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Plan Mexico signed by Bush October 26, 2007 12:08 PM

Early Concerns about Aid to Mexico
The Advocate
October 2007

In 2006 alone there were an estimated 2,100 drug trafficking related homicides in Mexico, including the murders of numerous police officers, soldiers, police chiefs, and senior level anti-drug officials. In response to this public security crisis, Mexican President Felipe Calderón initiated a crackdown on Mexico’s powerful drug cartels, favoring a mano dura (strong arm) approach as his strategy of choice. As part of these efforts, President Calderón deployed approximately 27,000 troops to engage in joint efforts with police in regions hard hit by drug-related violence, such as Michoacán, Guerrero, Sinaloa and Durango, as well as the northern border cities of Tijuana and Nuevo Laredo. Calderón’s administration has also extradited alleged drug kingpins to the United States for prosecution. Yet the violence continues.

In recent months, officials from both Mexico and the United States have framed the scourge of drug-trafficking and associated violence as a shared concern and have publicly stated the need to engage in joint efforts to tackle this problem. A recent report issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates that 90 percent of all cocaine entering the United States comes through Mexico and that Mexican cartels control much of the distribution of these drugs north of the border. Yet, U.S. demand for drugs is a driving force for the trade, and the bulk of firearms that end up in the hands of drug traffickers in Mexico are smuggled in from the United States where gun control laws are far less restrictive.

It is within this political environment that indications of a sizeable U.S. counternarcotics aid package to Mexico have emerged. The package has been dubbed by several media outlets as “Plan Mexico,” a reference to the Colombian counternarcotics program “Plan Colombia.” At the time this article was written, few concrete details regarding the contents of this aid package have been released. Speculations by largely unidentified sources in the media predict that this aid will include funds for wiretapping and communications technologies, assistance to help Mexico monitor its airspace, police training programs and military hardware. The timing for this aid package is also unclear, although officials have hinted that it may be included as part of a supplemental spending bill in the latter months of 2007.

Human rights advocates are eager to examine the details of this package, as many recognize that this initiative could go in two very different directions. The aid could be well-directed towards judicial strengthening, sensible efforts to curb money laundering, limiting the precursor chemicals used in drug processing, and strengthening drug treatment and prevention programs - or it could be modeled after the flawed Plan Colombia, moving the military into policing roles and compromising human rights.

The highly problematic nature of deploying soldiers to combat domestic drug cartels was highlighted by a September 2007 report issued by Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission. This report cited cases of numerous human rights abuses perpetrated by the military in the course of counter drug operations, including rape, torture, murder and robbery. These cases include a recent incident in Sinaloa in which soldiers opened fire on a pick-up truck after they failed to stop at a checkpoint, killing three women and two children. Cases like this further illustrate that soldiers are not trained for domestic law enforcement and should not replace civilian police.

This inappropriate utilization of the military for police duties only further underscores the need for comprehensive police reform. Efforts to strengthen judicial systems and oversight mechanisms are needed combat the longstanding problems of impunity and corruption. The vital nature of these reform efforts in the context of any aid package was noted by a senior congressional staffer in an August 8th Washington Post article, “How would Congress know the support is not going to the very people who are engaged in this type of criminal activity?"

Aspects of this aid package may prove controversial for administrations on both sides of the border. The Mexican government has historically voiced strong concerns regarding sovereignty and opposition to U.S. military presence on their soil. On the U.S. side, some have expressed frustration about the veil of secrecy surrounding the aid. As a senior congressional staffer notes in the aforementioned August 8th Washington Post article: “There is bipartisan concern about the Bush Administration’s lack of meaningful consultation with Congress. They see Congress as their personal ATM machine, not as an equal branch of government.”

