EFE
The President of Guatemala, Otto Pérez Molina, described
as "premature" the position of United States in rejection of his initiative
to start the discussion on the decriminalization of the traffic, trade and
consumption of drugs in the region.
With this position, "seem that
United States wants to slash the debate", said Perez Molina during a press
conference offered along with the President of El Salvador, Mauricio Funes, who
said today a working meeting in the Guatemalan capital to discuss regional
security issues.
The Government of the United
States.UU. "it must be open to the topic", so "We hope to have
opening" and participate in a panel discussion which should analyse its
proposal, said Perez Molina.
The Embassy of United States in
Guatemala, by means of a press release issued on Sunday, noted that his
Government "continues oppose such measures because the evidence shows that
our shared problem of drugs is a major threat to public health and
safety".
Decriminalize traffic and marketing
of drugs, added the American legation, would be "a major threat to public
health and safety".
The Guatemalan representative announced
Saturday his decision to propose to the Governments of Central America, United
States, Mexico and Colombia discussion of the decriminalization of the
trafficking and trade in drugs as a regional strategy to combat drug
trafficking and to stop the hundreds of deaths caused by this illegal activity.
Pérez Molina, who today explained
the details of its initiative to Funes, said his goal is to "put on the
table" discussion of this topic, whose resolution could take "months
or even years", and said that Guatemala will not assume a unilateral
position thereon.
"There will not be a unilateral
decision" on the part of Guatemala, because this topic not interested
exclusively in their country or Central America, but is "something that
has to do with the region".
United
States argues that the decriminalization of drug trafficking will increase
crimes such as "trafficking in persons and illegal arms trafficking,
extortion and kidnapping, robbery of banks, intellectual property theft and
money-laundering" in the region. (EFE)
Additional Information:
A
growing number of former Latin American leaders have come out in favor of
legalization, saying the U.S. efforts to fight drug trafficking in Latin
America have only caused more violence and sucked up resources.
Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos has said he would be open to legalization if the entire world agreed.
"It's
a theme that must be addressed," Colombia's Foreign Minister Maria Holguin
told reporters in Cartegena Monday. "The war on drugs definitely hasn't
been the success it should be and it's something the countries should
discuss."
Honduras,
another major transit country, has never formally considered legalization.
Mexico
President Felipe Calderon has said it wouldn't make sense to legalize drugs in
the region as long as they remain illegal in the U.S.
Perez,
61, was elected in November and took office last month on a platform of
cracking down on the country's rampant crime, a product of gang and cartel
violence, along with the legacy of a bloody 1960-1996 civil war.
Army,
police and paramilitary are blamed for killing the vast majority of 200,000
victims, most of whom were Mayan.
If they decriminalize cocaine, that opens up legal export and trade money for them. That is why they want it. We couldn't grow enough in the US, so we would have to buy it from where???? Exactly. Then, the money, THAT THEY ARE ALREADY MAKING, would be legitimate. Imagine the influx of jobs and infrastructure if the making of it left the jungles and made it's way to factories. In that sense, there would be even more of an incentive for them to get behind decriminalization. Either way, these guys make money. If drugs were decriminalized, nothing would change except the entire thing would be bigger business. People who want to do drugs do not care if it is legal or not. To think otherwise is to walk around with your head up your ass. Imagine a world where our jails are full of violent criminals, not people with problems. Not to mention it all being in the open so those people can be helped instead of left out to rot.
ReplyDeletelegalized pot but heroin, coke, and meth should never be legal
ReplyDeleteAgreed
DeleteHe is a fool to think he can put the demon back in the box. The violence will spread to areas not yet imagined by these foolish politicians. Then, what will they do? legalize extortion, kidnapping, robbery, white slavery (sex slavery), murder and theft. To make a mistake of that magnitude then later say, "I didn't know this would happen" is lunacy. Foolish people in high places.
ReplyDeleteI am paraphrasing but the bible says that one of the signs of the end times is when the right shall be deemed as wrong and the wrong shall be deemed as right. We are closing in on that in more than one way.
The Latin Americans should do what they want and to hell with the imperialistic USA. GO TO HELL, WASHINGTON!
ReplyDelete(( rolls eyes in response ))
DeleteIf we legalize drugs we will get zombies all over and soon after the living dead, not to mention the major threat to public health and safety.
ReplyDeleteIt's called Darwinism...
DeleteThe country club grifters in the states make too much money on dope. No way will they legalize it. The chaos and crime that comes with it helps to rile folk and keep them subservient to corrupt authority. Its a good play on the flag waivers.
