Officials Urge Mexican Congress to Regulate Army Patrolling of Streets Elena Toledo - PanAm Post
go to original December 6, 2016

The Mexican army has lost 30 percent approval over the last ten years. (Mientras Tanto)

Officials from various political parties in Mexico are urging congress to approve an interior security law that would regulate the army while it is carrying out enforcement on the streets.

Both lawmakers and specialists said that keeping the military on the streets “depletes” the army.

At one point, the Secretary of National Defense was one of the most trusted institutions in Mexico, but it has reportedly lost 30 percent of its approval over the last 10 years.

“It’s clear they did not ask them to take to the streets to carry out public security,” said Democratic Revolution Party Congressman Waldo Fernández. “It was by necessity and in response to the circumstances of the moment. The armed forces need a legal framework for action.”

Academic at the Center for Economic Research and Teaching Ximena Medellín said she is against the Mexican army carrying out police tactics on the streets, saying that over the last 10 years there has been no evidence indicating crime has diminished for what she considers to be “failed policy.”

Read the rest at PanAm Post | Español

Related: UN Representative for the Office on Drugs and Crime in Mexico Says Security Must be Handled by Civilians, Not Armed Forces (The News)

Related: Military Is Systematically Hiding Figures of Civilian Casualties in Mexico's War on Drugs (teleSUR)

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