Mexico Police Corruption and Insecurity of City Dwellers - Article Example

Topic: Mexico Police Corruption& Insecurity of Dwellers Once popular for its peaceful ambience, Mexico has become notorious for increased crime rate with ever growing unemployment and poverty particularly since the time of Peso devaluation of 50 percent following the “Christmas crisis” of 1994. From 1995 when the number of single crime reported in a single day rose to 700 a day to the first six months of 1996, the crime rate saw another upsurge of 40 percent. The issue of “public safety” has been a headache of the 18 million residents of the capital city tat according to the newspaper Reforma, two-fifths of the population was affected somehow by the crime wave.1 (Grayson, 1996). Mexico police corruption has added fuel to the fire of unstable law & order condition. The police personnel have been blamed for conspiring with drug mafia, taking bribes to hush up the matter, becoming a part of the looting and thefts, murders and even shielding the drug mafia. The faith of the people in municipal police has shaken badly. Police officers are scorned as “thieves” “rats”, and “leeches” after the imprisonment of 299 police personnel during the first three months of 1994. Army General, Enrique Salgado Cordero, had to be appointed head of the city’s civilian public safety because of the shaken faith of the city dweller in the local police as it dared not enter Tepito, Buenos Aires, and other violent-hit areas at night time, and the PRI’s initiative to establish law and order so that it might not lose in the race for mayor ship, to be followed by Presidency in 2002(Grayson, 1996). In its war on drugs by PRIs The World in Mexico, the federal police officers worked with the Army in Sinaloa as Mexican President Calderon wanted an end to corruption in state police forces that were often paid off by the cartels. (Figure 1) Corruption had entered the government machinery deep that a person to the rank of Mexico’s finance Minister, Neo-Fascist Agustin Guillermo Carstens Carstens, who was also Ex-Deputy Mng. Dir. of the predatory International Monetary Fund (IMF); Ex-Treasurer of Banco de Mexico central bank cartel monopoly, converted the black money from illegal drug profits into white. (Figure 2) In its struggle for safer cities throughout Latin America, urban resistance to neo liberal democracy was identified as the new economic order erupted in moral degradation. There was an upsurge of theft, pilfering, looting, gang activity, kidnappings, and killings. Criminals were left scot-free of their crimes, drugs and police corruption and irresponsible government functioning were the root cause. The crime movement gave birth to a reactionary anti-crime movement. This huge anti -crime movement demanded strict action through anti-crime measures. They grouped themselves on cultural symbols, thus, enabling public support for their cause. It helped in democratically run the movement with the media support. Masses participated actively and made it a street movement. In 1995, not only Rio-de-Janeiro and Columbia but in Mexico city, people from all, especially middle classes, the most frightened and helpless, paraded in the streets against increasing crime rate and violence with white ribbons and blue flags. The story of mass movement against crime was repeated in June and August 2004, the biggest ever congregation against crime in recent times was seen [www.manattjones.com/newsbrief/20040909.html]. The movement for peaceful and crime free society became bigger with the inclusion of not only groups of crime-victims, but a number of human rights, social and public interest groups. In fact, a good number of Latin American countries saw the rise in the movement for peaceful and crime-free society, including Argentina among others [www.amren.com/mtnews/arhcives/2004/08/hundreds_of_tho.php]. The movement progressed towards its goal not just because of neo liberalism but new inequalities, injustices, insecurities; the economic reorganization promoted crime and people’s anger to it. The democratic set up was not the reason of Mexico’s city dwellers misfortunes but also it didn’t provide a solution to its plight. But it provided a political structure to fight out the crime without risk of opposition to the movement besides offering media exposure, which helped the movement create interest and curiosity of one and all on the activities of the movement, and further broadening the horizon of its coverage. Those in opposition to government also supported the movement to blame the government for its inefficiency to maintain law and order. In Mexico City, for example, people supported the anti-crime protests to discredit the mayor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, to defeat him in the 2006 presidential election. Worth mentioning has been the support from a wealthy businessman who pushed the movement with a-quarter-of-a-million big protests to oust Buenos Aires left-leaning mayor, Anibal Ibarra, and to ask for stricter laws against kidnappers. Such sort of political benefits ignited the anti-crime movement besides the support, the movement got from the civil society. 