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Monday, August 15, 2022

AMLO Looks to Bypass Congress to Keep National Guard (GN) Policing in Mexico

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat


Mexico’s president has begun exploring plans to sidestep congress to hand formal control of the National Guard to the army, a move that could extend the military’s control over policing in a country with high levels of violence. That has raised concerns because President Andrés Manuel López Obrador won approval for creating the force in 2019 by pledging in the constitution that it would be under nominal civilian control and that the army would be off the streets by 2024.

Neither the National Guard nor the military has been able to lower the insecurity in the country, however. This past week, drug cartels staged widespread arson and shooting attacks, terrifying civilians in three main northwest cities in a bold challenge to the state. On Saturday, authorities sent 300 army special forces and 50 National Guard members to the border city of Tijuana.

Still, López Obrador wants to keep soldiers involved in policing and remove civilian control over the National Guard, whose officers and commanders are mostly soldiers, with military training and pay grades. But the president no longer has the votes in congress to amend the constitution and has suggested he may try to do it as a regulatory change with a simple majority in congress or by executive order and see if the courts will uphold that.

López Obrador warned Friday against politicizing the issue, saying the military is needed to fight Mexico’s violent drug cartels. But then he immediately politicized it himself. “A constitutional reform would be ideal, but we have to look for ways, because they (the opposition) instead of helping us, are blocking us, there is an intent to prevent us from doing anything,” López Obrador said. The two main opposition parties also had different positions when they were in power. They supported the army in public safety roles during their respective administrations beginning in 2006 and 2012.

When López Obrador was running for president, he called for taking the army off the streets. But being in power — and seeing homicides running at their highest sustained levels ever — apparently changed his mind. He has relied heavily on the military not just for crime-fighting. He sees the army and navy as heroic, patriotic, and less corruptible, and has entrusted them with building major infrastructure projects, running airports and trains, stopping migrants, and overseeing customs at seaports.


Mexico’s army has been deeply involved in policing since the start of the 2006 drug war. But its presence was always understood as temporary, a stop-gap until Mexico could build trustworthy police forces. López Obrador appears to have abandoned that plan, instead making the military and quasi-military forces like the National Guard the main solution. “Their mandate has to be prolonged,” he said.

“I think the best thing is for the National Guard to be a branch of the Defense Department to give it stability over time and prevent it from being corrupted,” he said. He also wants the army and the navy to help in public safety roles beyond 2024, the current dateline established in a 2020 executive order.

The force has grown to 115,000, but almost 80% of its personnel were drawn from the ranks of the military.

The United Nations and human rights groups have long expressed reservations about having the military do police work. and Mexico’s Supreme Court has yet to decide on several appeals against what critics say are unconstitutional tasks given to the National Guard.

The U.N. Human Rights High Commissioner’s office said last week that militarizing civil institutions, such as policing, weakens democracy. Soldiers aren’t trained for that, the military by nature isn’t very open to scrutiny, it has been implicated in human rights abuses, and the presence of troops hasn’t resolved the pressing question of how to reform police, prosecutors, and courts.

While López Obrador claims human rights abuses are no longer tolerated, the governmental National Human Rights Commission has received more than a thousand complaints alleging abuses by the National Guard. The agency has issued five recommendations in cases where there was evidence of excessive use of force, torture, or abuse of migrants.

“The problem with using the military in civilian roles is that we don’t have any control of what goes on inside” the forces, said Ana Lorena Delgadillo, director of the civic group Foundation For Justice. Delgadillo said that placing the National Guard under the Defense Department, despite constitutional language defining it as a civilian-commanded force, is “authoritarian,” will be challenged in court, and will not help to pacify the country.

The Mexican Employers’ Association, Coparmex, said in a statement that the capabilities of state police should instead be strengthened. “It is them and the (state prosecutors’ offices) that are authorized to interact with the civilian population,” the group said.


Perhaps more to the point, the quasi-military National Guard has not been able to bring down Mexico’s stubbornly high homicide rate. Sofía de Robina, a lawyer for the Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez Human Rights Center, said the National Guard “has not been able to decrease violence,” in part because of its military-style strategy of “occupying territory.”

While that strategy — of building barracks and conducting regular patrols — may be helpful in remote or rural areas, it has proved less useful and even drawn opposition in urban areas. Police, who are from the towns they serve and live among the inhabitants, would be more effective, experts say. Yet widespread corruption, poor pay, and threats by cartels against police officers have weakened local and state police forces.

Over 15 years of experience with the military in policing roles have shown “the falseness of the paradigm that the army was going to solve the problems,” Delgadillo said. De Robina added that López Obrador’s latest move means trying to keep the military in policing indefinitely, “completely defying the obligation that public safety be civil” with no limits on time or strategy.

Source APNews

55 comments:

  1. ELMO is finally learning that he can't win this conflict at the national level without the military.

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    Replies
    1. It’s hilarious that you think they actually want to win.

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    2. 9:58 Hes been using SEDENA since 2018, not just the National Guard, what are you talking about?