ReplyDeleteIts also gives them leverage to jack Mexico and Guatemala. They have always done this and will continue to do so. Its only money and lives and plenty of fools to go around.
It's hard for me to read much of what's written by this "Chivis" guy. Aside from glaring errors in spelling and syntax in his columns, there are repeated errors in logic. The first one in this column and which, once again, taints the entirety of the story, is the assertion that Felipe Calderon is a hypocrite for standing against marijuana legalization in California while at the same time saying it makes no sense to legalize it in Mexico if it's legal in the US. To a simple mind it may be hard for these two seemingly opposite ideas to co-exist together in the same brain, but Calderon is a realist; why in the hell would I as the President of Mexico want a product that is causing all sorts of mess in my country to be legalized in the populous state of California? And why would I even think that legalization of that same product in my own country would do anything to curb the violence here, when ultimately these corporations are a business that will smuggle what they need to smuggle to stay alive and profitable. It's people and dope now, it was alcoho, before, it was sugar and molasses before that, it was candle wax before that...
ReplyDeleteThe coca plant was once a huge agricultural resource, and it still is. The leaves can be bought on amazon.com. Coca-cola still uses it, it is the "cola" taste after all, they just remove the active ingredients. Hell, with the active ingredients, the leaves are no more dangerous than coffee. If you could snort or smoke caffeine to get high, people would do it and even the warm cup of joe would be illegal. The law is arbitrary, and will not last forever.
ReplyDeleteUmmm but they do make caffeine inhailers now. Look them up. Soon you will see them in stores.
Deletelegalized pot but heroin, coke, and meth should never be legal
ReplyDeleteWhy? Will you suddenly begin doing coke, meth or heroin? I prefer to think of them as chlorine for the gene pool
If we legalize drugs we will get zombies all over and soon after the living dead, not to mention the major threat to public health and safety.
Right just like it was before drugs when all drugs were legal.
They have only been 'outlawed' for the last 70 years.
Without the Gringos,we would starve or all be Communista's you fucking idiot! Maybe you worship at the altar of Che Guevera you piche puto???
ReplyDeleteIt has been 25 years since the US armed forces went to get the 1st king pin Carlos Ledher in Columbia. 25 years of fighting drugs and today it is worse than ever.
ReplyDeleteAll drugs were decriminalized in Mexico 2 1/2 years ago. There is no need for legalization. Decriminalization protected the population of simple users from being treated like narcos. So far it has worked.
ReplyDeleteZombies??
ReplyDeleteSwitzerland legalized heroin 15 years ago and the demand dropped. Now it's legal and virtually nonexistent. No zombies, i'm sorry to say. I liked the movie.
Great Reply! I couldn't agree more!
DeleteOf course these guys (leaders of Central and South America) want to legalize drugs because they do not have the power to combat the problem! The vast majority of population in these countries are poor (dirt ass poor). In the end, whether "they" like it or not the US remains a "heavy" influence on these countries! They will follow or do whatever the US suggests because in one form or another these countries receive economic aid and support! That is reason why a great number people from Central and South America hate the US because of this influence! Bottom line, you can cry about it or debate about it all you want...Drugs will never be legalized in the US! Get over it and move on...
ReplyDeleteLol... Never is the word of a conditioned mind.
DeleteSwitzerland...let's see population +7million vs +300million (US)...hmmm, Switzerland small diversity of culture (virtually low population of foreigners)..US probably the largest with regards to cultural diversity and ethnic makeup. Yea, really "apples to oranges" comparison...to say no comparison at all. Bottom line..what works in Switzerland will not necessarily work in the US!
ReplyDeleteSeems you have all the answers to life's questions. Hoes does one do this? How does miss my sarcasm?
DeleteIt was a good start but I think it's always more complex then we give credit.
Note:
ReplyDeleteMexico decriminalized personal use of all drugs during the Calderon administration.
Paz, Chivis
Glad everyone can agree that if Drugs become legal United States of Murrica will be full of Druged up lazy asses.
ReplyDeleteI love reading the comments of idiotic gringos on this site. It explains why the US is declining into Third World status and becoming a weaker country every day. I'll laugh when the Chinese Communists come over and repossess the country, gringo deadbeats.
ReplyDeleteRight" how could they do that? We could wipe out the dept with a few missiles.
