Mexico's Proposals on Pot, Gay Rights Contradicted by Violence, Militarization, Impunity R. Aida Hernandez - Reforma | |
go to original May 31, 2016 |
A demonstrator carries a banner demanding justice during a 3,000-strong protest in the streets of Oaxaca. (EFE)
In the past few weeks we have witnessed a change in the Mexican government’s conservative policies in regard to the criminalization of marijuana consumption and the public policies for sexual diversity. It would seem that the struggles by the progressive sectors of society are finally impacting the views of today’s administration.
However, these changes in the government’s rhetoric ought to be put into context with a series of political events that have put into question the credibility of the Mexican state facing the international community. First is the complaint about the irregularities in the investigation of the forced disappearance of the 43 students from Ayotzinapa, documented by the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (IGIE) of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (ICHR). The non-renewal of their term has been seen by public as another example of the lack of willingness by the Mexican government to clear up the case. Not only did it refuse to facilitate the investigation by the IGIE of the facilities of the 27th infantry battalion, located in the vicinity of Iguala, but also, in various statements by high-up government officials and military authorities, the military troops of the region have been cleared of any responsibility in the case.
It was within this context of collusion and impunity that last April 29th the senate’s plenary session approved a series of reforms violating the human rights that increase the jurisdiction of military courts, strengthening the interference by the military system in civilian issues. Going against all the recommendations made by the Inter-American Court on Human Rights, the army’s privileges in civilian issues were increased through reforming and repealing various parts of the Code of Military Justice (JCM) and the creation of the Military Code of Criminal Procedures (MCCP).
At the same time the Tlatlaya case was put to an end, with the freeing, due to a lack of evidence, of the last three soldiers who were still being held on charges of the extrajudicial execution of 15 people that took place June 30, 2014. Human rights organizations have pointed out the seriousness of these military reforms that do not meet the standards of a proper administration of justice, as well as the message of impunity and excessive tolerance that was sent to society upon freeing those who were presumed responsible for the massacre.
The loss of prestige that the Mexican government is facing because of the Ayotzinapa and Tlatlaya cases, because of the thousands of disappearance in the country, because of the common graves that cover the land and because of the failure of the so-called “war against drug traffickers”; all of this made it a top-priority to create a smoke screen that would distract public opinion from this list of grievances.
Read the rest at Mexico Voices
Related: NGO's Warn of 'Counter-Reform' to Mexico's Law Against Torture (Mexico Voices)
Translated by Joel Cloke
Mexico Voices is a blogging endeavor aimed at raising the awareness of U.S. citizens regarding the destructive impact of the U.S. economic policy and the War on Drugs on Mexico — on its people, their economic and physical security and their human rights, on the nation’s dysfunctional justice system, and on the rule of law and Mexico’s fragile democracy. Visit the website at MexicoVoices.blogspot.mx
We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!
From activities like hiking, swimming, bike riding and yoga, to restaurants offering healthy menus, Vallarta-Nayarit is the ideal place to continue - or start - your healthy lifestyle routine.