Mexico's National Federation of Municipalities Urges Caution With National Guard

The National Commission on Human Rights Opposes Creating a National Guard

From Sol de Mexico (click here):  The Mexican Federation of Municipalities (FENAMM) yesterday issued a 12-point warning in a congressional  hearing in Mexico City against relying too much on a centralized militarized security force that would do away with local police.

We oppose the proposed centralizing strategy that hands over all jurisdiction, all resources, and all tools for security to a militarized body that puts at risk citizen rights, that redirects the mission of the armed forces, and that permanently places the army in our streets.

The federation also objected to the reduction in funds provided in the past few years by the federal government for municipal security.

The Mexican National Commission on Human Rights issued a statement Monday that "from the perspective of human rights...the creation of a national guard is neither pertinent nor viable, given that is does not guarantee nor contribute to ending impunity, it weakens institutions, and ignores international recommendations on human rights."

President Lopez Obrador is seeking quick approval of the creation of the National Guard.  Political parties and governors appear to be lining up behind it.  The president quipped that opponents of the bill are trying to unleash violence and turn the country into a cemetery.