AMERICA/MEXICO - Security in Guerrero cannot be entrusted to armed civilians, it is urgent to create a "national police"

Tuesday, 18 December 2018 human rights violence armed groups politics

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Acapulco (Agenzia Fides) - The security in the state of Guerrero cannot be left "in the hands of armed civilians", it is necessary to create a national police that is militarized, to ensure the safety of citizens: the Archbishop of Acapulco, Mgr. Leopoldo González González, supported these statements by Governor Hector Astudillo Flores, after the emergence of the "city police" and self-defense groups on the Costa Grande. This project coincides with what was announced by the new President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador: in order to face the violence in Mexico it is necessary to create the "National Guard", composed of 50,000 elements, besides dividing the Mexican territory among 150 Security Coordinators who will work with the state police (see Fides 11/12/2018).
According to information sent to Fides from local sources, Mgr. Leopoldo González González, during a press conference held last Sunday, December 16, said that there is great pain and anxiety among the inhabitants of the various municipalities where the armed groups appeared to defend the security of the cities of the Costa Grande. The establishment of these self-defense groups reveals a climate of insecurity, and people are afraid of carrying out the normal activities of the day.
"It is clear that the custody of society cannot be left in the hands of armed civilians, this is the responsibility of the federal, state and municipal government: the solution presented by the governor, together with dialogue, could help all the communities", said the Archbishop.
Mgr. Gonzalez Gonzalez considers the formation of a "national police" necessary, it is not enough just to militarize the agents. Local police forces need to be trained to protect the community.
The Archbishop's intervention was motivated by the constant safety and violence problems in the area, widely reported by the local press. In fact, the kidnappings and disappearances are increasing in Acapulco, a situation that Bishop Gonzalez Gonzalez described as particularly "painful", because fomented by the impunity that continues to prevail. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 18/12/2018)