Pubdate: Wed, 04 Jul 2012
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 2012 Bloomberg News
Contact:  http://www.chron.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/198

PENA NIETO CALLS FOR DEBATE ABOUT LEGALIZING DRUGS

Mexico's incoming president said he's in favor of a debate over the 
legalization of drugs as the current U.S.-led crackdown fuels 
violence in his country without stemming the flow of narcotics across 
the border.

Enrique Pena Nieto, in an interview with the PBS "Newshour" program 
broadcast Tuesday, insisted he's not personally in favor of 
legalizing drugs. Still, he joined a growing chorus of leaders in 
Latin America who have called on the U.S. to rethink its strategy.

"I'mnot saying we should legalize," Pena Nieto said, according to a 
partial transcript on the "Newshour" website. "But we should debate 
in Congress, in the hemisphere, and especially the U.S. should 
participate in this broad debate."

More than 47,000 people have died in drug-related violence in Mexico 
since President Felipe Calderon began an offensive against cartels in 
December 2006.

Pena Nieto has said he would shift direction in the drug war by 
working to reduce the most violent crimes, and named the former head 
of Colombia's police as a security adviser to signal he won't cut 
deals with traffickers.

Five Central American presidents and Calderon have said they are 
willing to engage in regional discussions over a change in tactics, 
including the decriminalization of drug use, to reduce 
drugtrafficking that is fueling a rise in violence and homicides in 
the region. Like Pena Nieto, Calderon has said he is against legalization.

Colombian President JuanManuel Santos, who helped carry out a U.S.led 
anti-narcotics strategy as his nation's defense chief until 2009, 
called for a legalization debate last year and has likened the war on 
drugs to a stationary bike.

Last month, Uruguay's President JoseMujica said that his country 
could be the first to break a taboo in the drug legalization debate 
by starting to sell marijuana.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom