Pubdate: Sat, 4 Sep 2010
Source: New York Times (NY)
Page: A7
Copyright: 2010 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Authors: Elisabeth Malkin and Randal C. Archibold
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Merida+Initiative
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Mexico

U.S. WITHHOLDS MILLIONS IN MEXICO ANTIDRUG AID

MEXICO CITY -- The United States will withhold about $26 million 
promised for Mexico's drug war because of concerns that the country 
has not done enough to protect its people from police and military abuse.

It is the first time that the United States, citing human rights 
concerns, has held back a portion of the financing for Mexico under 
the Merida Initiative, a three-year-old, $1.4 billion effort to help 
Mexico and Central American nations fight drug trafficking organizations.

Under the program, 15 percent of the money for Mexico is allotted on 
the condition that the country improve the accountability of the 
federal and local police; ensure civilian investigations and, if 
warranted, prosecutions of allegations of abuse by the police and the 
military; and ban testimony obtained through torture or other mistreatment.

The State Department, in a report delivered to Congress on Friday, 
said it would release $36 million from earlier budgets. But it said 
it would withhold 15 percent of the $175 million allocated in the 
most recent budget.

"No society can enjoy domestic peace and security without a 
functioning justice system supported by appropriately trained and 
equipped law enforcement and justice personnel who are respectful of 
human rights and rule of law," said a State Department spokesman, 
Harry Edwards.

The State Department called on the Mexican Congress to pass 
legislation strengthening the authority of the country's national 
human rights commission and subjecting military service members 
accused of human rights abuses to civilian prosecution.

The Mexican government, in a statement, called the findings an 
affront to its sovereignty. "The Merida Initiative is based on shared 
responsibility, mutual trust and respect for each country's 
jurisdiction," the statement said.

Nik Steinberg, Mexico researcher for Human Rights Watch, said, "Any 
withholding of funds would be a step in the right direction, but 
given the total impunity for military abuses and widespread cases of 
torture, none of the funds tied to human rights should be released."
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