the people.
Vicente Carrillo Fuentes
Fuentes is no stranger to the power games the cartels play. As leader of the Juarez Cartel, he controls the majority of cocaine exports to the United States, a very lucrative trade. Mexican authorities have implicated him in the infamous “House of Death” case in Ciudad Juarez, where members of his Cartel tortured and executed over a dozen informants and members of rival gangs, one of the more grisly events of the drug war. He finds himself at the center of tense rivalries with the Sinaloa, La Familia and Gulf Cartel Alliance. His alliances remain shaky due to the recent decline of the Juarez Cartel’s power, in part due to a crackdown on his territory by Mexican officials. Fuentes must battle to stay alive amid growing threats from his rivals.
Enrique Plancarte Solís
Solís is the leader of the youngest of the powerful Cartels, the Knights Templar. Formed as a military wing of La Familia Michoacana in 2011, the Knights Templar quickly moved out of their home state to establish themselves as key opposition to their former partners. Solís himself has proven his ability to lead the cartel, often championing the divine right of his soldiers to execute kill in the name of social justice and family values. As a new Cartel, the Knights Templar find themselves with few allies, and many more enemies. Solís will have to work carefully among the other Cartel leaders to ensure that his organization is not brought down faster than it has risen.