Deletewhat heppens when all drugs are legal for use and export.. south of the boarder.. then just let the US worry about it.. supply and Demand
ReplyDeleteTo: 4:59 pm and like minded so called gringo haters;
ReplyDeleteStop thinking in a racist mindset. If the USA was nuked by Russia/China/Islamist, how long could Mexico exist on its own? Thats a pretty difficult question for a gringo hater to answer isn't it? Without the commerce, labor and even the drug thirst, Mexico would decend into an unimaginable hell far worse than it is now.
Wake up! If he USA goes down, Mexico goes into a worse situation than it is now. Mexicans should support the US and it's constitution before there is none.
God help us all.
If the US Govt would sell the drugs to its own people they can pay the national debt
ReplyDeleteFebruary 15, 2012 7:26 AM OK since you are a real smart woman why don't you became a female reporter, we need a woman like you here on BB.
ReplyDeleteI dont think mexico will go down, we dont have any enemies.We are neutral country.
ReplyDelete414
ReplyDeleteMexico IS 3rd world status and is damn near a failed state.
742
Mexico's enemies are themselves. Look at the atrocities committed everyday between Mexicans and the corruption that's seeped into every aspects of their society
7:26 am-Smarten up! Keep on studying your syntax and poly sci at your local community college and still you won't be able to compete with Chivis Martinez. You failed to even notice that he BROUGHTus the story, he didn't write it. About Calderon's stance on legalization of drugs in Guatemala not making sense if drugs are stil illegal in the US, in light of his previous remarks which vehemently opposed California's ballot initiative, it is a verifiable fact. Indeed an astute observer would see it as curious display of glaring inconsistency. Nothing more, nothing less.
ReplyDeleteWow Noble Peace Prize coming right up
Delete@Feb 15, 5:15PM,
ReplyDeleteI love reading worthless comments from ignorant Mexicans, such as yourself. Third world status...hmmm, do you even know what that term means? I suggest you do some research because you clearly don't have a clue. As far as the Chinese are concerned, you are no economist and you have no idea, what your talking about. The Chinese have been buying up the US debt, in an effort to legitimize their own economy, which is severly flawed due to the Chinese gov't inaccurately (over inflating) their currency! The American dollar is the standard currency by which all countries base their currency/value against...If you didn't have such a "simple mind," I would explain it to you! You should try educating yourself before you make comments that make you look foolish!
Just think about it! China loans money to the US of A to pay for the war in Irak and Afghanistan. The US of A economy is going to hell in less than a year.
DeleteYou better go back to Economy 01.
DeleteI agree, this is very poorly written. I do not think the writer attended a school of journalism. There are too many glaring errors. No source quotes, references, syntax, etc. It is a mess.
ReplyDeleteFebruary 16, 2012 9:30 AM You are talking about ignorance?
ReplyDelete@Feb 15, 5:15 PM doesn't exist, and how do you know that the person you are referring to is Mexican?
Can you explain to me what a first world country is? a second world country? and a third world country?
There is no such reference as first-world, second-world, third world, etc. The correct term when applied politically is global south.
ReplyDeleteThank you 8:27...
ReplyDeleteWhat is lost is the main article is from EFE. EFE is written in Spanish and then translated into english. I choose not to interfere with the text of a post that I have not authored.
Perhaps you would like to take up any and all issues you have with their article directly with them. Myself, I think you are searching for interests outside the scope of BB. This is a blog of the Mexican Drug War, see there at the top? Clearly defined? Yep that's us.
read more on EFE:
The leading Spanish language news agency and the fourth largest news agency in the world, with more than seventy years of experience guarantees its impartiality, its power, its credibility and its immediacy.
A multimedia news company with a network of journalists worldwide, more than 3,000 professionals of 60 nationalities working 24 hours a day in over 181 cities in 120 countries, and four publishing houses in Madrid, Miami, El Cairo and Rio de Janeiro, offering products to customers across the five continents.
EFE distributes 3 million pieces of news every year in various news formats: text, photographs, audio, video and multimedia, reaching more than 2,000 news media in the world every day.
From its world network of bureaus and correspondents’ offices, EFE instantaneously offers the Spanish and Latin American view of the world in Spanish, Portuguese, English, Arabic, Catalan and Galician.
In Spain, there are bureaus in the capitals of the 17 autonomous communities, as well as in Ceuta and Melilla (the Spanish cities in North Africa), and small bureaus or correspondents’ offices in the other Spanish cities.
There are more people reading the news from EFE than any national daily newspaper.
EFE is responsible for more than forty percent of international news published in Latin America.
To Anonymous 3:57AM, Latin America already does what it wants, pendejo. That's why it's so screwed up. Wake up! Quit hating on the US. No tenemos la culpa que tu vives en mierda.
ReplyDelete