2,893 criminals killed during this administration: Sedena

Translated by un vato for Borderland Beat,  

El Diario. 8-1-2012

Distrito Federal. In the war against drug trafficking and organized crime, during this (president's) administration, the Army has killed 2,893 suspected criminals in confrontations that have taken place in various locations around the country, as a result of direct attacks against military personnel who have had to defend against an average of eight attacks every week, according to a report from the Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional (Sedena: Mexico's Department of Defense).

The document, to which El Universal was given access and that encompasses a period from the start of this administration until this past July 18, also reveals that "regrettably, in carrying out these operations, 39 persons not involved in the fight against crime lost their lives," and states that in every case there were proceedings against the military personnel responsible (for the deaths).

The report emphasizes that "the work carried out by military personnel on behalf of Mexican society shows positive results almost six years from its unfolding," when President Felipe Calderon ordered the offensive against crime in December of 2006.  It reveals that, in view of the results obtained by the Army, nine out of ten Mexicans believe the Army should stay on the streets doing security related tasks, and that eight out of ten persons trust the institution.

Currently, more than 45,000 Army troops are deployed throughout the national territory, a force that daily carries out more than 4,000 operations related to the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime, in addition to operations to assist the civilian population in disasters and emergencies.

With respect to security related tasks, the report details that during this administration there have been 2,442 attacks against military personnel, which translates to practically eight  incidents every week. In these confrontations, 2,983 aggressors have lost their lives and 400 have been wounded. The number represents 6% of the 47,515 deaths due to presumed criminal rivalries or linked to organized crime that were reported by the Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR: Attorney General) from the start of this administration to September of 2011, a statistic that some experts calculate may reach 60,000 during this term. Sedena also points out that, as a result of  confrontations with members of organized crime, 2,519 suspects were detained, who are part of the 47,000 persons arrested during the current administration.

Army incursions against crime, the report indicates, also allowed more than 1,900 persons that were being held by kidnappers to be freed by military personnel, who also seized more than 119,000 weapons, more than 12 million cartridges in several calibers, 13,567,000 psychotropic pills, more than 36,000 kilos of cocaine and  9,834,000 kilograms of marijuana, and eradicated 660,000 illegal plots.


The military and human rights

The report admits that during the Army operations 39 people not involved in the fight against organized crime lost their lives. These cases are related to recommendations issued by the National Human Rights Commission against Sedena, on the presumption that military personnel were responsible for these deaths.

The report points out that "in the few cases that have had a negative impact on society, the law has been enforced against those responsible, with total transparency, efficacy and efficiency in the administration of law."