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Obama meets Mexican counterpart amid calls to act tough on human rights abuses Obama meets Mexican counterpart amid calls to act tough on human rights abuses
(about 2 hours later)
The Obama administration is facing pressure to withhold aid to Mexico’s security forces following a string of incidents in which military troops and police have been implicated in torture, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.The Obama administration is facing pressure to withhold aid to Mexico’s security forces following a string of incidents in which military troops and police have been implicated in torture, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.
Before a meeting in Washington on Tuesday between the US and Mexican presidents, Human Rights Watch called on Barack Obama to warn Enrique Peña Nieto that he must do more to stop abuses – or risk losing a portion of aid within a security and justice aid package, known as the Mérida initiative, which is legally conditioned on the country’s human rights record.Before a meeting in Washington on Tuesday between the US and Mexican presidents, Human Rights Watch called on Barack Obama to warn Enrique Peña Nieto that he must do more to stop abuses – or risk losing a portion of aid within a security and justice aid package, known as the Mérida initiative, which is legally conditioned on the country’s human rights record.
“You should make it clear that if Mexico is unable to show significant results in prosecuting human rights crimes, your administration will no longer be able to certify that the human rights requirements in the Merida initiative have been been met,” wrote Human Rights Watch’s director, José Miguel Vivanco, in an open letter. “You should make it clear that if Mexico is unable to show significant results in prosecuting human rights crimes, your administration will no longer be able to certify that the human rights requirements in the Mérida initiative have been been met,” wrote Human Rights Watch’s director, José Miguel Vivanco, in an open letter.
Protests are planned in 11 US cities on Tuesday, to call for a suspension of US aid to Mexican security forces. “President Obama should use his meeting to announce an end to the US military aid, which is helping Mexico’s military, federal police and other security forces continue killing and disappearing innocents with our tax dollars – and with impunity,” said activist Roberto Lovato, a visiting scholar at the UC Berkeley Center for Latino Policy Research, and one of the organisers of the #UStired2 campaign, which has organized the demonstrations. Protests are planned in 11 US cities on Tuesday, to call for a suspension of US aid to Mexican security forces. “President Obama should use his meeting to announce an end to the US military aid, which is helping Mexico’s military, federal police and other security forces continue killing and disappearing innocents with our tax dollars – and with impunity,” said activist Roberto Lovato, a visiting scholar at the UC Berkeley Center for Latino Policy Research, and one of the organisers of the #UStired2 campaign, which has organised the demonstrations.
“Not centering their meeting on the human rights crisis doesn’t just seem clueless and out of touch. It’s calculating and callous in extreme,” said Lovato. “Not centring their meeting on the human rights crisis doesn’t just seem clueless and out of touch. It’s calculating and callous in extreme,” said Lovato.
Mexican security forces have faced accusations of committing abuses amid the lawlessness of the country’s drug wars. But the severity of the country’s human rights crisis was underlined by two cases last year: in June, troops allegedly executed at least 15 suspected gang members in the town of Tlatlaya after they surrendered following a gun battle. Two women who witnessed the massacre say they were then tortured and sexually assaulted in the ensuing cover-up.Mexican security forces have faced accusations of committing abuses amid the lawlessness of the country’s drug wars. But the severity of the country’s human rights crisis was underlined by two cases last year: in June, troops allegedly executed at least 15 suspected gang members in the town of Tlatlaya after they surrendered following a gun battle. Two women who witnessed the massacre say they were then tortured and sexually assaulted in the ensuing cover-up.
In September, 43 student teachers disappeared and are presumed to have been murdered after they were first attacked, then arrested, by police in the city of Iguala, in the southern state of Guerrero. Government investigators say the police turned the students over to a local drug gang called Guerreros Unidos, who carried out the killings.In September, 43 student teachers disappeared and are presumed to have been murdered after they were first attacked, then arrested, by police in the city of Iguala, in the southern state of Guerrero. Government investigators say the police turned the students over to a local drug gang called Guerreros Unidos, who carried out the killings.
