US Cuts Aid To Mexico Over Human-Rights Abuses

(NewsCore) - The U.S. State Department cut $26 million from an upcoming $175 million aid payment to Mexico due to the country’s alleged human-rights abuses in its war against drug cartels, the Arizona Republic reported Saturday.

This is the first time the U.S. decided to withhold funds over human-rights abuses since launching its $1.4 billion Merida Initiative aid program in 2008 to help Mexico combat rampant drug trafficking and organized crime.

After Mexican President Felipe Calderon began a crackdown on drug cartels in December 2006, reports of killings, torture and abuse of power by the military have been increasing, the paper said, and at least 21,000 people have died in drug-related violence.

But the National Human Rights Commission, a U.S. government agency, reportedly said the Mexican military has gone to great lengths to cover up its recent abuses.

This summer, the commission’s investigators accused soldiers of planting guns, vehicles and cadavers to make an April shooting that killed an unarmed family -- including two boys, ages five and nine -- look like part of a drug-related shootout, according to the Republic.

The army has also been charged with planting weapons on the bodies to two innocent graduate students after they were caught in a March gun battle between soldiers and traffickers.

The military denied both accusations, the paper reported.

Mexico will still receive $36 million in previously budgeted funds, but the State Department imposed the 15 percent penalty on future funds because the country failed to meet four specific conditions outlined by the Merida Initiative, according to the Arizona Republic.

In order to receive its full aid payment, Mexico must enforce a ban on torture, improve the accountability of its Federal Police, consult with civil groups about the anti-drug strategy, and ensure that soldiers charged with human-rights abuses are prosecuted in civilian courts.


(2010-09-04/myfoxdfw.com)