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    3. 11:02:
      I'm actually a comedian at my night job.

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    4. 11:35 Elmo has been using the national guard, well as we all can see, it's not working well. It's like he only wants them out of the barracks only 3 days out of the 7. Rest of the time play cards

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    5. Mexico is never going to change because the Mexican government doesn't want to change

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    6. 2:39 Whos saying?, illiterate Mrs Bible Belt holding a burger?

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    7. 1:18 Every single federal agency had been doing its job on different missions / tasks... Guardia Nacional, Guardia Nacional/caminos, Fuerzas Armadas, Marina, Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera, among a couple more, that tells you how some cartels are trying with extraordinary ways, like CJNG, to site an example.

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  2. Elmo is a clown lol😂😂😷😷

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    Replies
    1. You are a clown.

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    2. Obrador is a clown for sure baby.

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    3. Officially is a president. In your opinion can be whatever your imagination tells you.

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    4. 8:29
      Officially the President is a clown and his speech writer write clownish works
      The president gets up at 5 in the morning to fight female violence.

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    5. Yep El presidente es UN Payaso.

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    6. 10:06 En efecto, ese Biden es un payaso

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    7. 10:16 Nope! Elmo is a puppet in sesame street
      Amlo on the other hand is mexicos president

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    8. 7:07 in that case AMLO can be an alien, a rock or a tree if you want. ☺

      Delete
  3. All throughout history governments have relied on their military to bring widespread violence under control like the U.S. did in the "wild west".
    This usually leads to human rights abuses that are often violent. They wanted to place the National Guard under civilian control to reduce abuses. If the National Guard had been constituted correctly like the current fuerza civil force in Nueva Leon, this would be possible. However, because they didn't properly vet and build up their force, it doesn't matter who leads them. The best leadership in the world is useless when you have elements who were poorly vetted and trained from other organizations within your force.
    Fortunately, some states, like Nuevo Leon are doing things correctly which is bringing down crime. Crime will be reduced in these states even without a federal force and other states will follow their lead.
    The best thing that ELMO can do is disband the National Guard and start all over again and vet members before placing them in the organization and then give them the proper training and equipment and pay them a livable wage.

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    Replies
    1. Nuevo Leon doing things correctly?, you know things, but obviously there are other stuff that you have no idea about Mexico.

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    2. 11:35:
      Ten years ago Nuevo Leon was consistently in the top 3 spots for violence. Nuevo Leon is now number 17 when it comes to critical incidents.
      Ten years ago, Nuevo Leon was consistently placed on the U.S. government's highest travel alert, number 4 recommending Americans not to travel there. Currently, they are at level 2 which only advises Americans to use increased caution. Also, there currently are no travel restrictions on U.S. government employees in Nuevo Leon as compared to severe travel restrictions ten years ago.
      The situation in Nuevo Leon is improving. If you have evidence to suggest otherwise, I would like to hear it.
      Your comment lead me to believe that you are commenting from British Colombia. Eh?

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    3. Vetting won't help in this case, too much institutionalized corruption and culture of "los vale madre".

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    4. Any city in Mexico that doesn't have much violence is working with the bad guys and obrador has let the problem get out of hand because he didn't come in fighting like Calderon and now all of mexico is dying what a mess looks like Ukraine and Mexicans can't say anymore mexico LINDO because it's a cesspool along with the elected officials and the. Clowns burning cars they can take lessons from the old traffickers from 50 years ago business only and keep a low profile and don't touch women and children and now they act like cannibals chopping heads Coked up 24-7.

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    5. 11:32 Fighting like Calderon? hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha his Defense Secretary is jailed waiting for a trial on a US prison, so... not sure if is correct to mention Calderon.

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    6. 11:32 no mames guey Calderon nomas hiso un puto cochinero, empezo todas las guerras entre carteles que asta la fecha siguen

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    7. @detroit - I really appreciate your comments but I do disagree with you on this. The equivalent to the FBI in Mexico has been disbanded and reformed several times yet there is consistently corruption at the very top that rota the organization down to the roots.

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  4. Mexico needs a president that needs to unleash the dogs on the other dogs with US support to clean up the trash.

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    1. US support????? hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaa no thank you.... things tend to get weird when the US "help", "support", "intervene".... and never for free. Do your homework on your side of the border. Cut that cash flow, weapon flow and control drug consumption.

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    2. 3:39 is another grampa Obrador supporter.
      Mr. T Mar de Lago home gets a warrant to search for paperwork. They found it. Mr. T cry's like a baby, supporters that still believe in him, cry too FBI are the bullies. Then you have the Republicans talking as if Mr.T is an angel.
      Mr. T better not try to run for president in 2024.