2 According to INSyDE 2007 e-newsletter, its policy recommendations and trainings have helped in ending the abuse and complicity of police officers with criminals. Through set procedures, attempts have been made to check corruption and determine responsibilities on the guilty police personnel while encouraging democratic practices to the benefits of both the policemen ad people. INSyDE’s work to create consciousness for human rights among police personnel has helped in improving the environment for the better, encouraging goodwill among all facets of society. (Figure 3, 4) There is not all negative in the Mexico City. Things have started improving for the better after the Mexican President Felipe Calderon took charge of the office. The President has taken stern action against drug trafficking and planned crime but the crime wave has been powerful in the North of the country as both the US and Mexico has been equally affected by the drug cartel. Drug trafficking has been on the rise in Mexico to fulfill demand of it in the United States. Corruption and the weak police force have added to the woes of the people. 3 Corruption in Mexico police department and the insecurity of city dwellers has lot to do with the deteriorating financial crisis on global level. In the previous eight months, the Mexican currency Peso has weighted 40 percent lighter than dollar. T o control the financial condition, the Banco de Mexico has taken several steps. It has sold a good quantity of its international reserves in its intent to solidify its position against dollar in October 2005. A major reason of upsurge in crime has been unemployment and the current economic crisis will further aggravate the situation. According to an estimate of the bank, 3, 40,000 jobs will be lost in the recession worldwide affecting employment scenario further adding t the woes of people facing violence. New items the like described above don’t show a complete view of Mexico. There is another positive aspect of it, which cannot be felt from outside; you have to be an insider to feel the positive change brought about by the PRI (Revolutionary Institutional Party). After being elected the Governor in 2005, Enrique Peña took a number of steps to bring about a visible and drastic change in the perception on law and order and crime. He has already fulfilled 386 out of 600 promises on the election campaign. There has been a shift away from insecurity and politics towards economic and social concerns of the masses. Generally speaking, people are satisfied with the results attained by Enrique Peña. It’s not that people have forgotten the difficult times but the administrative policies have paved the way for the beginning of a hope that economic measures will show desired results in the due course of time to get away with the economic crisis and lift the economy, which has been a major factor in the spreading of corruption and violence in Mexico. Mexico is well attuned to face the economic crisis than before. Level of corruption in government has reduced considerably; its activities have become more transparent than before as were in the times of PRI, powers resided in the executive branch to take and make important decisions in the political system of Mexico. With the arrival of Calderon on the President’s seat, a list of reforms like Pemex and ISSSTE are going to change the picture for a better tomorrow. Not only the political horizon has changed for the better of its people, socially active movements and human rights considerations have played a positive role against social injustice and violence. So, one can notice a positive change in all economic and social aspects of the problems faced by the people of Mexico. The wave of violence has slowed down considerably because people want it to stop. Tourism is another reason of attraction for foreigners who want to visit colonial towns and the soothing to the eye beaches on the coast of Mexico. Tourists can see to it that the winds of change have starting flowing – full of peace and generosity for tourists, which can be examined by them to make a true perception of Mexico. A specialist police force of Mexican Riot Policemen remains active on duty to control riots afflicted areas although there are no riots. They are guarding the coastline, superstores, bridges and all public property, diligently doing their duties. They are doing night patrolling and border patrolling. (Figures: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) Earlier, it used to be a different story. Killer policemen in the garb of mafia used to terrorize as they killed one American Photo journalist Brad Will and three others while in a peaceful procession by striking teachers and their allies in Oaxaca, Mexico. The shooters in the picture were actually Oxaaca policemen. (Figure10) Drug traffickers are reacting to the positive changes by changing the battlefields from city streets and roads to YouTube as their new battle fild. According to news.bbc.co.uk Boing Boing update reports, YouTube is facing a hard time with drug mafia video as shown on YouTube and in huge numbers are being uploaded, which can not be maintained pace with. You can search the video to know drug traffickers modus operandi. It is yet to be seen how YouTube manages with the issue. So far, Google has not issued any statement on the topic of misuse of YouTube by drug traffickers. In a good number of videos, cash incentives for related proof of attack on law enforcement agencies, has been promised. It shows the intent of drug mafia to stay and fight with the opponents in their own way and give a signal that they are yet to be defeated. Coming to the topic of YouTube sharing of video, it is just a matter of time when some one posts a video on the site, starting a different battle on a different ground. No one had guessed to the extent drug traffickers