Excerpt:
Mexico’s Human Rights Landscape During President López Obrador’s First Year in Office
...
Torture
In May, the UN Committee against Torture recognized a “very high frequency†of torture committed by security forces and investigative officials, particularly during arrests and the first hours and days of detention. The Committee expressed particular concern over the lack of access to basic procedural safeguards (such as lawyers) following detention, and the continued use of statements obtained through torture in criminal trials.
According to the Committee, the lack of adequate investigation into torture complaints raises serious doubts about the impartiality of those responsible for carrying out such investigations. Indeed, the federal government has secured only 15 firm torture convictions since 2006.
Over two years have passed since Mexico passed the General Law on Torture, a law designed to strengthen the country’s legal framework to prevent and punish torture, and to prohibit the use of evidence obtained through torture in criminal trials. However, the law continues to suffer from incomplete implementation and widespread incompliance.
Read more at: https://www.wola.org/analysis/mexico-human-rights-lopez-obrador/
Another point I would make, is if the cartels truly controlled Mexico, why would security forces be accused of torture and in some cases, "extra-judicial" executions (which from what I'm aware of, have happened already for decades) (also, "extra-judicial" executions are associated with the police for the most part, not so much the military, the army, needs to be said). A lot of this, that they are accused of seem to be against the criminal organizations. So, it's far from full control.
And, if they are doing this against the Cartels, well, sorry about that....but if it is against the cartels, they sort of deserve it.
Mexican Army Accused of Massive Human Rights Violations, Putting US in Tough Position
In a July 9, 2009 expose for The Washington Post ("Mexican Army Using Torture to Battle Drug Traffickers, Rights Groups Say"), Steve Fainaru and William Booth report that "The Mexican army has carried out forced disappearances, acts of torture and illegal raids in pursuit of drug traffickers, according to documents and interviews with victims, their families, political leaders and human rights monitors." Fainaru and Booth describe gruesome torture tactics employed by members of the Mexican army seeking information, acts of rape and physical assault committed against women and men of varying ages, and reports of soldiers stealing " food, milk, clothing and medication" from civilian families. Although the Post does not - indeed, cannot - provide exact figures regarding the number of human rights violations carried out by the government-backed armed forces, it cites a 2007 National Human Rights Commission report, which "concluded that the army committed abuses against 65 people" over a period of just three days in the state of Michoacan alone.
As the writers explain, "Mexican security forces have long had a spotty human rights record, but the growing number of abuse allegations appears to be a direct response to the savagery unleashed by the cartels after President Felipe Calderon put the military in charge of the drug war in December 2006." According to the article, Mexican officials claim both that the reported incidents are isolated and that "drug traffickers may be accusing the army of torture and other human rights violations as propaganda and to deflect attention from the government's attempts to dismantle their operations." Interior Minister Fernando Gomez Mont, " who is responsible for coordinating security operations across Mexico," states that he "'know that the armed forces are not acting innappropriately, although there have been some cases.'" He continues, "'The government honestly believes that. There is no incentive for abuse.'" However, numerous documents, eyewitness and victims' testimonies, and reports from human rights groups contradict officials' claims.
Read more at: Common Sense Drug Policy
The army does Mexico well, imho, where they are. The problem is, they can't be everywhere. That part of Sonora where that family was killed, apparently, did not have the army in that particular area.
And some parts of the army and navy are corrupt. Still, probably the best thing going for the country.
Mexico is gruesome, to me, it's difficult to even say Venezuela is worse. It'd be a matter of research, I'd probably think Venezuela is worse but I'd have to read up.