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    3. 7:34 Dont see the connection with AMLO and what was written... you mostly hate amlo and have to mention him even where no one is talking about him. Your opinion matters ☺

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    4. Lol at grampa Obrador

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  5. The wimp needs to upgrade the armed forces not disband it's police forces like he disbanded the AFIs he needs to clean the cancer that has grown before he leaves office and extradite those clowns to the US and send his forces into a shoot first ask questions later to fight fire with fire.and confiscate money and properties like in the US he can learn from The US.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Corruption is part of that cancer. Look at the mess that the los altos region of Jalisco is in.
      This violence wouldn't be occurring if the army and National Guard were doing their jobs.
      Rather than creating new organizations, ELMO has to clean up the corruption in it's existing institutions.

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    2. When there is curuption at all levels of government, it would not be that easy to do. Cjng runs 28 States and growing. Looks more likely the Cartels will take over.

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  6. A curfew should be installed like in the Philippines in the 1980s with Marcus anyone caught in the streets after midnight will be shot.Mexico needs to

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    Replies
    1. 11:58 Come step over to patio.
      Me and you, along with 4 others, can go to Mexico, you are gun savy? Or you never shot a gun? Your not afraid to go against a criminal ring? We will ambush a few, we will get away with murder, as many get away.
      We will cross back to USA and wait for an article that Sol will grab...
      "14 cartel members killed"

      Delete
  7. AMLO Lives Matter

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. According to ELMO, criminal lives matter.

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    2. Since he does nada, later when it gets more out of hand, he will put blame on past president. But he is clean.

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  8. What the hell is happening in Mexico. WTF, when will enough be enough. Will the increased violence spill over the border to USA too???

    Some one needs to spank these babies

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    Replies
    1. Same question asked with every school shooting happening there, enough is enough. Spank yourself, that may work.

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    2. 11:59
      Funny how they comment about Mexico, you come in on every article and counter attack. Face the truth Mijo

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    3. 12:38 Facing the truth since decades ago... you are attacking every comment i post... things are finally changing, embrace that mijo, not giving shitty opinions from my apartment in San Diego or Detroit, where your only contact with drugs is seeing the addicts asking for a couple bills ☺

      Delete
  9. Intelligent coverage of this story on AP News https://apnews.com/article/mexico-shootings-violence-caribbean-arson-50124ea9b1879f0040e70476401e50d4

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  10. Yea keeping the on their dorms playing poker and drinking beer while cartels run free!!!

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  11. AMLO should copy Arizona law and allow recreational and medical cannabis, and use the HUGE tax money to pay for better policing, with pay and equipment, and better numbers. Most cartels don't want to be the police anymore anyway, defending territory against all comers is expensive, let cannabis pay for police doing it all, tax dollars just for Arizona is 100's mil annual, much more for Mexico doing recreational stores like AZ. Any better ideas that have already worked ?

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  12. AMLO should copy Arizona law and allow recreational and medical cannabis, and use the HUGE tax money to pay for better policing, with pay and equipment, and better numbers. Most cartels don't want to be the police anymore anyway, defending territory against all comers is expensive, let cannabis pay for police doing it all, tax dollars just for Arizona is 100's mil annual, much more for Mexico doing recreational stores like AZ. Any better ideas that have already worked ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1:34 Apply those ideas in your own country. That would be a better idea.

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    2. 11:58 lawyer nutthugger.
      Mexico sovereign country needs all the help it can get.1:34 has a valid point ☝️.

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    3. 12:36 Help from the US, dont think that can be considered help given the previous results... dont think thats a valid point either. But keep trying your best amlo hater.

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    4. In the US most are Trump cheerleaders and in Mexico most are Cartel cheerleaders: por.eso.estan.como.estan .don't come running over her for help

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    5. The USA has Trump cheerleaders and Mexico has Cartel cheerleaders? Don't come running over here for help and have two houses on both sides of the border : we need immigrants who will become good Americans pay taxes and work honestly not acting as messengers for the bad guys because you'll be caught sentenced and deported so we need your machismo in the American armed forces to fight the Russians and Chinese like previous immigrants who fought in Vietnam and previous wars and returned home so gallantly and their citizenship was expedited Take your pick.?

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    6. Kids in Mexico used to idilized lucha.libre.stars like el.santo.and.blue demon or mil.mascaras.Now they idolized the clowns with weapons and killing civilians? What a mess.

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    7. 115. The U.S has done the same. You have certain groups of people that listen to music that advocates for criminal activities and violence and idolizes street thugs and American Mafia figures.

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    8. 12:57
      Who would want to have a 2nd home in Mexico. It would get stolen from the cartels.
      Also the US Military is not at war with China or Russia.
      But currently there is a war with Russia trying to take over Ukraine.

      Delete
  13. Clearly nobody takes Amlo serious otherwise none of this shit would be taking place (Tj, Juarez, colima, Zapopan). mafia would recognize and respect the side deals Amlo made with them if they respected him but they dont. all he's good for is selling dreams and empty talk. AMLO is a fucking old man who barks more than he bites. who the fuck would take him serious???? Mexico's people are 100% to blame since they elected him . imagine thinking that a senior citizen is going to fix your problems. he needs to be in quintana roo soaking up the sun sipping on cocktails not standing in front of a pulpit like a robot peddling his bullshit

    ReplyDelete

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