The case triggered a wave of protest in Mexico, which has seriously challenged Peña Nieto’s efforts to convince the world that he is leading Mexico towards a brighter future with an ambitious agenda of economic reform.The case triggered a wave of protest in Mexico, which has seriously challenged Peña Nieto’s efforts to convince the world that he is leading Mexico towards a brighter future with an ambitious agenda of economic reform.
“The United States could play an important role in helping Mexico address this crisis,” Vivanco wrote in the Human Rights Watch letter to Obama. “Unfortunately, however, your administration has been sending precisely the wrong message by failing to enforce the human rights requirements included in the Merida Initiative.” “The United States could play an important role in helping Mexico address this crisis,” Vivanco wrote in the Human Rights Watch letter to Obama. “Unfortunately, however, your administration has been sending precisely the wrong message by failing to enforce the human rights requirements included in the Mérida Initiative.”
Senator Patrick Leahy, of the Senate subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, has also questioned the release of aid conditioned on human rights. Senator Patrick Leahy, of the Senate subcommittee on state and foreign operations, has also questioned the release of aid conditioned on human rights.
“Mexican officials say they take these issues seriously, but the situation has not improved,” said Tim Rieser, a spokesperson for Leahy, the author of those human rights guidelines in the program. “Mexican officials say they take these issues seriously, but the situation has not improved,” said Tim Rieser, a spokesman for Leahy, the author of those human rights guidelines in the programme.
“(Leahy’s) continuing concern is that there appears to be a perception within some elements of the Mexican army and police that you can commit murder and get away with it – and that people in positions of authority will cover it up,” said Rieser. “[Leahy’s] continuing concern is that there appears to be a perception within some elements of the Mexican army and police that you can commit murder and get away with it – and that people in positions of authority will cover it up,” said Rieser.
So far, however, officials in Washington, have been reluctant to make waves with one of America’s staunchest allies in its so-called “war on drugs”, said Maureen Meyer, senior associate for Mexico and Migrant Rights at the Washington Office on Latin America.So far, however, officials in Washington, have been reluctant to make waves with one of America’s staunchest allies in its so-called “war on drugs”, said Maureen Meyer, senior associate for Mexico and Migrant Rights at the Washington Office on Latin America.
“I think the US has been very tepid, publicly, in raising its concerns,” she said.“I think the US has been very tepid, publicly, in raising its concerns,” she said.
A week before the disappearance of the students – and nearly three months after the alleged executions in Tlatlaya – the State Department sent a positive assessment of the human rights record of Mexico’s authorities to Congress.A week before the disappearance of the students – and nearly three months after the alleged executions in Tlatlaya – the State Department sent a positive assessment of the human rights record of Mexico’s authorities to Congress.
Traditionally, the Mexican government has bristled at the suggestion that US assistance should be contingent on human rights, claiming in the past that some of those conditions violate its national sovereignty.Traditionally, the Mexican government has bristled at the suggestion that US assistance should be contingent on human rights, claiming in the past that some of those conditions violate its national sovereignty.
When Congress drafted legislation to authorize the Merida initiative in 2008, they included stiff human rights requirements: 25% of the funding for military assistance and police training, for example, was only to be approved if the secretary of state affirmed that human rights were being upheld by Mexico’s authorities. Mexican leaders objected, however, and as a result Congress lowered the amount of funds subject to conditions to 15%. When Congress drafted legislation to authorise the Mérida initiative in 2008, they included stiff human rights requirements: 25% of the funding for military assistance and police training, for example, was only to be approved if the secretary of state affirmed that human rights were being upheld by Mexico’s authorities. Mexican leaders objected, however, and as a result Congress lowered the amount of funds subject to conditions to 15%.
In the years since that original bill worked its way through Congress, the United States has spent at least $2.35bn on security assistance to Mexico. About $1.7bn has gone to the the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement division, which directs a training program for federal and state police. In the years since that original bill worked its way through Congress, the United States has spent at least $2.35bn on security assistance to Mexico. About $1.7bn has gone to the the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement division, which directs a training programme for federal and state police.
