Salvador Nava Martínez
Encyclopedia
Salvador Nava Martínez (April 7, 1914 - May 18, 1992) was a Mexican
physician, politician and activist. Nava, an ophthalmologist
and professor at the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí in the School of Medicine, would eventually become a leader in the opposition movement in San Luis Potosí
and the greater Mexico
political arena.
(PRI) banner. Nava would win the election and set his goals on the governor's office
in the upcoming election. In 1961 Nava attempted to run for the office of governor as the PRI candidate but was rejected by the party. The Potosíno Civic Front was created by Nava in response to the rejection and he went on to run as independent in the election. The PRI candidate would go on to win the election, however wide reports of voter fraud
emerged.
Nava led protests against the results and the ruling PRI party, demonstrations and violence broke out. The army
was called in by the President, Adolfo López Mateos
, to quell the incitement. The army's occupation lasted three months in which the Navista Committee headquarters was raided, the opposition paper, Tribunal was ransacked and their presses destroyed. Nava was arrested and many protesters were shot during out breaks. Nava and what was labeled as his "collaborators" were taken to Campo Militar Numero 1 and later transferred to Lecumberri Prison
on charges of social dissolution, stockpiling of weapons and incitations of rebellion. A month after the arrest Nava and his followers were released on bail, however Navas political protests continued. The government arrested Nava again two years later in 1963, torturing him and later releasing him. Nava stepped away from the political scene for over 15 years when in 1982 he reappeared.
(PAN) and the Unified Socialist Party of Mexico
(PSUM). Nava would go on to win the 1982 Mayoral election and again set his sights on the governors office. In 1991 Nava now in his late 70's and suffering from bladder cancer
, ran for the governor's office under the PCF and supported by the Mexican Democratic Party
(PDM), PAN, and the Party of the Democratic Revolution
(PRD). Nava's opponent in the 1991 election was Fausto Zapata who represented the ruling PRI party. Zapata had held previous posts such as congressman
and senator
as well as foreign ambassador
. With the ballots closed Zapata was declared the victor by 2-1 margin and Nava again claimed fraud by the PRI. Nava's claims this time were supported by groups set up to examine the voting process. Poll watchers
reported violations of voting rights
at over half the locations, stating there were instances of polling places transferring locations at the last minute, names being remove from the registration lists, PRI members voting multiple times and missing ballot boxes.
In response to the fraud, the 77 year old Nava called for and initiated what he called the March for Dignity, a 265 mile march from the city of San Luis Potosí to Zócalo
in Mexico City
, estimated to take 1 month to complete. En route to Mexico City, Nava demanded the president remove Zapata from office due to the growing scandal and protests. Women supporters of Nava occupied the governors palace refusing to let Zapata take office. In the wake of the growing election fraud throughout Mexico, Nava's group hoped to align with the PAN supported candidate to the north. With the March en route to Mexico City, Nava and the PAN were offered the positions of interim Governor to quell the uprising. Nava refused the deal, however PAN accepted, splintering the once aligned groups.
Thirteen days after Zapatas election certification he resigned the office at the behest of President Carlos Salinas de Gortari. With the March of Dignity returning home believing they had succeeded, Salinas appointed Gonzalo Martinez Corbala, a PRI member, to the Governors office, instead of Nava. Zapata was then awarded the position of consul general for Mexico in Los Angeles. Martinez would go on to arrange for new elections in 1993 with citizen councils running the elections and polling locations.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and the Mexican Constitution
.
The MCD further called for the following governmental changes:
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
physician, politician and activist. Nava, an ophthalmologist
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
and professor at the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí in the School of Medicine, would eventually become a leader in the opposition movement in San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí officially Estado Libre y Soberano de San Luis Potosí is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is San Luis Potosí....
and the greater Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
political arena.
Origin and political exile: 1958-1963
Salvador Nava's political career began in 1958 when he decided to run for Mayor of San Luis Potosí under the national Institutional Revolutionary PartyInstitutional Revolutionary Party
The Institutional Revolutionary Party is a Mexican political party that held power in the country—under a succession of names—for more than 70 years. The PRI is a member of the Socialist International, as is the rival Party of the Democratic Revolution , making Mexico one of the few...
(PRI) banner. Nava would win the election and set his goals on the governor's office
Governor of San Luis Potosí
The governor of San Luis Potosí solely exercises the role of the executive branch of government in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí, per the Political Constitution of the Free and Sovereign State of San Luis Potosí...
in the upcoming election. In 1961 Nava attempted to run for the office of governor as the PRI candidate but was rejected by the party. The Potosíno Civic Front was created by Nava in response to the rejection and he went on to run as independent in the election. The PRI candidate would go on to win the election, however wide reports of voter fraud
Electoral fraud
Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. Acts of fraud affect vote counts to bring about an election result, whether by increasing the vote share of the favored candidate, depressing the vote share of the rival candidates or both...
emerged.
Nava led protests against the results and the ruling PRI party, demonstrations and violence broke out. The army
Mexican Army
The Mexican Army is the combined land and air branch and largest of the Mexican Military services; it also is known as the National Defense Army. It is famous for having been the first army to adopt and use an automatic rifle, , in 1899, and the first to issue automatic weapons as standard issue...
was called in by the President, Adolfo López Mateos
Adolfo López Mateos
Adolfo López Mateos was a Mexican politician affiliated to the Institutional Revolutionary Party who served as President of Mexico from 1958 to 1964...
