Many Monterrey residents are convinced that even a cut from bribes they pay local cops for traffic violations goes to the Zetas through corrupt cops.

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Indeed, as many Burmese went to pains to remind me, if "ordinary things" are generally associated with the corruption of those in authority, "ordinary people" include those who agree to pay the bribes, not complain, even looking for their own opportunities to exchange give for take.

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Ms Fujimori has the support of many businessmen and the near-hysterical backing of Peru's main media organisations, even though in her father's time Mr Montesinos extracted bribes from business and bullied the media.

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