Human Rights Commission Criticizes Mexico's Self-Defense Groups La Jornada
go to original February 19, 2013

The National Commission on Human Rights (CNDH) expressed its opposition to the formation of self-defense
groups that have emerged in various states of the country. It believes that nothing justifies that a group of people decide to take justice into their own hands and try to replace the government or place themselves above the government.

In a statement, the agency said it "does not deny or minimize the fact that the emergence of self-defense groups is a desperate  response of the population to an act of omission by the State," but it warns that "there is a fine line between these self-defense organizations and paramilitary groups."

The commission stresses that constitutional provisions state that no one can take the law into their own hands or resort to violence to demand justice.

In its statement, it stressed that security is an "obligation that cannot be delegated" and that is the responsibility of the three levels of government to ensure the people the integrity of their persons and property, and their right to public security.

Therefore, "the CNDH considers it a priority for the authorities to fulfill the essential function of providing public security to society, faced with the risk that these armed groups are spreading to other states of the country and assume the responsibilities of legislators, investigatior, prosecutors, judges and, eventually, executors of punishments."

For the commission, maintaining this scheme of self-defense involves the risk of the occurrence of violations of due process by these groups, which, if eventually validated by the appropriate public investigators or judges, could lead them to set the accused free, "resulting in the very impunity that the groups seek to combat."

See Spanish original

Posted by Reed Brundage at Mexico Voices

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