The coordinator of the National Action Party (PAN) bloc in the Senate, Ricardo Anaya, stated that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said that, as in other parts of the world, portions of Mexican territory are controlled by organized crime.
In a press conference, Anaya emphasized that they had the opportunity to inform the High Commissioner that they endorse the UN committee’s report on disappearances in Mexico.
The senator said he was pleased with Volker Türk’s response, as he supported the committee, made a diplomatic call for openness, and emphasized the importance of working with long-term strategies.
“Look, it was a very good meeting, the meeting with the High Commissioner, because it was a pluralistic meeting. It was a great opportunity for him to hear two sides of the story, which is what happened at the meeting. On the one hand, the government basically denied that enforced disappearances exist in Mexico and repeated the arguments you already know. The advantage is that he also listened to the opposition, and we had the opportunity to tell him that we welcome the UN committee’s report, that we recognize the good work of that report, and that the figures—which are hard numbers, even though the stubborn members of Morena don’t want to acknowledge it—are conclusive.
“I was very pleased with the High Commissioner’s response, because first, he supported the committee… Second, he made a call—yes, in a very polite, very diplomatic, but also very clear way—for openness. And, obviously, that call is directed at the government, because the opposition is open to the report.” So, he called for openness; basically, what he told them was: be open to listening to opinions about what’s happening in the country.
“By the way, in his message he acknowledged that, as in other parts of the world, in Mexico, there are portions of the territory controlled by organized crime. He said that himself.”
“Yes, Senator. Just to clarify, regarding the High Commissioner’s statement that there are regions of the country controlled by crime, did he refer to a specific percentage or simply mention it as a general fact?”
“No, he, as you know, is a very polite man. I must clarify, I want to be precise about this, that he stated that this is something that occurs in many countries around the world; we are not the only country where it happens, but he did say it clearly. You can ask those of us who were at the meeting. He didn’t give specific details; it was part of his analysis of the problems we are facing globally and in the particular case of Mexico.”
Source: proceso