, to quell the incitement. The army's occupation lasted three months in which the Navista Committee headquarters was raided, the opposition paper, Tribunal was ransacked and their presses destroyed. Nava was arrested and many protesters were shot during out breaks. Nava and what was labeled as his "collaborators" were taken to Campo Militar Numero 1 and later transferred to Lecumberri Prison
Palacio de Lecumberri
The Palacio de Lecumberri is a large building, formerly a prison, in the northeast of Mexico City, Mexico, which now houses the General National Archive ....
on charges of social dissolution, stockpiling of weapons and incitations of rebellion. A month after the arrest Nava and his followers were released on bail, however Navas political protests continued. The government arrested Nava again two years later in 1963, torturing him and later releasing him. Nava stepped away from the political scene for over 15 years when in 1982 he reappeared.
Return to politics: 1982-1992
Nava once again ran for Mayor with the back drop of his Potosíno Civic Front (FCP), supported by the National Action PartyNational Action Party (Mexico)
The National Action Party , is one of the three main political parties in Mexico. The party's political platform is generally considered Centre-Right in the Mexican political spectrum. Since 2000, the President of Mexico has been a member of this party; both houses have PAN pluralities, but the...
(PAN) and the Unified Socialist Party of Mexico
Unified Socialist Party of Mexico
The Unified Socialist Party of Mexico was a far-left political party in Mexico. It later became the Mexican Socialist Party in 1988...
(PSUM). Nava would go on to win the 1982 Mayoral election and again set his sights on the governors office. In 1991 Nava now in his late 70's and suffering from bladder cancer
Bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is any of several types of malignant growths of the urinary bladder. It is a disease in which abnormal cells multiply without control in the bladder. The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ that stores urine; it is located in the pelvis...
, ran for the governor's office under the PCF and supported by the Mexican Democratic Party
Mexican Democratic Party
The Mexican Democratic Party was an ultra-Catholic social conservative political party in Mexico that existed between 1979 and 1997.-Origins:...
(PDM), PAN, and the Party of the Democratic Revolution
Party of the Democratic Revolution
The Party of the Democratic Revolution is a democratic socialist party in Mexico and one of 2 Mexican affiliates of the Socialist International...
(PRD). Nava's opponent in the 1991 election was Fausto Zapata who represented the ruling PRI party. Zapata had held previous posts such as congressman
Congress of Mexico
The Congress of the Union is the legislative branch of the Mexican government...
and senator
Senate of Mexico
The Senate of the Republic, constitutionally Chamber of Senators of the Honorable Congress of the Union After a series of reforms during the 1990s, it is now made up of 128 senators:...
as well as foreign ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
. With the ballots closed Zapata was declared the victor by 2-1 margin and Nava again claimed fraud by the PRI. Nava's claims this time were supported by groups set up to examine the voting process. Poll watchers
Scrutineer
In general, a scrutineer is a person who observes any process which requires rigorous oversight, either to prevent the occurrence of corruption or genuine mistakes. It is most commonly known as part of voting in an election, where the scrutineer observes the counting of ballot papers, in order to...
reported violations of voting rights
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
at over half the locations, stating there were instances of polling places transferring locations at the last minute, names being remove from the registration lists, PRI members voting multiple times and missing ballot boxes.
In response to the fraud, the 77 year old Nava called for and initiated what he called the March for Dignity, a 265 mile march from the city of San Luis Potosí to Zócalo
Zócalo
The Zócalo is the main plaza or square in the heart of the historic center of Mexico City. The plaza used to be known simply as the "Main Square" or "Arms Square," and today its formal name is Plaza de la Constitución...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, estimated to take 1 month to complete. En route to Mexico City, Nava demanded the president remove Zapata from office due to the growing scandal and protests. Women supporters of Nava occupied the governors palace refusing to let Zapata take office. In the wake of the growing election fraud throughout Mexico, Nava's group hoped to align with the PAN supported candidate to the north. With the March en route to Mexico City, Nava and the PAN were offered the positions of interim Governor to quell the uprising. Nava refused the deal, however PAN accepted, splintering the once aligned groups.
Thirteen days after Zapatas election certification he resigned the office at the behest of President Carlos Salinas de Gortari. With the March of Dignity returning home believing they had succeeded, Salinas appointed Gonzalo Martinez Corbala, a PRI member, to the Governors office, instead of Nava. Zapata was then awarded the position of consul general for Mexico in Los Angeles. Martinez would go on to arrange for new elections in 1993 with citizen councils running the elections and polling locations.
Citizens Movement for Democracy (MCD): 1992
Nava's last act of unifying the Mexican movement was the foundation of the Citizens Movement for Democracy (MCD) in 1992. On March first of the founding year, the MCD held its first convention, drawing in over 60 indigenous, community labor, citizen, and human rights organizations. The MCD called for the defense of human and political rights as defined by the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled...
and the Mexican Constitution
Constitution of Mexico
The Political Constitution of the United Mexican States is the current constitution of Mexico. It was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro, in the State of Querétaro, by a constitutional convention, during the Mexican Revolution. It was approved by the Constitutional Congress on February 5, 1917...
.
The MCD further called for the following governmental changes:
- End the state monopoly of administration of elections
- Dismantle the concentrated power of the presidency and create checks and balances
- Reform the judicial system and create an independent supreme court
- Give the state congresses and the federal congress the power of centralism in the Mexican political system
- Give autonomy to municipal governments
- End communications monopolies in television and radio
- Insure freedom of the press
- Democratize labor unions, trade associations, political parties and education institutions