@Excelsior
Following the announcement that the Senate of the Republic approved in general and in particular the motion that reforms the Law of the National Guard and Public Security, and grants the Secretary of National Defense (SEDENA) administrative and operational control of the National Guard, several civil society organizations spoke out against this presidential decision for going “against the popular will that elected him, which among other things voted for him hoping that he will act to pacify the country, stop the megaprojects against communities and end the militarization. It is an act against the Constitution and the civil government”, the organizations stated.
The UN High Commissioner, Nada Al-Nashif, expressed her concern regarding human rights, especially the lack of accountability of the armed forces. In addition, she said that this strategy has not managed to reduce crime in the country, but rather an increase in complaints of serious human rights violations. In the same vein, Amnesty International “categorically” rejected the decision of the Senate of the Republic because it violates international treaties signed by Mexico and contravenes the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States.
According to Heraldo de Mexico, “so far in this six-year term of office there have been more than 130,000 intentional homicides, 33,000 disappeared and 3,615 femicides; of which, 98% remain unpunished”, which shows “the failed security strategy of “hugs, not bullets””. However, the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) said that the operational and administrative control of the GN “can be and is admissible, from the point of view of human rights” as long as its intervention is limited in time and subject to exceptional cases, so “it will not promote any action of unconstitutionality.”
Currently, the initiative of the PRI and MORENA to endorse the presence of the army in the streets until 2029 to fulfill public security tasks is being discussed.
For more information in Spanish:
Organizaciones sociales y civiles se pronuncian en contra de la militarización del país (Educa Oaxaca, 12 de septiembre de 2022)
No hay militarización en México: CNDH ante paso de Guardia Nacional a Sedena (Excelsior, 13 de septiembre de 2022)
Es preocupante la militarización en México: ONU (El Sol de México, 9 de septiembre de 2022)
México: Militarizar la seguridad pública generará más violaciones de derechos humanos y perpetuará la impunidad (Amnistía Internacional, 9 de septiembre de 2022)
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