The Federal Appeals Court has confirmed sentences of ten years for businessman Omár Chabán and seven years for the leader of the music band Cajelleros.

Chabán was the administrator of the República Cromañón Club in Once where a fire killed 194 people in December 2004. Today’s Appeals ruling had to decide whether it upheld the sentences given by the Criminal Oral Court 24 last year or if it would modify them. The previous court had sentenced Chabán to eight years in prison and Patricio Fontanet, the singer of Callejeros, to five years.

Other sentences in the case include eight years for Carlos Díaz, a ranking policeman in charge of the area where the tragedy happened, and six years for Eduardo Vásquez, the drummer of the band.

The families of the victims made it known that they agreed with the new sentences. “It’s a lot more than what we expected”, said Nilda Gómez, mother of one of the victims, “we were afraid that some of those responsible would be acquitted”.

The prison sentences will become effective when the Criminal Oral Court 24 is notified and issues the warrants to detain the accused, who remain free until then. Vasquez is the only accused that is already in prison, serving ten years for the murder of his wife.

Mural and shoes in memory of the victims (Wikimedia)

The tragedy occurred on 30^th December 2004 during a Callejeros show after a member of the public lit a flare that caused a nearby flammable curtain to catch fire. The severe death toll of the tragedy is explained by several factors including that the club was full well over its safe capacity, that certain emergency exits were locked shut and that the organisers had failed to hire first-aid professionals. The main cause of death was inhalation of toxic fumes released by the fire.

Many family members of the victims consider Aníbal Ibarra, the governor of the city at the time of the fire, as responsible and continue to fight for his culpability to be proven in court. Gómez warned him, “Ibarra we don’t forgive you. Keep protecting yourself”.

Mexico’s four presidential candidates are in the final stages of closing their campaigns, as next Sunday’s presidential election nears.

The winner will succeed current president Felipe Calderón (National Action Party, or PAN), who has held two terms of power since 2000. Before that, the Insitutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) held office for 72 years.

The candidates spoke to supports at various venues in Mexico this weekend.

Andres Manuel López Obrador (Democratic Revolution Party) held an event at Plaza Juárez in Guadalajara, where he remarked that on Monday, Mexico “will celebrate its fourth historical transformation” and that “there will be justice” for the Mexican people.

López Obrador ran for the presidential seat in 2006, but lost by a narrow margin against Calderón.

Enrique Peña Nieto (Institutional Revolutionary Party) holds the first place in the polls by a margin of around 12 to 16%, and is favoured to win the election. Peña Nieto, who spoke at Aztec Stadium in Mexico City, said he would be the indisputable winner of the election.

Josefina Vasquez Mota, from PAN, spoke at the pier of Port of Veracruz, and said, “I come to offer a possible Mexico, a Mexico for everyone, it’s now or never…”

Gabriel Quadri (New Alliance Party) closed his campaign in Tlalnepantla, reminding listeners that education is at the forefront of his policy.

Wednesday, 27th June marks the official last day of campaigns. López Obrador’s campaign will culminate with a march through Mexico City, Vázquez Mota’s will close at Omnilife Stadium in Guadalajara, Peña Nieto’s in Toluca and Quadri’s in Aguascalientes.