US officials insist they continue to bring up human rights issues informally with Mexico – and said that they will do at Tuesday’s “bilateral dialogue.” The meeting has been primarily billed as focused on issues such as trade, energy, border security, and immigration, as well as calls on the Mexican government to help pressure Cuba into making democratic reforms. US officials insist they continue to bring up human rights issues informally with Mexico – and said that they will do at Tuesday’s “bilateral dialogue”. The meeting has been primarily billed as focused on issues such as trade, energy, border security, and immigration, as well as calls on the Mexican government to help pressure Cuba into making democratic reforms.
A US senior official said the administration’s security dialogue with Mexico revolved around working to improve law enforcement and judicial institutions and that it would “continue to look for ways of working with Mexico on that.” A US senior official said the administration’s security dialogue with Mexico revolved around working to improve law enforcement and judicial institutions and that it would “continue to look for ways of working with Mexico on that”.
The official also said the administration was aware of the Human Rights Watch letter, and repeated earlier calls for a “thorough and transparent investigation” into the Iguala massacre. He added, “We know that the Mexican government has taken steps to carry out this investigation.”The official also said the administration was aware of the Human Rights Watch letter, and repeated earlier calls for a “thorough and transparent investigation” into the Iguala massacre. He added, “We know that the Mexican government has taken steps to carry out this investigation.”
The Mexican government has arrested dozens of people so far over the Iguala massacre – most of whom are local police officers and members of the Guerreros Unidos. The former mayor of Iguala, who allegedly maintained close ties with the gang and ordered the attack on the students, is also in jail.The Mexican government has arrested dozens of people so far over the Iguala massacre – most of whom are local police officers and members of the Guerreros Unidos. The former mayor of Iguala, who allegedly maintained close ties with the gang and ordered the attack on the students, is also in jail.
The FBI is supporting the investigation by Mexican federal authorities, providing help with DNA analysis, deputy foreign secretary Sergio Alcocer said last week. The FBI is supporting the investigation by Mexican federal authorities, providing help with DNA analysis, the deputy foreign secretary, Sergio Alcocer, said last week.
The Mexican government is also prosecuting several soldiers in relation to the alleged army massacre in Tlatlaya, though there has been no action stemming from the related evidence of a cover-up.The Mexican government is also prosecuting several soldiers in relation to the alleged army massacre in Tlatlaya, though there has been no action stemming from the related evidence of a cover-up.
The Human Rights Watch letter insists more should be done to tackle the broader trends of abuses. It cites creation of a special unit within the attorney general’s office in early 2013 to prosecute cases of people disappeared by the security forces. The office, it said, has failed to prosecute a single case and is also facing drastic budget reductions for this year. The Human Rights Watch letter insists more should be done to tackle the broader trends of abuses. It cites the creation of a special unit within the attorney general’s office in early 2013 to prosecute cases of people disappeared by the security forces. The office, it said, has failed to prosecute a single case and is also facing drastic budget reductions for this year.
In a New Year address to the nation broadcast on Sunday, Peña Nieto made only a glancing reference to the crisis in credibility sparked by the disappearance of the students and anger over security forces’ links to organised crime.In a New Year address to the nation broadcast on Sunday, Peña Nieto made only a glancing reference to the crisis in credibility sparked by the disappearance of the students and anger over security forces’ links to organised crime.
He recognized 2014 as a year in which “organized crime once again attacked Mexico, causing pain, indignation and anger,” and included a pledge to “combat impunity and corruption and strengthen transparency.” He recognised 2014 as a year in which “organised crime once again attacked Mexico, causing pain, indignation and anger”, and included a pledge to “combat impunity and corruption and strengthen transparency”.
But the bulk of the address was upbeat, promising that his economic reforms would soon bring benefits for ordinary Mexicans, alongside economic-focused pledges such as a commitment that gasoline prices will not rise during the year and that millions of poor Mexicans will receive free digital television sets.But the bulk of the address was upbeat, promising that his economic reforms would soon bring benefits for ordinary Mexicans, alongside economic-focused pledges such as a commitment that gasoline prices will not rise during the year and that millions of poor Mexicans will receive free digital television sets.