Highlights
– US proposes multi-year aid package for Mexico and Central America to combat drug trade and violence
– Mexico balks at human rights conditions imposed; conditions softened before being passed in US House of Representatives
– Aid likely to have little effect in near-term on ongoing cartel violence
With drug cartel violence ongoing in Mexico, a United States aid package, the Merida Initiative, has demanded greater attention by US legislators and Mexican officials alike. The initiative plans to provide technical assistance in terms of weapons and surveillance equipment, as well as training advice for both Mexican and Central American security forces. While the White House has promoted the bill as a means to stem the violence (particularly in Mexico), Democratic lawmakers insisted on including provisions to investigate and stop alleged human rights abuses by Mexican soldiers. Mexican lawmakers object to the human rights conditions, stating that the language used is an attack on sovereignty. The full acceptance and passage of the bill will likely take a few weeks, but regardless, the aid will likely do little to stem cartel violence in the near to mid-term.
Details of the Plan
Introduced by US President George W. Bush in October 2007, the “Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Organized Crime Authorization Act” (also known as the Merida Initiative) is a multi-year aid proposal given to Mexico and other Central American nations to help with security issues. For the fiscal year 2008, President Bush requested US$500 million for Mexico and US$50 million for Central America to help provide technical assistance and equipment for long-term reform of security forces in those nations. For the fiscal year 2009, President Bush has adjusted that request to US$400 million for Mexico, and US$100 million for Central America.
The details of the Merida Initiative, including both foreign and domestic government directives, are as follows:
• Law enforcement and security assistance, including combating gangs and illegal drug and arms trafficking
• Enhancement of the rule of law and the strengthening of civilians’ institutions, including the promotion of human rights
• Address US demand-related aspects of the drug-trafficking phenomenon
• Combat the southbound flow of illegal precursor chemicals and bulk cash transfers into Mexico
• Implement and measure the success of above listed initiatives
Mexico Objects
However, for the 2009 aid, recent concerns over possible human rights violations by Mexican soldiers led US Democratic legislators to attach additional provisions. Human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, have reported increasing instances of Mexican soldiers abusing power. For example, in 2007, soldiers killed two children and three adults “by accident” at a security checkpoint. The Mexican justice system lacks the civilian oversight in place in the US; currently, Mexican soldiers cannot be tried in civil court, a provision that would become mandatory under the terms of the aid agreement. Mexican officials must demonstrate that certain oversight and investigative procedures are being taken before the full amount of aid is granted.
The US Congress wants Mexican officials to have mandatory performance evaluations, reviews of how money was spent, and guarantee that civilian investigators be allowed to look into abuse allegations. However, Mexican legislators have balked at the provisions accompanying the aid, citing it as an attack on national sovereignty. Officials have stated that they will not accept aid with such stringent conditions, stating that they had never originally requested US aid, but rather a partnership in combating crime.
Recent Passage
After Mexican officials voiced objection to a US Congressional delegation during a meeting on June 8, 2008, US lawmakers reviewed the language of the bill. After a House-Senate conference on June 11, 2008, lawmakers agreed to somewhat soften the human rights provisions. While not removing the guarantees completely, certain provisions were reduced. For example, instead of a quarter of the aid being withheld until certain standards are met, only 15 percent of the US$400 million will be conditioned on the government’s compliance.
Future Outlook
The US has attached similar conditions on aid packages to Latin America in the past, including a large assistance package to Colombia known as Plan Colombia in 2000. Plan Colombia has been largely successful in helping Colombia officials tackle drug trafficking, but the Merida Initiative will likely not have as large as an impact within Mexico. Drug cartel violence, including the targeting security officials, has increased rapidly since the beginning of 2008, and the initiative will likely only provide needed technical assistance for the near-term (Previous Report). Drug cartel violence, as well as the movement of illegal guns from the United States into Mexico, will likely not be decreased without long-term, ongoing assistance, in the form of both technical support and cross-border security personnel cooperation.
