Another Head of State that is accused of violating human rights recently is Mexico’s President, Felipe Calderon. Mexicans are also seeking charges against gang lords such as, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Human rights activists hope to charge these men In International Court for their human rights abuses in the country’s drug war. They believe that Calderon has allowed violence against thousands of Mexicans. There have been over 40,000 people killed since 2006 when Calderon took office. In addition, there have been 230,000 people displaced because of this conflict. The activist have collected 20,000 signatures and have continued to collect them with hopes to charges Calderon, Guzman, and officials of human rights abuses.
The war on drugs in Mexico has been escalating in recent years. When Calderon took office in 2006, he deployed the armed forces which have led to thousands of deaths among Traffickers, drug lords, and civilians. This has infringed on the right to life and the right to hearing before an independent and impartial jury. If criminals are simply being murdered and tortured they are not being granted their right of being tried before a jury. Guzmen is accused of using children as lookouts and militants. This is a direct violation of special protections for children. Children are not supposed to be allowed to work in general, nor should they be forced to fight and kill for Mexican drug lords. There have been at least 1,300 children killed in this conflict.
Though the likeliness of charges sticking to Calderon is unlikely, do you believe that the Mexican president should be arrested?
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Mexicans-demand-international-human-rights-2217770.php
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/10/mexico-activists-criminal-court-claim-drug-war-calderon.html
Yes, if nothing else the headlines would hinder the chance for reelection. The war against drug trafficking has increased and has grown more and more violent. However, this should not warrant systematic murder. What the president is sanctioning is horrible and he should be held responsible.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Randy. A political figurehead should be one of the first to be held accountable. If he cannot be found guilty or otherwise held culpable for what has happened, maybe he can at least be ran out of office or not re-elected because he will be known as an enabler, if not an instigator. While drug lords and other criminals may be guilty, they still deserve the chance to defend themselves in a court of law; no one person can decide to be judge, jury, and executioner. On the other side, Guzman must be prosecuted for his unlwful use of children. This is no better than the children soldiers in places of Africa, and should not be tolerated.
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