“Hugs, not bullets” with 74% acceptance: this is how the NG Report was discussed in the Senate

This Wednesday, April 20, the report of the National Guard (GN) is being discussed within the Senate of the Republic, where the parliamentary factions promoting Q4 and the detractors of the AMLO government established an encono of tension in which the national security policy of the current administration was defended and attacked.

On the one hand, Movimiento Regeneración Nacional (Morena) and the other parties that make up the Juntos Hacemos Historia coalition (PT, PES and PVEM) defended the security results of the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), in which they highlighted the role of the NG as a which has been deployed in every corner of the republic and has succeeded in contributing to the reduction and slowdown of various illicit acts.

On the other side of the spectrum are the parliamentary factions attached to the Va por México coalition (PRI, PAN and PRD), as well as the Citizen Movement (MC) and the Plural Parliamentary Group (GPP), who pointed to the advance of organized crime in the country and condemned the policy of” hugs, not bullets” by López Obrador.

To exemplify the principles that took part, the participation of Verónica Camino (Morena), Sergio Pérez Flores (Morena), Damián Zepeda (PAN) and Emilio Álvarez Icaza (GPP) stand out, who explained the favourable points and opprobes of security policy.

As for the promoters of Q4, they assured that Mexico is on the way to pacification and that the public knows this, since the crime incidence of numerous illicit acts in which NG has been involved has been reduced by as much as 50 per cent. They also highlighted the approval of this security institution.

Senator Camino Farjat, in addition to highlighting the approval of the GN, sent cordial congratulations to General Luis Rodríguez Bucio, commander of the National Guard, for his performance and for giving information every week since the national president's morning conferences.

Regarding the report, he noted that it is composed of a general summary that is under consideration by the NG, but that this does not prevent specific information from being requested and accessed. So he recalled when MC requested additional information and it was handed over to that bench.

Regarding the perception of the governors, he said that it is contradictory for local administrations to declare that “coordination is wonderful, our relationship is perfect”, in that sense he said that “one thing is not worth saying here and that on the other hand another is demonstrated”.

Along with the Senator, Legislator Pérez Flores argued that the report is quite technical and includes relevant information such as arms control, human rights violations, money assurance, hydrocarbon theft, territorial deployment, deployed troops, participation, use of force, detainees, insurance, sanctioned elements, recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) and the strategy implemented.

He also recalled that the GN represents 20% of Mexico's police force, this because as of March 26, 2019, it was determined that this institution will be of a public nature serving a civilian command. In addition, he highlighted the achievements: to curb the increase in crimes under federal jurisdiction and reduced crimes such as robbery on the road , property crimes and crimes against the environment.

The counterpart argued different points, for example, Álvarez Icaza Longoria condemned the militarization of Mexico, this because the presence of military troops has become more present in Mexican territory. In addition, he stressed that most of the elements of the NG belonged to Sedena, which contradicts the civilian preponderance promoted by Q4.

He also mocked the results regarding the arrests: “320 cockroaches, 20 very dangerous crickets, two axolottes, which must be a threat to GN, three snakes and a kilo of totoaba craw, among other jewels and subtleties that the GN thought it was very important to inform this sovereignty.”

Zepeda Vidales, who also spoke out against the report, acknowledged that the militarization of Felipe Calderón did not work as a security strategy; however, in view of this result, he condemned the continuity of the 4Q project, and therefore insisted that Rosa Icela Rodríguez, head of the Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), must appear before the Senate to clarify the results of the GN.

However, despite the attempts of the parliamentary opposition, the report was approved with 70 demonstrations in favor, 37 against and three abstentions, and was therefore sent to the federal executive branch.

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