Advocates in the United States and Mexico will remain watchful in the coming weeks to evaluate the human rights implications of any proposed counternarcotics aid package to Mexico. As details come to light, it is important to remember aid could have the capacity to effect positive change. Funding and proper implementation of programs that strengthen rule of law, protect human rights, curb drug consumption, and promote police reform could ultimately reduce drug-related violence, benefiting communities in the border region and throughout the United States and Mexico.

http://www.lawg.org/countries/mexico/plan_mexico_07.htm  [ send green star]

 
 December 02, 2007 6:33 PM

PLAN MEXICO
Details of Plan Mexico are slowly beginning to emerge in the context of heated Congressional debates.  Plan Mexico, renamed the Merida Initiative by politicians anxious to distance the proposal from Plan Colombia, would provide US$1.4 billion in high tech equipment and training to Mexican security forces working on drug interdiction and “anti-terrorism” security.  The plan, negotiated behind closed doors over several months by the Calderon and Bush administrations, does not require approval by the Mexican Congress, but will require passage by the US Congress.  From the US perspective, Plan Mexico provides US security and intelligence forces with new influence in the Mexican army and intelligence services.  The first US$500 million, tentatively scheduled to arrive in 2008, would be distributed as follows: 41% to the Army, 20% to the Navy, 14% to the federal Attorney General, and 7.8% to the Secretary of Public Security.  The rest is destined for Cisen (the army’s intelli
 gence service), immigration services and the customs department.  An additional US$133 million will come directly from the Bush administration and is not subject to US Congressional approval.  Most of the funds will go directly to US corporations that provide high tech surveillance equipment, training and maintenance.  The Plan includes significant changes in Mexico’s judicial, penal and policing systems.  The US will enjoy unprecedented influence in the daily performance of immigration authorities and will have real time access to Mexico’s intelligence services, and the plan contemplates a reorganization of Mexico’s intelligence services under the direction of US authorities.
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The Merida Initiative: Plan Mexico Unveiled January 05, 2008 12:36 PM

The Merida Initiative:
Plan Mexico Unveiled

Following months of speculation on both sides of the border, President Bush recently announced that he would be sending a sizeable counternarcotics and organized crime package for Mexico and Central America to the U.S. Congress. Popularly dubbed "Plan Mexico", LAWG and other human rights organizations have concerns about the implications of such a package.

Read more about the Merida Initiative

 

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 May 15, 2008 6:42 AM

This past Sunday, thousands rallied in Ciudad Juarez to call for peace in the wake of a recent surge of drug cartel-related violence.  The U.S. needs to do its part as well - by halting the flow of arms trafficked from the U.S. into Mexico; reducing U.S. domestic drug consumption that fuels and finances Mexico's drug wars; and collaborating with Mexico to strengthen the rule of law and protect human rights. But the United States should not increase human rights violations by backing the army's role in domestic law enforcement.

And that's what could happen unless you say no.

Two bills that could set the course for U.S. counternarcotics aid to Mexico for the years to come may be considered by Congress as early as today.  They fund at least part of the President's proposed "Merida Initiative," a three-year, $1.4 billion counter-narcotics aid package for Mexico and Central America.  The Merida Initiative includes both programs we support - such as to strengthen judicial institutions and gang prevention programs - and those we oppose, such as helicopters for the Mexican military.

1) The Iraq Supplemental Appropriations Bill.   The President requested that the first installment of funding for the Merida Initiative ($500 million for Mexico and $50 million for Central America), be attached to the Iraq Supplemental.  Currently, we do not know how much of this will be included in the supplemental bill and whether the bill includes some of the military aid we oppose.

2) The Berman bill - Just yesterday, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs unveiled a bill authorizing $1.6 billion in counter-narcotics and other assistance programs for Mexico and Central America to be funded through the Merida Initiative over the next three years.  The full name of this bill is the "Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Organized Crime Authorization Act of 2008" (H.R. 6028). The bad news:  This bill fully funds the White House's request for helicopters and other equipment for the Mexican military, which would perpetuate the dangerous and inappropriate role for the Mexican military in domestic counterdrug operations.  The good news:  It does add some human rights conditions and increases aid for the judicial system and gang prevention.

Chairman Berman's bill (H.R. 6028) was marked up in Committee today.  It may move quickly to the floor.  The Iraq Supplemental may come to the floor in both House and Senate within the next week.

While we support the measures to protect human rights and curb the illegal flow of weapons from the U.S. into Mexico included in the Berman bill, we oppose the bill because it fully funds the White House's military aid request and opens the door to a continued military aid program.  Resources would be better dedicated to programs to strengthen judicial institutions and reform the police.  As noted in other alerts, LAWG remains very concerned by the disturbing number of reported human rights abuses committed by the military in the course of these counter-narcotics operations, as well as the consistent failure of the Mexican authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable for these abuses. 

