LASC writes that “Numerous Mexican and international human rights organizations have expressed concern that Merida Initiative aid for Mexico’s military and police constitutes a recipe for unchecked human rights violations. . . . Vague human rights provisions in the bill would not change this reality.”

We agree.

And now that the human rights conditions” which Amnesty International and WOLA advocated as necessary for them to support the Merida Initiative are being softened into ‘guidelines’, we urge them to make their voices heard in opposition to this military aid package. An action alert from Amnesty may undo all of the tacit support they’ve given this Bush initiative to date. RJ

LASC Position on the Merida Initiative
June 2008

As Congress enters the final stages to approve the Merida Initiative, an aid package to Mexico and Central America that seeks to further militarize the region under the guise of the U.S.’s “war on drugs/war on terror,” we find manifold reasons to stand in opposition: (more…)

Another way of saying ‘political pressure’ is ‘lack of political will’, a reality which an arms package (i.e. the Merida Initiative) would only make worse. The case of Brad Will mentioned below. RJ

http://www.cpj.org/news/2008/americas/mexico09jun08na.html

Calderón endorses federalization of crimes against freedom of expression

Mexico City, June 9, 2008—President Felipe Calderón today pledged his commitment to federalize crimes against freedom of expression in a meeting with the Committee to Protect Journalists in Mexico City.

Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora announced draft legislation that would amend Article 73 of Mexico’s political constitution and would make a federal offense any crime causing “social alarm,” including threats to freedom of expression.

“The government agrees with the idea of federalizing crimes against freedom of expression,” Calderón said. He said the proposed legislation would be brought before Congress at its next session in September.

Calderón met with a CPJ delegation led by board Chairman Paul Steiger and Executive Director Joel Simon at his official residence, Los Pinos. CPJ expressed concern at ongoing violence against journalists who cover organized crime and official corruption, and highlighted the climate of fear in which the Mexican media work.

“The most important threat to independent journalists in Mexico is the same threat faced by society as a whole—organized crime,” Calderón said. (more…)