have gone. As per YouTube representatives’ such videos are deleted as soon as possible but this didn’t materialize in the case of Saddam’s hanging. They were there for all visitors to see for a long time. An investigation by the Mexico police into the claims of a gang war being fought through the Internet – the new battle ground, is being made to find the facts of the story. One should not have any doubt on the prowess of the drug mafia on waging a new war on a new front. Police officials are searching the YouTube website pages to find the bloody video clips and slideshows shown by cartel members by posting them on the website. There have been some ghastly clips of violent scenes and in some others, gangsters are shown challenging their rivals although they are yet to be verified. According to an estimate, 2, 000 people lost their lives in violence related to Mexico drug mafia in the year 2006. One can see in the videos bloodshed on the ground with wounds on the bodies of opponents, and still in some other videos, people showering admiration on drug lords of rival groups. Not the least to mention are certain images carrying songs and raps ridiculing opponent groups (news.bbc.co.uk). What does all this indicate? It indicates the limits of the government in controlling the wars between different drug cartels. In this age of free movement of information, war has to be fought on a number of fronts; internet is also one of them. Police forces have to be technologically equipped and armed to fight terror on all fronts, be it the streets of Mexico City with corrupt police officials although police force has been reformed to an extent that you can expect they will come to your aid when you are violently attacked, kidnapped, beaten, and your belongings are snatched while you are out on the street. Conclusion: It’s not all dark and shadowy in Mexico although the country has been facing a hard time but its future is positively attuned to change for better. Not only corruption, it is fighting organized crime and drug traffickers but as said earlier, all is not black. Some states are marching ahead, showing a path of light to others for a better tomorrow, for a safer tomorrow in Mexico than it is today Photo Appendix: Figure 1 Mexicos war on drugs by PRIs The World. Figure 2 Neo-Fascist Agustin Guillermo Carstens Carstens, Mexicos Finance Minister, Ex-Deputy Mng. Dir. of the predatory International Monetary Fund (IMF); Ex-Treasurer of Banco de Mexico central bank cartel monopoly. Launders illegal drug profits. Figure 3 Ending the History of abuse and impunity by Mexico’s police forces Profile: Institute for Security and Democracy (INSyDE) 2007 e-newsletter Figure 4 Ending the History of abuse and impunity by Mexico’s police forces Profile: Institute for Security and Democracy (INSyDE) 2007 e-newsletter Figure 5 Border Patrol Figure 6 Figure 7 Mexican Riot Policeman Figure 8 Mexican police Figure 9 The guard at one of the posh stores in Playa del Carmen, Mexico Figure 10 Killers Works Cited Banderas News. “The Two Faces of Mexico Erick Prado - Boston College Heights.” 23 April 2009. . Colombia Internacional “Crime and Struggles for Safe Cities.” June 2006. Urban Resistance, to Neoliberal Democracy in Latin America. 23 April 2009 . INSyDE. Ending the History of abuse and impunity by Mexico’s police forces. Profile: Institute for Security and Democracy (INSyDE) 2007 e-newsletter. 23 April 2009 Grayson George W. “Mexicos crime wave: the cops are part of the problem.” Commonweal. 27 September 1996. 23 April 2009 . Kaitlin. “Mexican drug gangs using YouTube as battleground.” 14 February 2007 at 05:13 pm. 23 April 2009. http://www.nowpublic.com/mexican_drug_gangs_using_youtube_as_battleground Bibliography Photo Appendix: Figure 1 Mexicos war on drugs by PRIs The World. These Federal Police officers work with the Army in Sinaloa. Mexican President Calderon says Mexico must end corruption among state police forces that are often paid off by the cartels. photo: Lorne Matalon http://www.flickr.com/photos/pritheworld/2329593510/ Figure 2 Neo-Fascist Agustin Guillermo Carstens Carstens, Mexicos Finance Minister, Ex-Deputy Mng. Dir. of the predatory International Monetary Fund (IMF); Ex-Treasurer of Banco de Mexico central bank cartel monopoly. Launders illegal drug profits. http://www.flickr.com/photos/alwaysawakepr/3377773594/in/photostream/ Figure 3 Ending the History of abuse and impunity by Mexico’s police forces Profile: Institute for Security and Democracy (INSyDE) 2007 e-newsletter Figure 4 Ending the History of abuse and impunity by Mexico’s police forces Profile: Institute for Security and Democracy (INSyDE) 2007 e-newsletter Figure 5 Border Patrol uploaded by hermmermferm February 14, 2007 at 07:03 pm Figure 6 Figure 7 Mexican Riot Policeman uploaded by chopper_hangbar February 17, 2007 at 02:47 am Taken in Oaxaca - dont recall any riot though. Figure 8 Mexican police uploaded by .imelda February 14, 2007 at 05:48 pm Mexican Police uploaded by dream2life February 14, 2007 at 05:53 pm Figure 9 The guard at one of the posh stores in Playa del Carmen, Mexico http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=mexico%20police%20corruption&w=all&s=inthttp://www.flickr.com/search/?q=mexico%20police%20corruption&w=all&s=int Figure 10 Killers This photograph was taken by Raul Estrella, a photographer for El Universal newspaper in Mexico City. The men have since been identified as Oaxacan police officials. http://www.flickr.com/photos/timporter/281453237/ Read More