We urge you to contact your member of Congress and encourage them to demilitarize any aid to Mexico.  It is important that they hear from you.

Please call the capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak to your members of Congress in the House and the Senate.  When you reach their offices, please say, "I am a constituent of Representative/Senator _______.  I urge her/him to REMOVE any aid for the Mexican military in the Iraq Supplemental package [and the Berman bill, when calling your representative in the House].  I encourage them instead to direct valuable and limited resources towards long-term solutions that promote human rights and respect for the rule of law in Mexico.  The U.S. needs to address the root of the problem, namely through enhanced drug treatment and prevention programs in the United States."

If you prefer, you can take the above message and send it in an email to your members of Congress as well.  However, we recommend that you add a 'personal' note to your email for it to have a greater impact.

For talking points on this issue, click here.

For more information, click here.

Look forward to working with you.  Thanks!

Best,

Ellen and Jenny
Latin America Working Group

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 July 02, 2008 5:07 PM

This past Monday morning, President Bush signed into law an emergency supplemental spending bill that includes a $400 million aid package to support Mexico in fighting drug-related violence.  This bill also included an additional $60 million for Central America, plus $2.5 million each for Haiti and the Dominican Republic. 

T
o see a final version of this bill, click here.  The primary sections on Mexico and Central America can be found on pages 17-19.


Disturbingly, a disproportionately large segment of this aid package, $116.5 million is allocated for equipment and training for the Mexican military, a force that has been linked to serious and ongoing human rights abusesNot only does this funding perpetuate the military's inappropriate role in domestic counternarcotics and law enforcement activities, but it also draws attention and limited resources away from the critical work of reforming and strengthening civilian institutions.  The LAWG has worked with advocates like you to raise awareness about the dangers of military aid.  Although we would have liked to see a 'zero' in this category, efforts of advocates and grassroots activists helped to slash millions of dollars from this fund.


On a more positive note, the plan calls for at least $73.5 million to be spent on programs that support judicial reform, anti-corruption and rule of law activities.  Other beneficial components of the bill include $3 million to assist Mexico in developing a national registry of federal, state and municipal police - a key tool for screening law enforcement officers - and $1 million for the UN High Commission for Human Rights office in Mexico City.


Citing sovereignty concerns, members of President Calderón's cabinet and Mexican policymakers loudly objected to human rights protections and conditions included in the earlier versions of the Merida Initiative.  In response, Mexican human rights organizations, including the Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez Human Rights Center and Amnesty International-Mexico, sent a letter to US appropriators expressing their concern that human rights provisions be included as a central part of the package.


In the end, Congressional leaders revised the language in the final version of the package, but did not eliminate these safeguards all together
.

The remaining human rights safeguards require the State Department to report to Congress on the Mexican government's progress in improving the transparency and accountability of federal, state and municipal police; ensuring that civilian authorities are investigating and prosecuting members of police and military forces who have been credibly alleged to have committed human rights violations; engaging in consultation with Mexican human rights organizations; and enforcing the prohibition of testimony obtained through torture.  Fifteen percent of funds for the military and police could be withheld if these conditions are not met.


As the Merida Initiative is implemented in the coming months, LAWG will work with partners and grassroots activists in the U.S. and Mexico to make certain that the spirit and letter of the human rights safeguards included in the Merida Initiative are adhered to in full.

Finally, U.S. policymakers need to take the call for 'bilateral cooperation' seriously.  Until the United States dedicates significant attention and resources to curb domestic drug demand, develop fair trade policies and halt the flow of guns into Mexico from the U.S., the success of well-intentioned efforts to reduce violence in Mexico - or decrease the availability of drugs on the streets of the U.S. - will be limited at best
.
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Dangerous Directions: Military Aid to Mexico August 01, 2008 6:11 PM

July 30, 2008

The brutal violence associated with drug trafficking paired with authorities' apparent lack of capacity and political will to effectively confront organized crime has taken a profound toll on public security in Mexico in recent years. More than 5,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence since President Calderón took office in December 2006. Despite these challenging times, it is critical that drug violence not serve as an excuse for increased abuses by Mexico's military and police. Read more at: http://lawg.org/countries/mexico/dangerous_directions.htm.

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