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Weekly Report - 13 July 2004

MEXICO: Dissecting the reaction to kidnapping

The perceptions behind the current wave of popular unease over kidnappings in Mexico are complex. A survey released last week by the Grupo Reforma shows a majority believing that kidnappings have increased recently - but only 26% are very afraid of being kidnapped and only 6% envisage themselves as likely victims. About a quarter have direct knowledge of kidnap victims; most of what the majority know comes from the media. The facts are confusing: a recent breakdown of trends lists the states with the greatest four-year increases and decreases in kidnapping, but fails to underline that in six of the eight cases cited, the trends had reversed this year. The following tables illustrate the array of often conflicting appreciations of what has become public problem number one.

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