Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Blog 4: Mexico Security Forces Colluded in Disappearances

This article is about how Mexico has failed to "properly investigate human rights abuses committed by security forces" according to the Human Rights Watch. This group has documented close to 250 disappearances during the term of former President Felipe Calderon. They stated that security has come into people's homes, workplaces or stopped them at security checkpoints and detained individuals without police orders or probable cause. According to the article, reports have surfaced saying that President Felipe Calderon has not taken any action to help this growing problem. Although the President did implement a new plan to stop the most powerful drug cartel by deploying an army, they have seen a rise in human rights abuse case against civilians. The Human Rights Watch believes that the President should start a national database to document disappearances and unidentified remains which would be an invaluable aid for the families searching for their missing loved ones.

This is the second article I have posted about law enforcers not doing their job. Last week's article, law enforcers in India were not taking accounts of abuse seriously, and this week's article is about how law enforcement is unjustly taking civilians without probable cause. In this article it talks from the view point of the Human Rights Watch, which is "one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights" according to their website. It focuses "international attention where human rights are violated, we give voice to the oppressed and hold oppressors accountable for their crimes" as stated on http://www.hrw.org/about. Given that this organization is highly credible, there were no flaws in the article itself. It would be interesting to see how law enforcement in other countries is viewed based on performance and if they are doing their job to protect and serve. 

Deborah Hilton
2/20/2013
8:30 PM



Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-21526212

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