Puebla, Mexico's Recent 'Bullet Law' Amended Due to Public Pressure Gabriela Hernandez - Proceso
go to original May 22, 2014

The barrage of criticism received by the so-called “bullet law”, forced the government of Puebla to amend the law that endorsed the use of public force against demonstrations.

Governor Rafael Moreno Valle arbitrarily made changes to Article 46, without going through the process laid down by the Legislature for the amendment of laws, changes which he published this Tuesday in the State´s Official Gazette.

“The use of firearms for dispersing demonstrations continues to be prohibited. The appropriate specialized protocols should be observed”, says the ruling which was disclosed in a press release.

According to Moreno Valle, the “Law for the Protection of Human Rights and to Regulate the Legitimate Use of Force by the Members of the Police Department of the State of Puebla”, arose with the aim of restricting the action of the public security employees and institutions and to limit the use of force to exceptional circumstances, “thereby preventing a legal gap which could result in the violation of human rights”.

... On several occasions, the original proposal mentions the possibility that the police can use “lethal weapons”, depending on the circumstances. However, the new document states that this adjustment is not included “under any circumstances”.

Read the rest at Mexico Voices

Translated by Amanda Moody

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